5 Spine Strengthening Exercises for Ankylosing Spondylitis in Water/pool

 Loss of muscle strength is a feature of AS. Muscles weaken owing to postural deformity and inactivity and the associated pain. 

Strengthening of the anti-gravity muscle groups and abdominal muscles is important to maintain an erect posture, and it enables everyday activities to be undertaken with greater ease. Example of extensor muscle groups are the cervical, thoracic and lumbar  spine extensors and glutei. 

Exercises can be made harder by extending the lever arm using gravity as a resistance or by adding weights. Strengthening of other important muscle groups such as lumbar side flexors and thoracic rotators should not be omitted. 

These particular muscle groups can be effectively strengthened in the hydrotherapy pool. Strengthening exercises are held for several seconds and repeated at least three times.

 STRENGTHENING EXERCISES

1.SUPINE WITH HANDS HOLDING THE RAIL

Make sure that the neck is supported in a neck float and push the occiput into the water during the exercise. Squeeze a medium-sized ring tightly around the hips or have a woggle or polystyrene floats under the buttocks to keep them elevated. 

 Hold the rail to fix the trunk but not so tight that it aggravates the shoulders and neck.

2.LUMBAR HIP EXTENSORS

A.With straight knees, take both heels down towards the bottom of the pool(hip and lumbar spine extension)

B. Put a float behind the heel of one foot and take that foot down in the water until the foot is just under water. Take the other leg down in the water as far as possible and back up. Keep both knees straight.

3. LUMBAR SIDE-FLEXORSS

Wing the legs as far as possible to each side, side-bending at the waist and keeping knees straight and the pelvis in neutral.

4.HIP ABDUCTORS AND ADDUCTORS 

Take the legs apart into abduction and back together again. Keep knees straight.

5.THORACIC ROTATORS

Bend the knees to 90 degrees, put a float under the soles of the feet and

keep hips in neutral. Keep the knees just under the surface of the water, while

swinging the feet up towards the surface of the water to each side.