Understanding bone and muscle loss in spine inflammation disease

This research study is investigating a condition called osteosarcopenia — which means having both weak bones and weak muscles at the same time — in people with axial spondyloarthritis (a chronic inflammatory disease affecting the spine). Researchers want to understand how common this combination is in patients with this condition and what factors might make someone more likely to develop it. The study will use safe, non-invasive scans and simple strength tests to measure bone density and muscle quality in participants.

People with axial spondyloarthritis often develop weak bones and weak muscles because of the inflammation and reduced activity the disease causes. When both problems happen together, it can lead to serious complications like fractures and difficulty with daily activities — but doctors don't yet know exactly how often this occurs or which patients are at highest risk.