What to do for ankylosing spondylitis

  Ankylosing spondylitis is a chronic inflammatory disease of unknown pathogenesis, associated with infection, genetics and autoimmune dysfunction. It has a long course, recurrent attacks, and a certain degree of disability.  1. Patients can engage in relatively easy work, except during acute attacks when they should rest completely. Daily adherence to physical therapy is beneficial to maintain good mobility of the spine, spinal rib joints and hip joints, maintain good chest expansion, release spastic pain and prevent deformity.  Patients should pay attention to maintain good physiological posture, try to sit and stand with chest up and abdomen in, head slightly tilted forward to maintain the normal physiological curve of head, neck and chest, avoid hunchback posture; sleep on a hard bed, low pillow or de-pillow sleep to maintain the physiological curvature of the spine; take prone position 1-2 times a day, 5-20 min each time, pay special attention to avoid bending work to prevent hunchback and deformity. Prone position has the effect of preventing hunchback, hip and knee flexion deformity and correcting mild deformity.  3.Patients can actively or passively carry out exercises such as lumbar forward flexion, back extension, left and right rotation, swallow point water exercise, sit-ups, sacral hip rotation and flexion, chest expansion exercise and deep breathing. Swimming is a very good whole body exercise.  4, a variety of exercise amplitude from small to large, do not forcibly stretch flexion joints, gradually extend the exercise time, the amount of exercise should be gradual, persistent. When the disease is in the active stage and the joints have obvious symptoms, rest should be the main focus and all kinds of activities should be carried out in bed to avoid joint trauma and aggravate the pain.  5. Most of the drugs for AS have gastrointestinal reactions, so take them after meals and use drugs that protect the gastric mucosa to reduce irritation to the gastrointestinal tract. We should eat foods rich in protein and vitamins, increase the intake of calcium, and take calcium and cod liver oil for osteoporosis. Medicinal food has auxiliary therapeutic effect.  6, avoid damp and windy, cold stimulation, pay attention to rest, ensure adequate sleep. Maintain a good mood, strengthen the body’s resistance, and prevent infection. Follow up regularly at the specialist clinic, and follow up promptly if there are various discomforts.