Joint hypermobility
This is when your joint has more movement than normal. It is important here to differentiate between hypermobility of a single joint and generalized hypermobility.
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Synonyms for joint hypermobility
- Hypermobility
- Ligamentous laxity
- Hyperflexibility
- "Double-jointed"
What is joint hypermobility?
This is when your joint has more movement than normal. It is important here to differentiate between hypermobility of a single joint and generalized hypermobility.
Generalized hypermobility occurs when several joints have more movement than normal. It is diagnosed by calculating a score after several flexibility tests. Generalized hypermobility is either congenital (you are born with it) or develops due to a disease. This generalized hypermobility is not a problem in itself, unless you develop pain in the future.
The rest of this article discusses hypermobility in a single joint, which may be the diagnosis you were given to explain your pain.
What are the causes of joint hypermobility?
Joint hypermobility can have two causes:
- Congenital (meaning you are born with it)
- Acquired (meaning you develop it at some point)
When acquired, it can be due to two different causes:
- This hypermobility develops over time due to practicing an activity that requires a lot of flexibility, such as dance, diving, or gymnastics.
- This hypermobility develops following trauma or surgery. For example, after a shoulder dislocation, joint hypermobility can develop.
What are the symptoms of joint hypermobility?
It is important to understand that just because you have hypermobility does not mean you will have symptoms. Many people will be hypermobile throughout their lives without ever experiencing pain.
When hypermobility is painful, the main symptoms are:
- Very high flexibility of the painful joint
People may also report the following:
- Feeling their joint is ''loose'' or ''coming out''
- Having had multiple dislocations of their joint in the past
- This is very often reported in the shoulder, for example.
- Often feeling stuck or ''caught'' in that joint
How is joint hypermobility diagnosed?
Diagnosis is made based on a review of your symptoms and a clinical examination.
When should you see a physiotherapist for joint hypermobility?
You should see a physiotherapist if you have symptoms like those described above.
You do not need to see a doctor before consulting a physiotherapist. If your condition requires you to see a doctor, your physiotherapist will be able to tell you.
What physiotherapy treatments are available for joint hypermobility?
Your physiotherapist will perform an assessment to determine why your hypermobility is causing you pain. To do this, they will assess the following elements:
- Your joint mobility
- The gliding of your nerves
- The quality of your movements
- Your strength and stability
Based on the assessment results, your physiotherapist will:
- Mobilize the less mobile joints around the hypermobile joint.
- Provide you with specific exercises to retrain the strength and stabilization of your joint.
- Provide you with specific exercises to learn how to properly control your movements.
- Teach you how to properly manage your daily activities and hobbies to optimize healing
- Give you advice for your posture and movements.
What can you do at home for joint hypermobility?
Temporarily stop doing the movements that cause too much pain, and then gradually start doing them again. Sometimes, temporarily wearing a splint or tape to support the joint can relieve pain.
Avoid cracking your painful joint yourself.
If you don't see any improvement after 10 days, you should consult a physiotherapist.
Did you know?
There are twice as many women as men with generalized joint hypermobility of the body.
Sources
Eccles JA, Beacher FD, Gray MA, Jones CL, Minati L, Harrison NA, Critchley HD. Brain structure and joint hypermobility: relevance to the expression of psychiatric symptoms. The British Journal of Psychiatry. 2012 Jun;200(6):508-9.
Boudreau PA, Steiman I, Mior S. Clinical management of benign joint hypermobility syndrome: a case series. The Journal of the Canadian Chiropractic Association. 2020 Apr;64(1):43.
Reuter PR, Fichthorn KR. Prevalence of generalized joint hypermobility, musculoskeletal injuries, and chronic musculoskeletal pain among American university students. PeerJ. 2019 Sep 11;7:e7625.
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