Along with your current treatment programme, regular, moderate exercise offers a whole host of benefits, including:

• Reduces your joint pain and stiffness
• Maintain good posture and mobility of the spine 
• Strengthens the muscles, ligaments and cartilage around your joints
• Strengthen the postural muscles which help keep you up straight, and improve your breathing and chest expansion. 
• Helps you maintain bone strength and quality
• Increases your joint range of motion and joint mobility
• Improves your balance
• Gives you more strength and energy to get through the day
• Helps you control your weight
• Makes it easier to get a good night's sleep
• Makes you feel better about yourself and improves your sense of well-being
• Improves your ability to manage stress
• Reduces the risk of other chronic conditions
• Promotes stronger heart and lungs
• Lowers your blood pressure and cholesterol

Exercise tips:

• You should do some specific exercise for your axSpA everyday. Consistency is the key to gaining maximum benefit. 
• Remember, everyone is different and can manage different activity levels. 
• At least 30 minutes of specific exercise should be done each day, targeting different parts of the body and different movement, ensuring the whole body is stretched and moved daily. 
• The best exercise programs are individually tailored. A physiotherapist can help deign a program to meet your specific needs. 
• Activities and sports that improve your general fitness are an important inclusion in your total management plan.

CONTACT YOUR LOCAL ARTHRITIS OFFICE FOR MORE INFORMATION AND SUPPORT SERVICES.