[Bechterew disease and top level sport: an attainable combination?].

One 23-year-old and two 24- year-old athletes were diagnosed with ankylosing spondylitis. Because of their wish to compete in sport at the highest level, we considered the feasible extent and intensity of physical sports-load regarding the short-, middle- and long-term effects in this particular subgroup of ankylosing spondylitis patients. We could not find any published articles regarding the physical capacities of highly motivated athletes with ankylosing spondylitis.