Investigating the Use of Salaso to Improve Physiotherapy Management of Ankylosing Spondylitis (AS).

Overview

This is a pilot study to investigate the use of Salaso, a web based exercise app, to increase access to physiotherapy and improve physical activity in patients attending St James's Hospital Rheumatology for Ankylosing Spondylitis (AS). Participants will be set up on the app and given an individual exercise programme. All individual exercises and exercise class videos will be available on the app. Completion of exercises can be logged on the app and exercise compliance will then be monitored remotely by the physiotherapist through the Salaso app. The physiotherapist will have a monthly telehealth session with each participant to assess progress and to address any difficulties. Outcome measures will be completed at initial assessment and again at the end of the pilot study. This data will then be analysed to assess the effectiveness of the Salaso app as a treatment option for AS.

AS is a chronic inflammatory condition affecting the spine and other joints, causing pain and stiffness. Currently approximately 150 people attend Saint James's Hospital rheumatology department for management of their condition. Physiotherapy plays a key role in this management. As this is often a younger patient population, it can be challenging for them to attend appointments due to work and family commitments. It is envisaged that this pilot will enhance treatment options for all participants. The aims of this study are: to improve use of exercise and physical activity using an online exercise application; to improve self-management skills in monitoring progress and ability to exercise independently using an online exercise application; to provide an online appointment review option to patients who are unable to attend physiotherapy appointments in St James's Hospital. Descriptive statistics will be used to record and analyse the study data, using SPSS software.