NUGA-BEST in the complex of rehabilitation program in patients with ankylosing spondylitis

Study objective: to evaluate the eff ectiveness of Nuga-Best rehabilitation equipment in a comprehensive rehabilitation program for the patients with a central form of ankylosing spondylitis. Material and methods: the study involved 65 (aged 28 – 48, mean age 34,6±2,9) patients with a verifi ed diagnosis of ankylosing spondylitis. The patients were divided into two groups: the control group (n=32), receiving conventional treatment and the main group (n=33), which received procedures on Nuga-Best rehabilitation equipment along with traditional methods. The rehabilitation effectiveness criteria were: visual analogue scale of pain assessment, index BASDAI (Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity Index), chest excursion, Schober test, Index BASMI (Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Metrology Index), indicators of psychoemotional status according to the Feling-Activity-Mood test. Results: At the end of the rehabilitation course, the range of movements in the aff ected parts of the spine increased from 2.98±0.23 cm to 5.56±0.27 cm (p<0.05) in the main group, and from 3.12±0.16 cm up to 5.11±0.14 cm in the control group (p<0.05). A decrease of the pain during walking was reported by 98.2% of the patients of the main and 67.3% of the control group (p<0.05). The volume of excursions of the spine was restored in 67% of patients of the first group, in 42% of the second group. The average BASDAI index reflecting the disease activity before treatment in the control group was 3.45±0.89 points, and after treatment decreased to 2.09±0.63 points (p<0,05). The rehabilitation procedures on Nuga-Best led to a signifi cantly more pronounced decrease in this index – from 3.35±0.91 to 1.82±0.61 points (p<0,05). The BASMI spinal mobility index in the control group before treatment was 4.03±1.12 points, after treatment 3.93±0.82 points, and in the main group of patients after treatment it was 3.11±0.91 points compared to pretreatment values of 4.12±1.26 points. Conclusions: In patients with central AS, Nuga-Best produces a multifactor effect, leading to a decrease in spine functional overload, promotes muscle relaxation and analgesia, increased range of motion in the spine and chest excursion, prolongs clinical remission and improves the psycho-emotional status of patients.

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