Hello and welcome back to the ThreeSpires Physiotherapy blog where we take a look at all things physiotherapy and health related. In our continuing our series of physiotherapy articles about conditions that affect children and that can be helped by paediatric physiotherapy, this time we will look at Joint Hypermobility Syndrome.

What is Joint Hypermobility?

Joint hypermobility means that someone's joints will be extremely flexible and will move beyond what is considered a "normal" range - it is sometimes referred to as being "double-jointed". For example when someone with joint hypermobility syndrome staightens out their elbow it will go much further than the straight line neutral position that most people's elbows will get to. Hypermobility is very common and most people with hypermobility will not have any problems and some sports notably gymnastics often benefit from being very flexible. Some people will be hypermobile in one area of the body e.g. the arm but not anywhere else.

What are the Symptoms of Joint Hypermobility Syndrome?

Although many people are hypermobile, not all will have problems associated with being hypermobile. Someone that is hypermobile will only have Joint Hypermobility Syndrome if they are getting problems that arise from this increase in flexibility. Problems that are commonly associated with Joint Hypermobility Syndrome are: joint pain, dislocations, recurrent sprains/injuries, falling behind in childhood developmental milestones and extreme fatigue. It is important to note that just because you are hypermobile does not mean there is a problem or there is something wrong, being hypermobile and very flexible is normal and is ony an issue if you are getting pain or problems from it.

What Causes Joint Hypermobility Syndrome?

As with many of the conditions that we have discussed in these series of physiotherapy articles the exact causes of joint hypermobility syndrome are not completely understood. Joint Hypermobility Syndrome is thought to be caused by collagen (the basic component of tissues an structure such as tendons, ligaments and muscles) being weaker which then allows joints to move beyond their normal range; it oftens runs in families and is thought to be at least partially hereditary. It has some links to a genetic condition called Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome which we will look at in a later blog post.

How is Joint Hypermobility Syndrome Diagnosed?

Unfortunately it may well take a long time to get a clear diagnosis of joint hypermobility syndrome as there is no clearly defined medical test such as a blood test or imaging. Joint hypermobility syndrome is generally diagnosed using clinicial symptoms alone such as the level of mobility at each joint (usually assessed via the Beighton Criteria) and any associated pain and other symptoms. Generally a patient will need to have a lot of other causes of their symptoms ruled out first before a clear diagnosis of joint hypermobility syndrome is made.

Treatment for Joint Hypermobility Syndrome:

There is currently no definitive treatment available for joint hypermobility syndrome rather it is best to think about the ways in which it can be best managed and who might be involved. 

1. Diagnosis: it is important that if you think that you might have joint hypermobility syndrome that you get a clear diagnosis. Having a diagnosis of joint hyermobility syndrome will allow you to find out how best to manage your condition and also put your mind at rest as to the udnerlying cause of your problems.

2. Assessment: linked into having a diagnosis it is also vital that you have a thorough assessment of your joint hypermobility, how it affects you and hwich areas are particularly problematic. This will then give you the best way to manage your problems.

3. Strengthening Exercises: often patients with joint hypermobility syndrome will have problems with joint strains and strengthening exercises can be useful to help reduce the incidence of these issues. You will most likely have to seek advice from a physiotherapist as which exercises are best.

4. Physiotherapy: I will discuss how physiotherapy can help in more detail later but certainly having an asessment with a physiotherapist can help determine hwy your hypermobility is causing problems and what are the best strategies to manage it.

5. Medication: some patients may find that their joint pain is not able to be managed via exercise and physiotherapy alone and they may need either painkilllers or anti-inflammatories to manage their joint hypermobility syndrome. It is important that you discuss this with your GP.

How Can Physiotherapy Help With Joint Hypermobility Syndrome?

Here at ThreeSpires Physiotherapy we believe really strongly that physiotheray can be very helpful for anyone suffering with joint hypermobility syndrome, clearly we are somewhat biased though! Seeing an experienced physiotherapist can be extremely helpful for anyone living with Joint Hypermobility Syndrome and is especially important for children and parents of children with Joint Hypermobility Syndrome who are learning to live with the condition. Our paediatric physiotherapist has a large amount of experience of helping children with Joint Hypermobility Syndrome and will be able to explain how best to manage your child's condition and what exercises will be appropriate. Having an assessment with our physiotherapist will enable you to clearly understand the ways in which your condition is affecting your or your child and what the best way fo managing things is.

Okay, I hope that you have found this article about joint hypernobility syndrome useful. If your child has Joint Hypermobility Syndrome and you would like to have an assessment by our highly experienced paediatric physiotherapist then please get in touch. We provide a home visit paediatric physiotherapy service anywhere within 25 minutes drive of Lichfield including areas such as Sutton Coldfield, Tamworth, Rugeley, Walsall and Cannock. We can be contated by email: enquiries@threespiresphysiotherapy.co.uk or via phone 0788 428 1623.