Joint hypermobility means that some or all of the joints have an unusually large range of movement. People with hypermobility are particularly supple and able to move their limbs into positions that other people find impossible.
Many people with hypermobile joints do not have any problems and do not need treatment. However, joint hypermobility can sometimes cause unpleasant symptoms, such as:
- joint pain
- back pain
- dislocated joints – when the joint comes out if its correct position
- soft tissue injuries, such as tenosynovitis (inflammation of the protective sheath around a tendon)
If hypermobility causes these types of symptoms it is often called joint hypermobility syndrome. See Joint hypermobility - symptoms for more information.
What causes joint hypermobility?
Joint hypermobility is often hereditary (runs in families).
One of the main causes of joint hypermobility is thought to be changes to a type of protein called collagen.
Collagen is found throughout the body – for example, in the skin and in ligaments (the tough bands that link two bones together at a joint). If the collagen is weaker than it should be, the tissues in the body will be fragile. This can make the ligaments and joints particularly loose and stretchy. As a result, the joints can extend further than usual.
Occasionally, joint hypermobility is part of a rare and more serious condition, such as:
- osteogenesis imperfecta – a condition that affects the bones
- Marfan syndrome – a condition that affects the blood vessels, eyes and skeleton
- Ehlers-Danlos syndrome – a condition that causes stretchy skin and the skin to bruise easily
See Joint hypermobility - causes for more information.
How common is joint hypermobility?
It is not clear how many people in the UK have joint hypermobility. It is thought that the condition may affect up to 3 in 10 people to some degree. It affects women more than men because female hormones increase flexibility.
Joint hypermobility is quite common in children. Children with joint hypermobility can bend into unusual positions (often referred to as ‘double-jointed’). In many children, the joints become stiffer by the time they reach puberty, but in some people, joint hypermobility and associated symptoms continue into adult life.
Marfan syndrome affects around 1 in 5,000 people.
Outlook
Joint hypermobility syndrome can be very difficult to live with because it can cause fatigue (extreme tiredness) and long-term pain. People may also find that it takes time to receive the correct diagnosis due to the wide range of symptoms that joint hypermobility syndrome can cause.
However, once diagnosed, joint hypermobility syndrome can be treated with a mixture of exercise and physiotherapy (where physical methods are used to promote healing). An exercise programme to improve fitness and muscle strength may also be effective at reducing pain. See Joint Hypermobility - treatment for more information.
The nature of joint hypermobility syndrome means that you are at increased risk of injuries, such as dislocations and soft tissue injuries. Managing joint hypermobility may therefore involve treating short-term injuries as they arise, while following a long-term treatment plan to manage your daily symptoms.
