Changes in functional and pulmonary measures at Week 16 relative to baseline, and comparison of the conventional exercise (CE) and CE plus incentive spirometer exercise (ISE) groups.
| CE Group | CE + ISE Group | Both Groups | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Baseline | After 16 Weeks | Baseline | After 16 Weeks | Between-groups p | |
| Chest expansion, cm | 2.87 ± 1.42 | 3.33 ± 1.61** | 3.41 ± 1.56 | 4.17 ± 1.84** | NS |
| Finger to floor distance, cm | 16.8 ± 14.3 | 13.4 ± 12.6** | 11.1 ± 11.5 | 8.4 ± 9.9** | NS |
| BASDAI (0–10) | 2.75 ± 1.15 | 2.58 ± 1.65 | 2.37 ± 1.09 | 1.97 ± 1.54 | NS |
| BASFI (0–10) | 1.72 ± 1.73 | 1.26 ± 1.56* | 0.98 ± 1.23 | 0.75 ± 1.17* | NS |
| Pulmonary function test | |||||
| FVC, liters | 4.22 ± 0.62 | 4.29 ± 0.61 | 4.27 ± 0.84 | 4.40 ± 0.84* | NS |
| FEV1, liters | 3.42 ± 0.61 | 3.39 ± 0.57 | 3.45 ± 0.77 | 3.35 ± 0.72 | NS |
| FEV1/FVC, % | 80.9 ± 7.9 | 79.2 ± 8.2 | 82.6 ± 5.5 | 80.2 ± 6.6** | NS |
| TLC, liters | 5.64 ± 0.70 | 5.72 ± 0.72 | 5.66 ± 0.94 | 5.80 ± 0.87** | NS |
| VC, liters | 4.25 ± 0.63 | 4.33 ± 0.62 | 4.30 ± 0.84 | 4.45 ± 0.83* | NS |
| RV, liters | 1.38 ± 0.42 | 1.39 ± 0.30 | 1.34 ± 0.40 | 1.35 ± 0.34 | NS |
| 6MWD test, meters | 509.2 ± 59.7 | 522.2 ± 60.9 | 510.6 ± 57.1 | 511.9 ± 56.8 | NS |
↵* p < 0.05 and
↵** p < 0.01, baseline versus after 16 weeks. NS: not significant; BASDAI: Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity Index; BASFI: Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Functional Index; FVC: forced vital capacity; FEV1: forced expiratory volume in 1 s; TLC: total lung capacity; VC: vital capacity; RV: residual volume; 6MWD: 6-min walk distance.