Patient-tailored training programme on cardiorespiratory fitness, trunk strength and mobility leads to significantly better outcomes in individuals with axial spondyloarthritis

Q: Why was this patient-tailored training programme designed for axial spondyloarthritis?

Axial spondyloarthritis impairs trunk strength, mobility, and cardiorespiratory fitness, and the study targets these typical affected areas with a programme personalised using objective baseline physical tests.

Q: What assessments were used to guide and evaluate the intervention?

Participants underwent cardiopulmonary exercise testing (CPET) and trunk strength/mobility assessments using David Back Concept (DBC) devices, with outcomes such as BASDAI, BASFI, BASMI, and chest expansion recorded before and after the programme.

Q: What were the key results after the 8-week training programme?

The programme improved trunk strength and mobility and produced significant gains in several cardiorespiratory measures, alongside improvements in BASDAI and chest expansion; BASFI showed no significant change and BASMI improved only borderline.

Sep 29, 2026

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Axial spondyloarthritis (axSpA) compromises trunk strength, mobility, and cardiorespiratory fitness, yet evidence on combined training addressing these domains remains limited. This prospective interventional study evaluated a personalised, baseline-test–guided programme using cardiopulmonary exercise testing and trunk strength/mobility assessments with David Back Concept devices. A structured 8-week protocol combined ventilatory-threshold–based cardiorespiratory training with resistance and mobility work tailored to each individual, and post-intervention outcomes were analysed with linear mixed models.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryHealthcare

FormatPDF

Pages8

Reading Time20 min

AccessFree to download

Abstract

Background

Methods

Results

Conclusion

What is already known on this topic

What this study adds

How this study might affect research, practice or policy

Introduction

Spondyloarthritis ORIGINAL RESEARCH Patient-tailored training programme on cardiorespiratory fitness, trunk strength and mobility leads to significantly better outcomes in individuals with axial spondyloarthritis Sophie De Mits ,1,2 Tine Willems ,3 Patrick Calders ,3 Lieven Danneels ,3 Gaëlle Varkas ,1,4 Filip Van den Bosch ,1,4 Dirk Elewaut ,1,4 Philippe Carron 1,4 To cite: De Mits S, Willems T, Calders P, et al. Patient-tailored training programme on cardiorespiratory fitness, trunk strength and mobility leads to significantly better outcomesin individuals with axial spondyloarthritis. RMD Open 2025;11:e006039 . doi:10 . 1136/ rmdopen-2025-006039 ► Additional supplemental material is published online only. To view, please visit the journal online ([https://doi.org/10.1136/](https://doi.org/10.1136/)[ ](https://doi.org/10.1136/)[rmdopen-2025-006039](rmdopen-2025-006039)) . SDM and TW contributed equally. Received 18 June 2025 Accepted 11 December 2025 © Author(s) (or their employer(s)) 2025. Re-use permitted under CC BY-NC. No commercial re-use. See rights and permissions. Published by BMJ Group. For numbered affiliations see end of article. Correspondence to Dr Sophie De Mits; [sophie.demits@uzgent.be](sophie.demits@uzgent.be) ABSTRACT Background Axial spondyloarthritis (axSpA) impairs trunk strength, mobility and cardiorespiratory fitness. Despite exercise being a key treatment, few studies have examined a combined trunk mobility, strength and cardiorespiratory training programme. This prospective interventional study assessed the benefits of a personalised training programme based on baseline physical tests. Methods People with axSpA underwent cardiopulmonary exercise testing (CPET) and trunk strength/mobility assessments using the David Back Concept (DBC) devices. Strength and mobility deficits were calculated, and Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity Index (BASDAI), Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Functional Index (BASFI), Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Metrology Index (BASMI) and chest expansion (CE) were recorded pre-intervention and post-intervention. The 8-week programme included two sessions per week of cardiorespiratory training (based on ventilatory threshold, heart rate monitored via a Polar device), followed by resistance/mobility exercises on DBC devices. Training intensity was tailored to each individual’sone-repetition-maximum and range of motion at baseline. Post-intervention, CPET and DBC tests were repeated. Changes were analysed using linear mixed models. Results 30 individuals with axSpA (14 males/16 females, age 42±11 .2 years, BASDAI 3.5±2 . 1, BASFI 2.8±2 .2, BASMI 2 .0±1 . 1, CE 4 .5±2 .0 cm) participated; two were lost to follow-up. Strength increased by 14 . 1%(p<0 .001) and mobility by 14 .9%(p<0 .001) . Significant improvements occurred in oxygen pulse (p=0 .004), ventilatory efficiency (p<0 .001), anaerobic threshold (p=0 .002) and mechanical efficiency (p=0 .021) . BASDAI (2 .9±2 .2, p=0 .021) and CE (5 .0±2 . 1, p=0 .020) improved significantly; BASMI (1 .8±1 .0, p=0 .053) showed borderline improvement, while BASFI remained unchanged (2 .4±2 . 1, p=0 .092) . Conclusion A combined, tailored and baseline guided training programme significantly enhanced cardiorespiratory fitness, trunk strength and trunk mobility in individuals with axSpA, supporting individualised exercise interventions to improve outcomes and reduce functional limitations. WHAT IS ALREADY KNOWN ON THIS TOPIC | ⇒ Exercise therapy is an important and crucial pillar in the non-pharmacological treatment of axial spondyloarthritis (axSpA) .
⇒ Several types of exercise have shown a beneficial effect on both mobility and strength as well as on cardiopulmonary fitness.
WHAT THIS STUDY ADDS | | --- | | ⇒ A combined, tailored and baseline-guided training programme significantly enhanced cardiorespiratory fitness, trunk strength and trunk mobility in individuals with axSpA.
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FAQs

Why was this patient-tailored training programme designed for axial spondyloarthritis?

Axial spondyloarthritis impairs trunk strength, mobility, and cardiorespiratory fitness, and the study targets these typical affected areas with a programme personalised using objective baseline physical tests.

What assessments were used to guide and evaluate the intervention?

Participants underwent cardiopulmonary exercise testing (CPET) and trunk strength/mobility assessments using David Back Concept (DBC) devices, with outcomes such as BASDAI, BASFI, BASMI, and chest expansion recorded before and after the programme.

What were the key results after the 8-week training programme?

The programme improved trunk strength and mobility and produced significant gains in several cardiorespiratory measures, alongside improvements in BASDAI and chest expansion; BASFI showed no significant change and BASMI improved only borderline.

Sep 29, 2026

Uploaded by eBook King