Baseline descriptive of all patients, the exercise group and the control group
| All (n=100) | Exercise group (n=50) | Control group (n=50) | |
| Age, years, mean (min-max) | 46.2 (23–69) | 45.1 (23–68) | 47.2 (24–69) |
| Sex, male, n (%) | 47 (47%) | 25 (50%) | 22 (44%) |
| Radiographic axSpA | 70 (70%) | 38 (76%) | 32 (64%) |
| Married/cohabitant | 76 (76%) | 39 (78%) | 37 (74%) |
| In work, n (%) | 81 (81%) | 42 (78%) | 39 (78%) |
| Current smoking, n (%) | 12 (12%) | 5 (10%) | 7 (14%) |
| Medication | |||
| NSAIDs, n (%) | 71 (71%) | 38 (76%) | 33 (66%) |
| TNF-inhibitor, n (%) | 44 (44%) | 23 (46%) | 21 (42%) |
| Body composition | |||
| Height, cm, mean (SD) | 172 (11) | 172 (11) | 172 (11) |
| Weight, kg, mean (SD) | 82.9 (17.9) | 81.5 (19.4) | 83.1 (19.5) |
| Disease characteristics | |||
| Disease activity (ASDAS-CRP), mean (SD) | 2.6 (0.7) | 2.6 (0.8) | 2.7 (0.6) |
| Disease activity (BASDAI), mean (SD) | 5.1 (1.6) | 4.9 (1.6) | 5.3 (1.5) |
| CRP (mg/L), median (min-max) | 2 (2–28) | 2 (2–28) | 2 (2–13) |
| ESR (mm/h), median (min-max) | 8 (1–67) | 8 (2–67) | 8 (1–28) |
| Physical function (BASFI), median (min-max) | 3.2 (0.2–9.1) | 2.6 (0.2–6.7) | 3.0 (0.4–9.1) |
| Spinal flexibility (BASMI), mean (SD) | 2.8 (1.3) | 2.9 (1.3) | 2.6 (1.3) |
ASDAS-CRP, C reactive protein based Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity Score (inactive disease <1.3, low disease activity 1.3–2.1, high disease activity 2.1–3.5 and very high disease activity >3.5); axSpA, axial spondyloarthritis; BASDAI, Bath Ankylosing Disease Activity Index; BASFI, Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Functional Index; BASMI, Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Metrology Index (All bath ankylosing spondylitis instruments [0–10, 10=worst]); CRP, C reactive protein; ESR, erythrocyte sedimentation rate; NSAIDs, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs.