Department of Sport and Physical Education, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, 200030, China,
Background: Ankylosing spondylitis (AS) is a common inflammatory rheumatic disease that mainly affects the sacroiliac joint, apophysis, spinal and soft tissue of the spine and peripheral joints. The pathogenesis of AS is complex, and is currently considered to be caused by many factors such as immune genetic and biological, inflammatory or infectious factors, but the precise immunopathological mechanisms and ultimately the histopathological features are still unclear. Chinese traditional physical fitness, including Tai Chi, Qigong, and Dao Yin Shu, have many positive features such as body building and disease prevention. This study is a randomized controlled trial investigating the effect of regular supervised exercise using a modified Chinese traditional fitness program as an adjunct to standard care in stabilized AS patients of the functional class I and II.
Methods/Design: Forty patients between the ages of 18 to 55 years with stabilized AS in functional class I and II, according to the modified New York Criteria, will be recruited. Patients will be randomly allocated to a modified Chinese traditional fitness group (MCTF) or a control group. Interviewers blinded to the participants’ treatment group will assess outcomes at baseline and 8, 16 weeks. Blood samples will be taken to assess T-lymphocyte subsets at baseline and 16 weeks.
Trial registration: This trail is registered in Clinical Trail.gov with the ID number of ChiCTR-TQR-14004860