The aim of physiotherapy is to maintain your physical function

A physiotherapist is an expert who assesses physical movement, and helps you to improve your physical functioning and reduce your physical pain. They help people with AS to maximise an active and independent life both at home and at work. 

We recommend that everyone sees a physiotherapist for an assessment when they are diagnosed with AS. You should then make sure you see your physiotherapist at least once a year after that.

First assessment

Your physiotherapist will carefully assess you. They will

  • Listen to your medical history
  • Check your posture
  • Measure your flexibility, particularly in your back, trunk, neck and hips.

The physiotherapist will then be able to put together an individual treatment programme designed specifically for your needs. This might include a course of treatment to help get you started with your exercises in general or to work on a particular area that may be causing you trouble at that time.

Your treatment could include exercise in a physio gym, or exercise in water; it may include ultrasound, gentle mobilisations or even acupuncture for pain relief.

The physiotherapist may also refer you on to other healthcare professionals.  For example, they might refer you to a podiatrist if you are having trouble with walking due to heel or foot pain.

Education

A big part of your physiotherapist's role is to help educate you about your AS, how it can affect you and what you can do yourself to help you minimise the effect AS has on you and your family.

Keeping your posture

A physiotherapist will teach you how to check your posture on a regular basis to monitor that it is not deteriorating and you are not developing a "poking forward chin" or round shoulders.

Developing a home exercise programme

A physiotherapist will teach you a home exercise programme that you can do every day.

A typical programme will include:

  • Stretches, particularly to stretch out the muscles on the front of your chest, shoulders and hips
  • Mobility exercises to help maintain or improve your range of movement in your neck, trunk, back and hips
  • Strengthening exercises which will help you maintain excellent posture

A physiotherapist can also discuss the correct type of cardiovascular exercise that might be suitable for you to maintain your general fitness, and what sort of exercise you should perhaps avoid. 

Advice for daily living

Physiotherapists can give advice on posture at work, how to sit correctly at a desk, how a computer screen can be positioned and what height it needs to be.

If you do a lot of driving the physiotherapist can talk you through correct seat position, head rests and advise you on taking regular breaks.

There are several ways you can access a physiotherapist

You can be referred for physiotherapy either by your GP or  your rheumatologist.

If you are referred to a hospital physiotherapy department it is worth asking if there is a specialist physiotherapist with a interest in working with patients with arthritis that you can see.

Some hospital physiotherapy departments will now also take self-referrals which mean you can ring up and refer yourself, without first having to see your GP. Ask your rheumatology department about this.

If you are able to pay for your own treatment or have private medical cover then you can refer yourself for private physiotherapy treatment. To find a physiotherapist use the Chartered Society of Physiotherapy website. In the 'Public' pages of their website you can enter your postcode to find a list of private physiotherapists in your area.

Some large companies also have occupational health schemes where physiotherapy may be available, so it is always worth checking.

Finally, do bear in mind the 1 or 2 week intensive therapy course at the Royal National Hospital for Rheumatic Diseases in Bath. Click here for more information on this.

Last reviewed: October 2010