In patients with axial spondyloarthritis (axSpA), pain, functional and structural impairments, reduced mobility and potential deformity of the axial skeleton are the most prominent health concerns. Limitations in physical function and spinal mobility are caused by both inflammation and structural damage, and therefore restrictions to physical function must be monitored throughout a patient’s life. Consequently, the assessment of physical function is recommended as a key domain in the Assessment of Spondyloarthritis International Society–OMERACT Core Outcome Set. However, in comparison with disease activity, physical function seems to be a relatively neglected target of intervention in patients with axSpA, even though physical function is a major contributor to costs and disability in this disease. This Review aims to reacquaint rheumatologists with the targets for physical function, physical activity and performance by giving guidance on determinants of physical function and how physical function can be examined in patients with axSpA.

在中轴型脊柱关节炎 (axSpA) 患者中，疼痛、功能和结构损伤、活动能力降低以及中轴骨骼的潜在畸形是最突出的健康问题。身体功能和脊柱活动度的限制是由炎症和结构损伤引起的，因此必须在患者的一生中监测对身体功能的限制。因此，身体机能评估被推荐为国际脊柱关节炎协会评估-OMERACT 核心结果集的关键领域。然而，与疾病活动度相比，身体功能似乎是 axSpA 患者干预的一个相对被忽视的目标，尽管身体功能是这种疾病的成本和残疾的主要原因。