As ankylosing spondylitis worsens, new bone forms as part of the body's attempt to heal. The new bone gradually bridges the gaps between vertebrae and eventually fuses sections of vertebrae together. Ankylosing spondylitis may also cause symptoms in the places where your tendons and ligaments attach to bones.

Context Explanation

This is called enthesitis. It can occur in the spine, but sometimes it can also cause symptoms along the back of the heel resulting, for example, in Achilles tendonitis. Females often experience ankylosing spondylitis (AS) differently from men. AS spine damage may not be visible on X-rays for women, as it is for many men.

Insight Material

Because symptoms may not follow the typical ... Ankylosing spondylitis is an inflammatory arthritis that affects the spine, causing stiffness and pain. Learn about symptoms and treatment. Interleukin-17 (IL-17) inhibitors used to treat ankylosing spondylitis include secukinumab (Cosentyx) and ixekizumab (Taltz). JAK inhibitors available to treat ankylosing spondylitis include tofacitinib (Xeljanz) and upadacitinib (Rinvoq).

Final Conclusion

Therapy Physical therapy is an important part of treatment and can provide a number of benefits, from pain relief to improved strength and flexibility. A ... Oct. 30, 2025 Ankylosing spondylitis: Reduce your risk of falling Ankylosing spondylitis: Understand your treatment options How do ankylosing spondylitis and pregnancy affect each other? Ankylosing spondylitis is a chronic inflammatory rheumatic disease that can cause persistent pain, stiffness, and progressive limitation of spinal mobility. Managing symptoms often requires a ...

Ankylosing spondylitis and scoliosis can both affect the spine. Although they have similarities, they are separate conditions. Ankylosing spondylitis is a form of arthritis that causes joint ...