Austrian Ankylosing Spondylitis Association (ÖVMB)

Written by: Written by Martina Neubauer, Vice President ÖVMB

This strategic development is exemplified by the research project AXIA, which was launched in cooperation with Applimeda GmbH. The aim of this four-year collaboration is to scientifically accompany, further develop, and make digital physiotherapy easily accessible to people affected in Austria.

The ÖVMB provides not only organisational and financial support but also actively involves its members as users and contributors of feedback. Since March 2024, more than 600 installations of the Axia app have been recorded among ÖVMB members, highlighting the strong demand for structured digital exercise programs. This innovative commitment has also received professional recognition: in 2025, the ÖVMB was awarded the Patient Prize of the Austrian Society for Rheumatology & Rehabilitation, endowed with €1,000, for the AXIA research project—an award underscoring the relevance of patient-centred, digitally supported care models in rheumatology.

The medical relevance of this approach is clear. Regular exercise is considered one of the key non-pharmacological treatment pillars in axSpA. It plays a crucial role in counteracting progressive stiffness, reducing pain, and maintaining functional independence. At the same time, real-world care shows that not all patients have access to specialised physiotherapy groups or are able to integrate exercises sustainably into their daily routines. This is precisely where AXIA comes in. The Axia app for axSpA is a CE-certified medical device that combines evidence-based exercise therapy with elements of disease management, relaxation techniques, and structured knowledge transfer. In doing so, it represents a digital counterpart to multimodal therapeutic concepts and supports the long-term integration of health-promoting routines into everyday life.

At the core of the app is individually tailored exercise therapy. More than 250 instructional exercise videos, developed in collaboration with medical specialists and physiotherapists specialised in axSpA, provide morning routines to reduce stiffness, mobility exercises integrated into daily life, and structured programs of varying intensity.

The app takes into account personal limitations, current performance levels, and the ability to assume certain starting positions, ensuring safe training even during fluctuating disease activity. This concept is complemented by an immediate relief function for acute spinal pain, where users can indicate the pain location and receive suitable gentle mobilisation exercises. In parallel, relaxation modules such as brief relaxation techniques, autogenic training, progressive muscle relaxation, and guided imagery support psychological stability, which plays a vital role in chronic pain conditions. The integrated disease management tools allow symptom tracking, reminder functions (e.g., for medication intake), and documentation of activities and progress. These data can be exported as reports and support communication with treating physicians. A comprehensive knowledge library further strengthens patients’ health literacy by providing medical information, practical everyday guidance, and strategies for coping with disease flares.

The effectiveness of this digital therapeutic approach is supported by scientific evidence. As part of the German approval process for digital health applications, a randomized 12-week study with 200 patients with axSpA was conducted. Compared with the control group, the intervention group using Axia showed highly significant and clinically relevant improvements in several key parameters.

These results demonstrate that digital exercise therapy not only is perceived as beneficial but also achieves measurable clinical effects. Long-term follow-up over 26 and 52 weeks was completed at the end of 2025.

Image 4: Survey results among members of the Austrian Ankylosing Spondylitis Association (ÖVMB) regarding the use of the Axia app.

Experiences in Austria reflect these findings. In an internal ÖVMB survey of 70 members using Axia, winter and summer surveys in 2025 were compared. A notable increase was observed in those reporting an “excellent” effect: for pain reduction, the proportion rose from 11% to 19%, and for mobility from 12% to 22%. These developments are consistent with the clinical study results and illustrate that the positive effects are also evident under real-life conditions.

Through AXIA, the ÖVMB thus combines its traditional role as a self-help organisation with a clear innovation mandate. In addition to around 40 therapy groups with specially trained physiotherapists across Austria, digital physiotherapy provides an additional, location- and time-independent care option. For people who cannot attend group programs due to work commitments, mobility limitations, or regional factors, Axia represents an important complement. The AXIA research project therefore exemplifies modern, patient-centred care, where scientific evidence, digital technologies, and the experience of a strong patient organisation come together to sustainably improve the quality of life of people with axial spondyloarthritis.

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