This site is intended for healthcare professionals

account_circleSign in
Go to /sign-in page

You can view 5 more pages before signing in

Articular manifestations

Last reviewed dd mmm yyyy. Last edited dd mmm yyyy

Authoring team

The articular manifestations of ankylosing spondylitis include:

  • backache and stiffness usually worse after inactivity or on waking in the morning
  • back pain is usually initially in the lumbar region and then progresses to the thoracic region pain
  • 10% of cases have swollen and tender peripheral joints
  • all movements of the spine are reduced, especially extension, resulting in:
    • failure to obliterate lumbar lordosis on forward flexion
    • chest expansion of less than 5 cm
    • complete rigidity due to ankylosis
  • painful heels and tenderness at the site of insertion of the achilles tendon - achilles tendinitis
  • pain over the iliac crest
  • atlanto-axial subluxation
  • osteoporosis
  • in children a lower limb oligoarthritis usually precedes spinal involvement

Related pages

Create an account to add page annotations

Create a free account

Add information to this page that would be handy to have on hand during a consultation, such as a web address or phone number. This information will always be displayed when you visit this page