My 17-year old son was just told that he has a form of arthritis called ankylosing spondylitis. The doctor says that regular exercise is important for this disease. What does this mean exactly?

Many studies show that exercise and physical therapy have positive effects on patients with AS. With daily exercise, these patients have better motion, improved fitness, and better overall health.

There isn’t one best program for everyone. Some form of sports or recreational activity is advised. It’s best if this is done at least 30 minutes every day, five days a week. Exercises just for this disease are also important.

The physical therapist can help your son find a program that will interest him and still get good results.