TY - JOUR
T1 - Effectiveness of Physiotherapy in Patients with Ankylosing Spondylitis: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
AU - Gravaldi, Luca Pontone
AU - Bonetti, Francesca
AU - Lezzerini, Simona
AU - De Maio, Fernando
PY - 2022/1
Y1 - 2022/1
N2 - This study aimed to evaluate the safety and effectiveness of non-pharmacological interventions supervised by a physiotherapist in patients with Ankylosing Spondylitis, PROSPERO Protocol number CRD42020209453. Five databases (PubMed, PEDro, Scopus, Web of Science Core, and EM-BASE) and reference lists with relevant articles were searched. Randomised controlled trials (RCTs) on the effectiveness of non-pharmacological interventions supervised by a physiotherapist were compared with usual care or home-based exercise programmes. Two investigators independently screened eligible studies. A total of 12 RCTs satisfied eligible criteria. The risk of bias ranged between medium and high. The meta-analysis results indicated that between supervised physiotherapy and usual care, the former was significantly associated with improvement in disease activity (standardised mean difference = −0.37, 95% CI, −0.64; −0.11; p < 0.001, I2 = 71.25%, n = 629), and functional capacity (standardised mean difference = −0.36, 95% CI, −0.61; −0.12, p < 0.05; n = 629). No statistically significant differences emerged when interventions were compared with home-based exercise pro-grammes. Supervised physiotherapy is more effective than usual care in improving disease activity, functional capacity, and pain in patients with ankylosing spondylitis. No significant improvements emerged when supervised physiotherapy and home-based exercise programmes were compared. Further investigation and RCTs with larger samples are needed.
AB - This study aimed to evaluate the safety and effectiveness of non-pharmacological interventions supervised by a physiotherapist in patients with Ankylosing Spondylitis, PROSPERO Protocol number CRD42020209453. Five databases (PubMed, PEDro, Scopus, Web of Science Core, and EM-BASE) and reference lists with relevant articles were searched. Randomised controlled trials (RCTs) on the effectiveness of non-pharmacological interventions supervised by a physiotherapist were compared with usual care or home-based exercise programmes. Two investigators independently screened eligible studies. A total of 12 RCTs satisfied eligible criteria. The risk of bias ranged between medium and high. The meta-analysis results indicated that between supervised physiotherapy and usual care, the former was significantly associated with improvement in disease activity (standardised mean difference = −0.37, 95% CI, −0.64; −0.11; p < 0.001, I2 = 71.25%, n = 629), and functional capacity (standardised mean difference = −0.36, 95% CI, −0.61; −0.12, p < 0.05; n = 629). No statistically significant differences emerged when interventions were compared with home-based exercise pro-grammes. Supervised physiotherapy is more effective than usual care in improving disease activity, functional capacity, and pain in patients with ankylosing spondylitis. No significant improvements emerged when supervised physiotherapy and home-based exercise programmes were compared. Further investigation and RCTs with larger samples are needed.
KW - Ankylosing
KW - Exercise
KW - Exercise therapy
KW - Physical therapists
KW - Physical therapy modalities
KW - Spondylitis
UR - https://www.mendeley.com/catalogue/a3cd69be-62fb-379b-b4af-abf2fb8e1e4e/
U2 - 10.3390/healthcare10010132
DO - 10.3390/healthcare10010132
M3 - Article
SN - 2227-9032
VL - 10
JO - Healthcare (Switzerland)
JF - Healthcare (Switzerland)
IS - 1
ER -