The Impact of Physiotherapy on a patient with Ankylosing Spondylitis Following Bilateral Total Hip Replacement: A Case Study

Abstract : Ankylosing spondylitis (AS) is a chronic, progressive inflammatory disorder primarily affecting the axial skeleton, with a prevalence of approximately 0.25% in India, predominantly in males. This case study explores the physiotherapeutic management of a 35-year-old male patient underwent bilateral Total Hip Replacement and presented with primary complaint of progressive stiffness in the back and neck region along with pain in his right hip joint. Outcome measures included Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Functional Index (BASFI), Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity Index (BASDAI), Visual Analog Scale (VAS), and Hip disability and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score for Joint Replacement (HOOS, JR) with significant improvements observed over 12 weeks: BASFI improved from 7 to 2, BASDAI from 8.1 to 3.8, VAS pain from 8 to 3, and HOOS, JR score from 40 to 60. The results demonstrate that AS-specific exercises combined with a home-based exercise protocol can significantly enhance pain management, functional capacity, disease activity and hip disability in AS patients.