Gait characteristics in patients with ankylosing spondylitis: Protocol for a systematic review

Abstract

Background: Ankylosing spondylitis is a subtype of inflammatory rheumatic disease, affecting predominantly the axial skeleton and sacroiliac joints. The main clinical manifestations are spinal stiffness and inflammatory back pain, which can potentially affect gait ability of patients with ankylosing spondylitis. However, published studies show discrepancies regarding gait characteristics in ankylosing spondylitis and heterogeneity in terms of task requirement, types of equipment, data collection, and analysis techniques used to assess gait ability of patients with ankylosing spondylitis. Objective: This review aimed to determine (1) the consequences of ankylosing spondylitis on gait and (2) how gait is assessed in patients with ankylosing spondylitis. Methods: Three electronic databases-PubMed, Physiotherapy Evidence Database (PEDro), and Cochrane-were searched systematically with no limit on the publication date in order to identify studies satisfying the search criteria. The research focused on original research, using Boolean operators "AND" and "OR" in the combination of the Medical Subject Headings descriptors found in titles or abstracts: (Gait OR Walk OR Walking OR locomotor OR locomotion) AND (ankylosing spondylitis OR spondyloarthritis). Only English-language original articles were included. Results: As of September 2018, the search was completed, and 168 records were obtained. After screening titles and abstracts, 19 full texts were reviewed. Of those, 17 were included in the review. We are currently in the process of data extraction and synthesis. Conclusions: The systematic review will provide a synthesis and comprehensive evaluation of published studies on gait characteristics in patients with ankylosing spondylitis. This work is also intended to help identify the likely relevant directions for future research.