Background Ankylosing spondylitis causes progressive postural deformities [1].

Objectives We aimed to assess the impact of postural deformities on balance.

Methods In this cross-sectional study, 29 AS patients and 21 healthy controls were included. For assessing exercise capacity and dynamic balance, timed up-and-go test, 5 times sit-to-stand test, gait speed and six-minute walk test were performed. Romberg tests were used to assess static balance and proprioception, while Dynamic Gait Index (DGI), Functional Gait Assessment (FGA), Berg Balance Scale (BBS), Activity Specific Balance Confidence Scale (ABC), Dizziness Handicap Inventory (DHI) and functional reach test were used to assess dynamic balance and risk of falling. Using Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Metrology Index (BASMI) scores, AS patients with scores 0-4 were assigned to subgroup AS1, while those with scores 5-10 were assigned to subgroup AS2.

Results In the whole group of AS patients, 5 times sit-to-stand test, tandem Romberg test with eyes closed, BDI, BBS and ABC scores were significantly worse than the healthy controls (p<0.05). In the AS2 subgroup, five additional parameters including timed up and go test, 6 minute walk test, functional reach test, FGA and DHI scores were also significantly worse than the healthy controls (p<0.05). Only BBS scores were significantly worse in AS2 subgroup compared to AS1 subgroup.

Conclusions Patients with AS have poorer static and dynamic balance compared to healthy subjects [2-4]. Although significantly worse BBS scores in the AS2 subgroup, compared to AS1 subgroup may suggest the presence of more severe dynamic balance problems in advanced disease, future studies including larger number of patients are necessary to confirm this assumption.

References

1. Khan MA, (2002) Ankylosing spondylitis: introductory comments on its diagnosis and treatment. Ann Rheum Dis 61 Suppl 3: p. iii3-7. doi:10.1136/ard.61.suppl_3.iii3

2. Aydog E, Depedibi R, Bal A,Eksioglu E, Unlu E,Cakci A, Dynamic postural balance in ankylosing spondylitis patients. Rheumatology (Oxford), 45(4): p. 445-8. doi:10.1093/rheumatology/kei192

3. Durmus B, Altay Z, Ersoy Y, Baysal O,Dogan E, (2010) Postural stability in patients with ankylosing spondylitis. Disabil Rehabil, 2010. 32(14): p. 1156-62. doi: 10.3109/0963828090342831

Disclosure of Interest None declared

DOI 10.1136/annrheumdis-2014-eular.1087