Ankylosing spondylitis and what it means for daily movement
Nicola Tik
Being told you have ankylosing spondylitis can feel like a lot to take in. Understanding what it means for how your body moves day to day is a useful starting point, and that is what this article is here to help with.
Ankylosing spondylitis, sometimes referred to as AS, is an inflammatory condition that primarily affects the spine and the sacroiliac joints, which are the joints where the base of the spine meets the pelvis. It causes inflammation in these areas, which over time can lead to stiffness, pain, and in some cases gradual changes to the structure of the spine.
AS is a long-term condition, but how it affects people varies considerably. Some people experience it as intermittent flare-ups with periods of relative ease in between. Others have more persistent symptoms. Many people with AS live active and full lives with the right approach to movement and management.
The most characteristic feature of AS is stiffness and discomfort that is worse after rest and improves with movement. Morning stiffness that takes more than 30 minutes to ease is very common, and many people find that sitting for long periods has a similar effect. This pattern is one of the ways AS differs from mechanical back pain, which often feels worse with movement rather than better.
Fatigue is also a significant part of living with AS for many people. It is not just tiredness. It is a deeper sense of depletion that is directly related to the inflammatory process and is worth factoring into how you plan your day.
Movement is genuinely important for AS in a way that goes beyond general health advice. Keeping the spine and surrounding joints mobile helps slow the progression of stiffness over time. This does not mean pushing through significant pain. It means finding a level of regular, gentle movement that keeps things as mobile as possible without flaring the condition.
Activities that encourage spinal mobility, such as gentle rotation, extension, and lateral movement, tend to be particularly valuable. Swimming and walking are both well suited to AS as they encourage movement through the spine without heavy impact or load.
Breathing exercises are also worth knowing about. Because AS can affect the joints between the ribs and the spine, rib cage mobility can gradually reduce. Deep breathing exercises and movements that open the chest help maintain this.
AS management works best as a partnership between you and your clinical team. Your specialist or GP is best placed to guide medication, monitor progression, and refer you to physiotherapy where appropriate. VIDA works alongside that support, not instead of it.