Staying Active in Sport with Ankylosing Spondylitis
Fzt. Bilal Kara · 18 June 2026 · 1 min read
The most common worry among active people diagnosed with ankylosing spondylitis (AS) is "I won't be able to do sport like before." In fact, with the right sport chosen and the dose managed well, sport becomes one of the strongest tools for managing AS.
Which sports stand out?
Swimming is often recommended in AS for how it opens the rib cage while placing low impact on the spine. Controlled strength training also strengthens the back muscles that support posture.
Sports that call for more care
Sports involving excessive bending, sudden impact or repeated collision — some contact sports, for instance — carry more risk for the spine. That doesn't mean they're off limits entirely, but they call for more careful attention to technique and dose.
Balancing training against the disease
During an active flare, training intensity is reduced; during a quiet period, it's increased gradually. Striking that balance calls for working with the physician following the disease's course.
Fzt. Bilal Kara builds sport-specific training programmes adapted to disease activity for active people with AS in Bursa Nilüfer. You can book an appointment.
