Fitness status of people with axSpA : first results after implementing fitness assessments in axSpA exercise groups

Niedermann Schneider, Karin; Rausch Osthoff, Anne-Kathrin; Meichtry, André; Bräm, René; Ciurea, Adrian

Publication type:	Conference paper
Type of review:	Peer review (abstract)
Title:	Fitness status of people with axSpA : first results after implementing fitness assessments in axSpA exercise groups
Authors:	Niedermann Schneider, Karin Rausch Osthoff, Anne-Kathrin Meichtry, André Bräm, René Ciurea, Adrian
et. al:	No
Conference details:	Annual European Congress of Rheumatology EULAR 2019, Madrid, 12-15 June 2019
Issue Date:	14-Jun-2019
Language:	English
Subject (DDC):	615.82: Physical therapy 616.7: Diseases of musculoskeletal system and orthopaedics
Abstract:	Background: Public health recommendations for physical activity (PA) advise that a program of regular exercises include cardiorespiratory, muscle strength, flexibility and neuromotor exercise training at well-defined frequency, intensity and duration/repetitions, and regular evlaution over time (1). The 2018 EULAR recommendations for PA (2) state that this is also effective, feasible and safe for people with rheumatic diseases. Therefore, the Ankylosing Spondylitis Association of Switzerland (SVMB) has started to implement assessments for all four fitness dimensions in their exercise groups (n=68). Criteria for selection of an assessment were validity and feasibility for group setting, i.e. low costs and material requirements: Chester step test (CST) (3) for cardiorespiratory fitness; adapted Core Strength Endurance test battery (CSE) (4) for muscle strength; Bath AS Metrology Index (BASMI) (5) for flexibility; Single-Leg-Stance test (SLS) (6) for balance (as proxy for neuromotor activities). For all assessments, except CSE, norm values for healthy people are available. Objectives: To assess the fitness status of people with axSpA across four volunteering pilot groups and evaluate if between-subject variables of interest are associated with fitness status. Methods: A total of 30 participants were assessed at baseline and after 6 months on all four fitness dimensions. For each dimension, a linear mixed model with random intercept was fitted to the data with the within-subject variables time and measurement condition and the between-subject variables age, disease duration, disease activity (BASDAI) and PA level (weekly Metabolic Equivalent of Task MET) as explanatory variables. Results: Of 30 patients assessed, 10 (33%) were women, mean age was 58.8 (SD 9.68) years, mean disease duration was 32.6 (SD 9.68) years, mean disease activity was 3.1. (SD 2.36) and mean PA per week was 5013 (SD 3479.77) METs. Mean estimated VO2max for cardiorespiratory fitness was 35.2 (SD 6.59). Disease activity was negatively (slope=-1.49, p=0.01) and PA level positively (slope=3.28, p=0.01) associated with cardiorespiratory fitness. Mean core muscle strength was 78.8 (SD 51.98) seconds. PA level was positively associated with core muscle strength (slope= 8.62, p=0.05). Mean flexibility score was 3.1 (SD 2.36), with age being positively associated with flexibility (slope=0.100, p=0.04). Mean balance was 43.1 (SD 21.09) and 7.7 (SD 5.84) seconds with open and closed eyes respectively. Age was negatively associated with balance time (slope = -0.84 (p=0.00). Conclusions: The fitness parameters of people with axSpA are lower than in healthy people but within the norms. PA level was positively associated with cardiorespiratory and core muscle strength test performance, whilst disease duration and disease activity were negatively associated with cardiorespiratory fitness only, thus less strongly associated with fitness performance as it is usually assumed.
URI:	https://digitalcollection.zhaw.ch/handle/11475/19735
Fulltext version:	Published version
License (according to publishing contract):	Licence according to publishing contract
Departement:	School of Health Sciences
Organisational Unit:	Institute of Physiotherapy (IPT)
Published as part of the ZHAW project:	Etablierung der internationalen Bewegungsempfehlungen für Rheuma-Betroffene in den Bechterew-Bewegungsgruppen
Appears in collections:	Publikationen Gesundheit

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Niedermann Schneider, K., Rausch Osthoff, A.-K., Meichtry, A., Bräm, R., & Ciurea, A. (2019, June 14). Fitness status of people with axSpA : first results after implementing fitness assessments in axSpA exercise groups. Annual European Congress of Rheumatology EULAR 2019, Madrid, 12-15 June 2019.

Niedermann Schneider, K. et al. (2019) ‘Fitness status of people with axSpA : first results after implementing fitness assessments in axSpA exercise groups’, in Annual European Congress of Rheumatology EULAR 2019, Madrid, 12-15 June 2019.

K. Niedermann Schneider, A.-K. Rausch Osthoff, A. Meichtry, R. Bräm, and A. Ciurea, “Fitness status of people with axSpA : first results after implementing fitness assessments in axSpA exercise groups,” in Annual European Congress of Rheumatology EULAR 2019, Madrid, 12-15 June 2019, Jun. 2019.

NIEDERMANN SCHNEIDER, Karin, Anne-Kathrin RAUSCH OSTHOFF, André MEICHTRY, René BRÄM und Adrian CIUREA, 2019. Fitness status of people with axSpA : first results after implementing fitness assessments in axSpA exercise groups. In: Annual European Congress of Rheumatology EULAR 2019, Madrid, 12-15 June 2019. Conference paper. 14 Juni 2019

Niedermann Schneider, Karin, Anne-Kathrin Rausch Osthoff, André Meichtry, René Bräm, and Adrian Ciurea. 2019. “Fitness Status of People with axSpA : First Results after Implementing Fitness Assessments in axSpA Exercise Groups.” Conference paper. In Annual European Congress of Rheumatology EULAR 2019, Madrid, 12-15 June 2019.

Niedermann Schneider, Karin, et al. “Fitness Status of People with axSpA : First Results after Implementing Fitness Assessments in axSpA Exercise Groups.” Annual European Congress of Rheumatology EULAR 2019, Madrid, 12-15 June 2019, 2019.