Postural Biofeedback and Exercise in Axial Spondyloarthritis

The Effect of Postural Biofeedback on Disease Activity and Pain in Individuals With Axial Spondyloarthritis

The goal of this clinical trial is to learn whether adding a wearable postural biofeedback device to a standard exercise program affects disease activity, pain, and functional parameters in individuals with axial spondyloarthritis. The main questions it aims to answer are:

Does adding postural biofeedback to a standard exercise program improve disease activity? Does adding postural biofeedback to a standard exercise program reduce pain? Does adding postural biofeedback improve functional parameters, including spinal mobility, quality of life, posture, and functional exercise capacity?

Researchers will compare a standard exercise program with the same exercise program combined with a wearable postural biofeedback device to determine whether the addition of postural biofeedback provides greater benefits.

Participants will:

Participate in a physiotherapist-supervised standard exercise program twice a week for 8 weeks Use the wearable postural biofeedback device three days per week for at least 3 hours per day during prolonged static posture activities if assigned to the intervention group Complete assessments before and after the 8-week intervention, including measures of disease activity, pain, physical function, spinal mobility, quality of life, posture, and functional exercise capacity

Inclusion Criteria:

• Be between 18 and 65 years of age.
• Have a diagnosis of ankylosing spondylitis or axial spondyloarthritis according to the modified New York or ASAS classification criteria.
• Have had stable medical treatment with no changes in medication during the previous 3 months.
• Have axial/spinal pain intensity of at least 4 out of 10 on the Numeric Pain Rating Scale during the previous week.
• Be able to walk independently.
• Voluntarily agree to participate in the study and provide written informed consent.

Exclusion Criteria:

• History of spinal surgery within the previous 6 months.
• Any change in medical treatment, including biological agents or analgesic treatment, within the previous 3 months.
• Presence of fibromyalgia or another secondary chronic pain syndrome that may substantially affect pain perception.
• Serious cardiopulmonary, neurological, or orthopedic conditions that prevent participation in exercise.
• Pregnancy.
• Dermatological or allergic skin reactions or other skin conditions that prevent the use of the wearable device.
• Regular participation in a structured exercise or rehabilitation program supervised by a physiotherapist for axial spondyloarthritis within the previous 3 months.