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Joint Hypermobility Physiotherapy

Hypermobility, also known as double-jointedness, describes joints that stretch farther than normal.

For example, some hypermobile people can bend their thumbs backwards to their wrists, bend their knee joints backwards, put their leg behind the head or perform other contortionist "tricks". It can affect one or more joints throughout the body.

Hypermobile joints are common and occur in about 10 to 25% of the population. It is usually not associated with any symptoms[3] but a minority of people develop other conditions caused by their unstable joints; in such cases, it is known as hypermobility syndrome.

Until new diagnostic criteria were introduced, Hypermobility Syndrome was sometimes often considered identical to Ehlers–Danlos syndrome hypermobile type/EDS Type 3.

As no genetic test can identify or separate either conditions and because of the similarity of the diagnosis criteria and recommended treatments, many experts recommend they should be recognized as the same condition until further research is carried out.

In 2016 the diagnostic criteria for EDS Type 3 were re-written to be more restrictive, with the intent of narrowing the pool of EDS Type 3 patients in the hope of making it easier to identify a common genetic mutation, EDS Type 3 being the only EDS variant without a diagnostic DNA test.

At the same time Hypermobility Syndrome (also known under the earlier names Joint Hypermobility Syndrome and Benign Joint Hypermobility Syndrome) was redefined as a hypermobility disorder that does not meet the diagnostic criteria for EDS Type 3 (or Marfans, OI, or other collagen disorders) and renamed as Hypermobility Spectrum Disorder (HSD).

Signs and symptoms

People with Joint Hypermobility Syndrome may develop other conditions caused by their unstable joints.

These conditions include:

• Joint instability causing frequent sprains, tendinitis, or bursitis when doing activities that would not affect others
• Joint pain
• Early-onset osteoarthritis (as early as during teen years)
• Subluxations or dislocations, especially in the shoulder (severe limits on one’s ability to push, pull, grasp, finger, reach, etc., is considered a disability by the US Social Security Administration)
• Knee pain
• Fatigue, even after short periods of exercise
• Back pain, prolapsed discs or spondylolisthesis
• Joints that make clicking noises (also a symptom of osteoarthritis)
• Susceptibility to whiplash
• Temporomandibular Joint Syndrome also known as TMJ
• Increased nerve compression disorders (such as carpal tunnel syndrome, tarsal tunnel syndrome)
• The ability of finger locking
• Poor response to anaesthetic or pain medication
• "Growing pains" as described in children in late afternoon or night

Associated conditions: those with hypermobile joints are more likely to have

• fibromyalgia
• mitral valve prolapse
• anxiety disorders such as panic disorder

Causes

Hypermobility generally results from one or more of the following:

• Abnormally shaped ends of one or more bones at a joint
• A Type 1 collagen or other connective tissue defect (as found in Ehlers-Danlos syndrome, Loeys-Dietz syndrome and Marfan syndrome) resulting in weakened ligaments/ligamentous laxity, muscles and tendons. This same defect also results in weakened bones, which may result in osteoporosis and fractures.
• Abnormal joint proprioception (an impaired ability to locate body parts in space and/or monitor an extended joint)

These abnormalities cause abnormal joint stress, meaning that the joints can wear out, leading to osteoarthritis.

The condition tends to run in families, suggesting a genetic basis for at least some forms of hypermobility. The term double jointed is often used to describe hypermobility; however, the name is a misnomer and should not be taken literally, as hypermobile joints are not doubled/extra in any sense.

Most people have hypermobility with no other symptoms.

Approximately 5% of the healthy population have one or more hypermobile joints. However, people with "joint hypermobility syndrome" are subject to many difficulties. For example, their joints may be easily injured, be more prone to complete dislocation due to the weakly stabilized joint and they may develop problems from muscle fatigue (as muscles must work harder to compensate for weakness in the ligaments that support the joints).

Hypermobility syndrome can lead to chronic pain or even disability in severe cases. Musical instrumentalists with hypermobile fingers may have difficulties when fingers collapse into the finger locking position. Or, conversely, they may display superior abilities due to their increased range of motion for fingering, such as in playing a violin or cello.

Hypermobility may be symptomatic of a serious medical condition, such as

• Stickler Syndrome
• Ehlers-Danlos syndrome
• Marfan syndrome
• Loeys-Dietz syndrome
• rheumatoid arthritis
• osteogenesis imperfecta
• lupus
• polio
• Down syndrome
• morquio syndrome
• cleidocranial dysostosis
• myotonia congenita

Hypermobility has been associated with chronic fatigue syndrome and fibromyalgia. Hypermobility causes physical trauma in the form of

• joint dislocations
• joint subluxations
• joint instability
• sprains
• etc

These conditions often, in turn, cause physical and/or emotional trauma and are possible triggers for conditions such as fibromyalgia.

Women with hypermobility may experience particular difficulties when pregnant. During pregnancy, the body releases certain hormones that alter ligament physiology, easing the stretching needed to accommodate fetal growth as well as the birthing process. The combination of hypermobility and pregnancy-related pelvic girdle during pregnancy can be debilitating. The pregnant woman with hypermobile joints will often be in significant pain as muscles and joints adapt to the pregnancy. Pain often inhibits such women from standing or walking during pregnancy. The pregnant patient may be forced to use a bedpan and/or a wheelchair during pregnancy and may experience permanent disability.

Symptoms of hypermobility include a dull but intense pain around the knee and ankle joints and the soles of the feet. The pain and discomfort affecting these body parts can be alleviated by using custom orthoses.

Syndromes

Hypermobility syndrome is generally considered to comprise hypermobility together with other symptoms, such as myalgia and arthralgia. It is relatively common among children and affects more females than males.

Current thinking suggests four causative factors:

• The shape of the ends of the bones—Some joints normally have a large range of movement, such as the shoulder and hip. Both are ball and socket joints. If a shallow rather than a deep socket is inherited, a relatively large range of movement will be possible. If the socket is particularly shallow, then the joint may dislocate easily.
  
  
• Protein deficiency or hormone problems—Ligaments are made up of several types of protein fibre. These proteins include elastin, which gives elasticity and which may be altered in some people. Female sex hormones alter collagen proteins. Women are generally more supple just before a period and even more so in the latter stages of pregnancy, because of a hormone called relaxin that allows the pelvis to expand so the head of the baby can pass. Joint mobility differs by race, which may reflect differences in collagen protein structure. People from the Indian sub-continent, for example, often have more supple hands than Caucasians.
  
  
• Muscle tone—The tone of muscles is controlled by the nervous system, and influences range of movement. Special techniques can change muscle tone and increase flexibility. Yoga, for example, can help to relax muscles and make the joints more supple. Please note that Yoga is not recommended by most medical professionals for people with Joint Hypermobility Syndrome, due to the likelihood of damage to the joints. Gymnasts and athletes can sometimes acquire hypermobility in some joints through activity.
  
  
• Proprioception—Compromised ability to detect exact joint/body position with closed eyes, may lead to overstretching and hypermobile joints.

Hypermobility can also be caused by connective tissue disorders, such as Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome (EDS) and Marfan syndrome. Joint hypermobility is a common symptom for both. EDS has numerous sub-types; most include hypermobility in some degree. When hypermobility is the main symptom, then EDS/hypermobility type is likely.

People with EDS-HT suffer frequent joint dislocations and subluxations (partial/incomplete dislocations), with or without trauma, sometimes spontaneously. Commonly, hypermobility is dismissed by medical professionals as nonsignificant

Treatments

Physiotherapy

It is important that hypermobile individuals remain fit - even more so than the average individual - to prevent recurrent injuries. Regular exercise and exercise that is supervised by a physician and our senior physiotherapist can reduce symptoms because strong muscles increase dynamic joint stability. Low-impact exercise such as closed chain kinetic exercises are usually recommended as they are less likely to cause injury when compared to high-impact exercise or contact sports.

Heat therapy and cold therapy treatment can help temporarily to relieve the pain of aching joints and muscles but does not address the underlying problems.

Medication

Medication is not the primary treatment for hypermobility, but can be used as an adjunct treatment for related joint pain. NSAIDS are the primary medications of choice. Narcotics are not recommended for primary or long term treatment and are reserved for short term use after acute injury.

Lifestyle modification

For some people with hypermobility, lifestyle changes decrease symptom severity. In general, activity that increases pain is to be avoided. For example:

• Typing can reduce pain from writing.
• Voice control software or a more ergonomic keyboard can reduce pain from typing.
• Bent knees or sitting can reduce pain from standing.
• Unwanted symptoms are frequently produced by some forms of yoga and weightlifting.
• Use of low impact elliptical trainer machines can replace high-impact running.
• Pain-free swimming may require a kickboard or extra care to avoid hyperextending elbow and other joints.
• Weakened ligaments and muscles contribute to poor posture, which may contribute to other medical conditions.
• Isometric exercise avoids hyperextension and contributes to strength.