Axial Spondyloarthritis, also known as Ankylosing Spondylitis (AS), is a type of inflammatory disorder that typically affects the joints of the spine. However, it can also affect the joints in the other areas of the body such as the hips, knees, ankles and feet. Patients may experience problems with walking, getting out of bed, bending forward and other daily activities.
As the condition progresses, the disease may cause fusion of the spine and patients may experience difficulty in turning their head or bending forward to put on their shoes.
Generally, Axial Spondyloarthritis affects 1 per 500-1000 people, who are mainly in their third decade of life. It is equally common in both males and females. Family members of affected people are at higher risk, depending partly on whether they inherited the HLA-B27 gene.
