Exclusive: 6 things you should know about Ankylosing Spondylitis

Ankylosing spondylitis usually starts before the age of 40 years and progresses over the years. Patients who develop AS may experience back pain and early morning stiffness which gets better with daily activities. Some might also experience shooting pain in the back, joints, buttocks and in the backside of the thigh.

New Delhi: Ankylosing spondylitis (AS) is a form of inflammatory arthritis that affects the spine and leads to extreme pain, stiffness and ultimately fusion of the spine. It can involve other joints such as shoulders, hips, ribs, heels, etc. AS symptoms usually manifest in young adults in their 20s or 30s. But most people ignore early signs of AS, which over time, results in fusion of the spine in abnormal positions leading to reduced quality of life. Due to COVID-19, work from home has become a new norm. Sitting for long hours in an abnormal position, slouching, rounding up shoulders and putting your head forward are some of the bad postures that most people adopt while working from home during the pandemic. These unfavourable sitting positions in addition to AS related arthritis leads to the development of complications. Dr Ashish Dagar, Orthopaedic Spine Surgeon, CK Birla Hospital, Gurugram shares with us everything that we need to know about Ankylosing spondylitis. Key symptoms of Ankylosing Spondylitis