Title: Lifestyle changes: a non-pharmacological treatment for Ankylosing Spondylitis. Key-words: Ankylosing Spondylitis, treatment; exercises. Abstract: Ankylosing Spondylitis is a chronic, rheumatic, systemic, progressive and inflammatory disease, which mainly affects the joints of the axial skeleton, being characterized by pain and functional and structural joint impairment. This pathology primarily affects young and female individuals, around 26 years, in most cases the symptoms are identified before 30 years. Known as a disability, Ankylosing Spondylitis brings a negative impact on the patient's quality of life, affecting daily activities, working conditions and even personal relationships. Ankylosing Spondylitis’s precise pathogenesis remains mostly unclear, even though spine inflammation and bone tissue proliferation are between the main etiological mechanisms. Genetic alterations have an important role in the development of the disease, especially those mutations involving MHC genes, as the presence of the genetic marker HLA B27 is associated with an increased risk of developing Ankylosing Spondylitis. Both innate immunity and adaptive immunity take part on the joint inflammation caused by the disease, with T CD4+ and T CD8+ lymphocyte, mononuclear cells and macrophage infiltration on sacroiliac joint’s cartilage, intervertebral discs, peripheral blood and synovial fluid, causing destruction and ankylosis. Ankylosing spondylitis’ treatment must be guided based on the pathological manifestations, severity of symptoms, desires and expectations from the patient, combining pharmacological and non-pharmacological measures. It aims to reduce the pain and joint stiffness, prevent deformities, improve quality of life and physical and psychosocial health of the patients. Lately, the non-pharmacological treatment is being pointed out as an alternative to improve the patient’s quality of life through the change of lifestyle, which can improve breathing capacity, mobility and reduce stiffness of their joints. Since the practice of physical activity is correlated with the decrease of the concentration of the pro-inflammatory cytokine in the circulation, TNF-alpha, which is elevated in inflamed sites.The following work consist a review of literature about the benefits of healthy lifestyle as an treatment alternative for ankylosing spondylitis and a way to reduce the symptoms in a long term scenario. A research was made at Scielo, PubMed and LILACS platform with articles from 1990 until 2018.
O contato com a Comissão Científica pode ser rezalizado através do e-mail:
cientifico.comau@fcm.unicamp.br
Ferramenta completa de submissão, avaliação e publicação de anais para eventos científicos.
