Bending, leaning, lifting, stretching... these are some of the benefits of a healthy spine, and what most of us consider being the essence of an active lifestyle. But for over half a million people suffering from Ankylosing Spondylitis, these routine activities become limited due to inflammation and arthritic pain of the spine. Advancements have been made that aid doctors in detecting and treating this disease early, allowing patients to maintain a more active lifestyle.