Joint Hypermobility Syndrome

Joint hypermobility syndrome is a connective tissue disorder. It causes the ligaments that hold your joints together to become loose or weak. Hypermobility syndrome can happen on its own. It can also be a sign of an underlying genetic condition such as Marfan syndrome, Ehlers-Danlos syndrome, or down syndrome. Injuries, poor muscle tone, or the shape on your joints can also cause joint hypermobility syndrome.

Joint hypermobility or being double jointed is very common. The joints that are most commonly hypermobile are the elbows, wrists, fingers, and knees. Being double jointed usually doesn’t cause chronic pain or other side effects. The exact cause of joint hypermobility syndrome is unknown, but it does tend to run in families, so it could be genetic.

Symptoms

Symptoms can range between mild and severe. The most common symptom is pain in the joints and muscles. Frequent injuries to the joints or ligaments can also be a symptom. Joint and muscle stiffness. The ability to extend joints past typical range of motion is also a symptom. Other symptoms that are not joint related are fatigue, clumsiness, bladder and bowel issues, dizziness, fainting, or thin and stretchy skin.

Types

There are different types of hypermobility.

Localized hypermobility syndrome affects less than five joints.
Generalized hypermobility syndrome affects more than five joints.
Peripheral hypermobility syndrome affects only the hands and the feet.

Joint instability is a complication of hypermobility that causes progressive damage to the joints.

Diagnosis

There is no exact test for hypermobility syndrome. Your doctor can do a physical exam to check the range of motion of your joints. They can also do a blood test to look for genetic disorders that could be the cause of your hypermobility. Your doctor may also run a test on you that is called the Beighton score. It measures your joint flexibility. The score is out of 9. If you score four or more and have pain in four or more joints for at least three months you will be diagnosed with hypermobility syndrome. Here is what your doctor will have you do to score you on the Beighton score. Bend forward and touch the floor with your hands completely flat without bending your knees, you will score one point for doing this. Bending your elbows backwards, one point per elbow. Bending knees backwards, one point per knee. Bend thumbs backwards and touch your forearms, one point per thumb. Bend the little finger back to a ninety degree angle, one point per finger.

Treatment

Treatment usually focuses on managing your symptoms. It also will focus on helping to protect your joints, muscles, and bones. Having joint hypermobility syndrome puts you at a higher risk for injury and osteoporosis. To help ease your pain your doctor may suggest over the counter options to help pain relief. This could be oral medications, sprays, or creams to help ease joint pain. Warm baths can also help ease joint pain. Physical therapy can help you learn exercises to help strengthen your muscles. Physical therapy can also help you learn the normal range of motion for certain joints so you can avoid hyperextending your joints on purpose or accident. Supplements such as vitamin D or calcium can help with the increased risk of bone diseases such as osteoporosis.

Treatment for gastrointestinal issues may also be suggested. It has been shown that people who have hypermobility syndrome also have symptoms that you would have with irritable bowel syndrome. To help these symptoms your doctor may suggest a joint hypermobility diet. This diet will have you go gluten free, lactose free, and low FODMAP. Low FODMAP is when you cut out these five sugars, lactose, fructose, fructans, galactans, and polyols. Wearing proper shoes and maintaining good posture can help alleviate symptoms. Wearing padding and braces while doing physical activity can help keep your joints, and muscles safe.

There is no cure for joint hypermobility syndrome. Just being double jointed and having flexible joints does not mean you have joint hypermobility syndrome. Being double jointed along with having joint pain may be cause for concern that you have joint hypermobility syndrome. Usually developing a treatment plan can help with quality of life. The outlook depends on the severity and the cause.

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