Joint hypermobility means one or more joints are particularly supple. This may cause no problems. However some people develop symptoms including joint and soft tissue pains and instability or dislocation of joints. This is called joint hypermobility syndrome.
Causes of joint hypermobility
Joint hypermobility is something that often runs in families. It is more common in women. It is thought to be quite common but covers quite a wide range of joint mobility, from slightly to extreme levels of hypermobility.
It is commonly caused by changes in the protein called collagen in the tissues, and those changes make the tissues more stretchy and therefore the joints are more flexible. Some children with hypermobility will ‘grow out’ of the condition when they reach adulthood.
The condition is linked to Ehlers Danlos Syndrome, which are a range of genetically linked disorders of collagen and vary according to the type. There can be more serious causes of hypermobility including Marfans syndrome, and osteogenesis imperfecta.
Features of Joint Hypermobility Syndrome
Those individuals who get symptoms may complain of non-specific joint pains, easy injuries, pelvic floor problems and prolapses, fatigue, and easy bruising. Children may report pain in the joints at night. A poor response to pain killers and local anaesthetics and a slower recovery after injury and surgery.
Hypermobility is also associated with ‘irritable bowel’ syndrome and with postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (POTS). This is a condition where individuals report headaches, palpitations and dizziness and other associated symptoms.