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Ankylosing Spondylitis Center

Ankylosing spondylitis is a form of inflammatory arthritis that primarily affects the spine. In the AS Condition Center, read about symptoms, such as pain and stiffness. You can also learn about treatments and why exercise is so important for patients with ankylosing spondylitis.

Facts & Tips

There is a connection between the genetic marker HLA-B27 and ankylosing spondylitis. Heredity does play a role in who develops AS.

Featured Ankylosing Spondylitis Videos

Top Ankylosing Spondylitis Resources

Updated on: 10/30/09

Featured Ankylosing Spondylitis Articles

Rheumatoid Arthritis Research and Treatment Updates

Article includes current rheumatoid arthritis advances, research, and treatment information. Contains links to learn more information about what's going on in RA news today.

What is Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis?

Juvenile rheumatoid arthritis (JRA) is arthritis that causes joint inflammation and stiffness for more than 6 weeks in a child of 16 years of age or less. There are several types of JRA, and this article gives an overview.

Surgery for Ankylosing Spondylitis

Here's some good news: most patients with ankylosing spondylitis won't need surgery. Read about the situations where surgery may be recommended and what procedures surgeons use for AS. Also includes tips for an easy recovery from spine surgery.

Non-surgical Treatments for Ankylosing Spondylitis

To deal with the symptoms of ankylosing spondylitis, you have several non-surgical options. Exercise can bring pain relief and keep your spinal joints mobile. Your doctor may prescribe medications for inflammation. Other options are explained, too.

Symptoms of Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis

In juvenile rheumatoid arthritis (JRA), some of the most common symptoms are joint swelling and pain. Often, children have a lot of pain in the morning or after a nap. Review other typical JRA symptoms.

Symptoms of Ankylosing Spondylitis

The first symptom of ankylosing spondylitis (AS) is usually pain in the sacroiliac joints (located at the back of the pelvis). From there, AS can spread up the spine, causing bones to fuse, also known as ossification. Spinal stiffness is another symptom of ankylosing spondylitis.