ERCIYES TIP DERGISI, vol.1, no.1, pp.1-10, 2022 (Peer-Reviewed Journal)
Objective: The purpose of our study is to find out how ankylosing spondylitis, a chronic
inflammatory disease, affects balance.
Material and Methods: Thirty-one healthy volunteers and thirty five patients who were
diagnosed with ankylosing spondylitis and had no other disease that could affect balance
participated in the study. Bipedal balance analysis was performed in each group with eyes open
and closed. The position of the center of pressure during the measurement was evaluated.
Results: The medio-lateral (ML) deviation of the center of pressure (p=0.035) and the total
path length (PL) (p=0.042) were significantly higher in the patient group when measured with
eyes open. PL was significantly longer in the patient group when measured with eyes closed
(p=0.002).
Conclusion: We have seen that ankylosing spondylitis affects balance negatively. Since this
disease usually occurs in the young population, it should be taken into account that balance
impairment can complicate daily life, especially in the working world. For this reason, it can
be useful to consider the balance disorder in the treatment and the patients should be monitored
for an extended period of time.