Morning Stiffness in Ankylosing Spondylitis, and Managing It with Exercise
Fizyoterapist Aydın Ali · 24 July 2026 · 1 min read
Almost every client with ankylosing spondylitis (AS) describes the same thing: morning stiffness after sleep that eases as the day goes on. That pattern itself explains why exercise sits at the centre of treatment.
Why does it ease with movement?
While the spine's joints stay still overnight, fluid circulation in them slows and stiffness builds. Morning movement gets that circulation going again — which is why moving, not resting, is what reduces the stiffness.
Medication and exercise don't replace each other
Medication suppresses the inflammation, but what actually preserves spinal mobility is regular exercise. Taking medication doesn't make exercise unnecessary — the two work together.
What the programme focuses on
Stretching that preserves rib cage and spinal mobility, breathing work that supports lung capacity, and strengthening that protects posture are the priority areas in AS.
Fzt. Aydın Ali runs mobility-preserving exercise programmes for clients with ankylosing spondylitis in Bursa Nilüfer. You can book an appointment.
