Ankylosing Spondylitis (Bamboo Spine)

Ankylosing spondylitis is a form of chronic inflammation of the spine and the sacroiliac joints. The sacroiliac joints are located in the lower back where the sacrum (the bone directly above the tailbone) meets the iliac bones (bones on either side of the upper buttocks). Chronic inflammation in these areas causes pain and stiffness in and around the spine. Over time, chronic spinal inflammation (spondylitis) can lead to a complete cementing together (fusion) of the vertebrae, a process referred to as ankylosis. Ankylosis leads to loss of mobility of the spine.

Ankylosing spondylitis is also a systemic disease, meaning it can affect other tissues throughout the body. Accordingly, it can cause inflammation in or injury to other joints away from the spine, as well as to other organs, such as the eyes, heart, lungs, and kidneys.

In view of their similarities and tendency to cause inflammation of the spine, these conditions are collectively referred to as "spondyloarthropathies." Ankylosing spondylitis is considered one of the many rheumatic diseases because it can cause symptoms involving muscles and joints.

Alternative Names

Bamboo Spine

Symptoms

The symptoms of ankylosing spondylitis are related to inflammation of the spine, joints, and other organs. Fatigue is a common symptom associated with active inflammation. Inflammation of the spine causes pain and stiffness in the low back, upper buttock area, neck, and the remainder of the spine. The onset of pain and stiffness is usually gradual and progressively worsens over months. Occasionally, the onset is rapid and intense.

Chronic spondylitis and ankylosis cause forward curvature of the upper torso (thoracic spine), limiting breathing capacity.

Causes

The tendency to develop ankylosing spondylitis is believed to be genetically inherited, and the majority (nearly 90%) of patients with ankylosing spondylitis are born with the HLA-B27 gene. The HLA-B27 gene appears only to increase the tendency of developing ankylosing spondylitis, while some additional factor(s), perhaps environmental, are necessary for the disease to appear or become expressed.

Recently, two more genes have been identified that are associated with ankylosing spondylitis. These genes are called ARTS1 and IL23R. These genes seem to play a role in influencing immune function.

Each individual tends to have their own unique pattern of presentation and activity of the illness. The initial inflammation may be a result of an activation of body's immune system, perhaps by a preceding bacterial infection or a combination of infectious microbes. Once activated, the body's immune system becomes unable to turn itself off, even though the initial bacterial infection may have long subsided.

Yogic Therapy - A Robust Cure

Medical Yoga Therapy addresses all these problems in this sequence:

• Medical Yoga Therapy helps to dissolve the recent growth of the bones by using permissible range of motion of that particular region.

• Medical Yoga Therapy halts the progress of the disease to quite an extent.

• Medical Yoga Therapy helps to improve the flexibility of patient particularly in the cervical and lumber region.

• This sequence of asanas stretches the joint capsules of shoulder and hip joints which are affected in the second phase of the disease.  It also removes the swelling from the extrimities if they are present.

• This therapy halts and reverses the complications associated with ankylosing spondilities such as breathing problems, digestive disorders, cardiac conditions etc.

• Because swelling is removed flexibility is improved and the health of internal organs is improved. Automatically the pain and stiffness caused by ankylosing spondilitis is effectively eliminated.

Sequence of Asanas

A special sequence comprising of asanas like Skandhabandha Asana, Horizontal Arm Stretch, Rope Jacket, Oblique arm stretch followed by Shavasana with cervical pillow/spinal roll is designed. Props are appropriately used to make the 'Saadhaka' comfortable and gain from the posture. The asanas are aimed at correcting the posture and increasing flexibility.

As patients suffer from pain and restricted motion, the asanas and therapies are done differently with use of props and belts to ease the poses and provide maximum benefit. These therapies should only be performed under an expert guidance to avoid any complications.