What is Ankylosing Spondylitis?

How Does Ankylosing Spondylitis Develop?

The disease usually starts between the ages of 20 and 40 and is linked to a genetic predisposition (HLA-B27). The immune system causes inflammation where ligaments and tendons attach to bone. Over time, new bone formation at these sites can bridge the vertebrae and stiffen the spine.

Symptoms

• Low back pain lasting more than three months that wakes you in the second half of the night
• Morning stiffness lasting over thirty minutes, improving with movement
• Hip and heel pain, a feeling of tightness in the chest
• In some patients, red and painful eyes (uveitis)

Frequently Asked Questions

Why is exercise important in ankylosing spondylitis?

Regular stretching, posture and breathing exercises preserve spinal mobility and reduce pain. Diagnosis and medication are planned together with rheumatology, while the orthopedic and physiotherapy team follows joint health and rehabilitation.