Joint hypermobility (2024)

Hypermobility means you can move some or all of your joints more than most people. Hypermobility is believed to affect 1 in 4 people.

Most people who are hypermobile will not be bothered by this and it can even be seen as an advantage in sports and dance.

Hypermobility syndromes

However, hypermobility can cause pain, fatigue, and damage to joints and ligaments in some people.

When this happens, it may indicate that someone has hypermobility syndrome.

The term 'hypermobility syndromes' is an umbrella term that encompasses many different conditions, including:

• Hypermobility spectrum disorder (formerly known as joint hypermobility syndrome)
• Ehlers-Danlos syndrome
• Marfan syndrome
• Osteogenese Imperfecta
• Stickler syndrome

OfThe Hypermobility Syndrome AssociationInEhlers-Danlos Support UKInSEDConnectiveprovide additional information and support to people with hypermobility syndromes.

In this information we will focus on two of the hypermobility syndromes:

• Hypermobility Spectrum Disorder (HSD)
• Hypermobilt Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome (hEDS)

Hypermobility can cause a number of symptoms, often affecting many parts of the body. These symptoms can range from mild to severe and can have a major impact on a person's life:

• pain and stiffness in joints and muscles – especially at the end of the day and after physical activity
• click on collections
• back and neck pain
• extreme tiredness, known as fatigue
• poor coordination
• some people have difficulty sensing the position of a joint without being able to see it, known as proprioception
• joint dislocations or partial dislocations
• common soft tissue injuries, such as sprains and sports injuries
• bruise easily
• stomach ache
• bladder and bowel problems
• dizziness
• stretchy skin
• abnormal scars.

Whether your diagnosis is HSD or hEDS, both can cause just as many problems and are treated in the same way.

Although there is no cure for HSD or hEDS, treatment can help protect your joints and reduce the impact of your symptoms.

Many people with hypermobility syndrome can lead full and active lives, but it is important to follow the advice of healthcare professionals.

You don't have to deal with arthritis alone. If you need support or advice,call our helplinetoday on 0800 5200 520. Our advisors will provide you with expert information and advice about arthritis and support when you need it most.

Complications

Research suggests that people with hypermobile joints may also have weak collagen in other parts of the body, which can sometimes cause additional conditions or symptoms.

Some people with hypermobility may also have a condition called postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (POTS). Some of the symptoms of POTS include dizziness, fainting, chest pain, shortness of breath, and tremors. This is caused by the blood vessels not contracting properly when someone with POTS gets up.

Hypermobility can also cause digestive problems such as gastroparesis, irritable bowel syndrome or gastric reflux. This may be because the muscles that push food through the digestive system are weak. This can lead to symptoms such as abdominal pain, bloating, vomiting and constipation.

The symptoms of these rarer conditions can have a major impact on daily life. If you have any of these additional symptoms, contact your doctor.

The main cause of HSD and hEDS is genetics. Hypermobility often runs in families and can therefore not be prevented. It is believed that if one parent has hypermobility, one in two children will also have it.

Someone with HSD or hEDS often has defective or weak collagen. Think of collagen as the glue that holds your entire body together. If this glue does not work properly, it can cause the ligaments to become weak or stretched so that they no longer hold your joints properly.

Another reason why you are hypermobile is the shape of your bones. If the socket of your hip or shoulder joint is shallow, the range of motion in the joint will be greater than normal. This is likely to affect only a single joint or a small number of joints.

Other things that can affect hypermobility include:

• your muscle tone - The weaker or more relaxed your muscles are, the greater range of motion you will have.
• your gender – Women are more likely to develop HSD or hEDS than men.
• your age – The collagen fibers in your ligaments tend to bind together more as you get older, which is one of the reasons why many of us become stiffer as we age. Hypermobile people who are very flexible and pain-free when they are younger may find that they are less flexible as they reach their thirties or forties and that stretching movements become more uncomfortable.
• your ethnic background – People from different ethnic backgrounds have differences in the way their bodies are built. For example, people from the Indian subcontinent often have much more flexible hands than Europeans.
• Research also suggests that if you have autism, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), or Tourette syndrome, you are more likely to have symptoms related to hypermobility.

Your doctor can determine whether you have HSD or hEDS by asking you a series of questions, taking a family history, ruling out other conditions and examining your joints.

During the exam, your doctor will want to check how mobile your joints are and will ask you questions such as "While standing, can you place your hands flat on the floor with your knees straight?" This is to find out how flexible you are.

Your doctor will also assess how much pain you are in, whether you have had joint closures and how you assess where your body is in relation to things around it.

They will also see if you have flat feet, crooked bones in your elbows or toes, or if you have a curvature of the spine.

Depending on the results of these tests, you may be diagnosed with hypermobility spectrum disorder or Ehlers-Danlos syndrome.

If you are waiting for a diagnosis, there are many ways you can helpmanage your symptoms.

There are several steps you can take to help yourself in your daily life.

Exercise

Regular exercise is important as part of a healthy lifestyle and there is no reason why people with hypermobile joints should not exercise. However, if you notice that certain sports or exercises involve movements that cause pain, you should stop these activities until it is clear why there is pain. With proper strengthening exercises, it may be possible to return to these activities without increasing pain. APhysiotherapistcan advise you on exercises to improve control over the movements and loads required by your favorite sport or exercise.

Swimming can help if your body's weight is supported by water, although breaststroke can irritate the knees and hips, so it's best to paddle with your legs. We also recommend cycling.

If some of your joints move regularly, wearing a splint or elastic bandage while exercising can help. You may need to see a physiotherapist or orthopedist for support if this is a significant problem.

Read more aboutexercise and arthritis.

Diet and nutrition

There is no specific diet to help joint hypermobility, but we recommend a healthy, balanced diet to control your weight and for your overall health.

Read more aboutdiet and arthritis.

There is no evidence to support a specific therapy for hypermobility, although acupuncture is recommended in the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) guidelines for low back pain.

In general, complementary and alternative treatments are relatively safe, although you should always discuss their use with your doctor before starting treatment. It is important to see a legally registered doctor or one who has an established code of ethics and is fully insured.

If you decide to try therapies or supplements, be critical of what they do for you and base your decision to continue on whether you notice any improvement.

Read more aboutcomplementary therapies and arthritis.

Shoes

There is great variation in the shape of the foot in people who are hypermobile. Most people tend to have flat feet, but a few have arched feet. Special insoles in your shoes (orthotics) can help support the arch of your foot. Adjusting the foot and the way body weight passes through the legs can help balance and reduce pain in the foot, ankle, leg, hip and lower back.

Drug overview

Painkillersuch as acetaminophen can help relieve your joint pain. If your joint swells frequently, especially after a dislocation, a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) such as ibuprofen may also be used.

Both paracetamol and ibuprofen are available in tablet, gel and spray form.

If you find that your pain is not controlled with these options, your doctor may prescribe stronger painkillers.

Physical therapies

You may be referred to onePhysiotherapist,occupational therapistor podiatrist for specialized advice.

Physiotherapy

The most important treatment for HSD or hEDS is to improve muscle strength and fitness, so that your joints are better protected.

Physiotherapycan reduce pain, improve your strength, fitness and balance, reducing the risk of dislocations.

Hydrotherapycan also help strengthen your joints. The water relieves your joints and the therapy pools are heated, allowing you to relax your muscles and relieve pain. This makes physical therapy exercises easier.

Occupational therapy

You may be referred to an occupational therapist who will help you maintain your independence. They can advise you on gadgets and tools that can make your life easier.

An occupational therapist can also show you how to use splints, tape and elastic bandages, which can help protect against dislocations.

Foot therapy

Many people with hypermobility have low arches or flat feet, which can cause pain and difficulty walking.

Hypermobility in your feet can also increase the risk of strains and sprains in your foot. That's why it may be a good idea to see a podiatrist.

INpodiatristcan assess your feet and gait and provide you with a pair of insoles to support your feet. These insoles reduce the movement of your feet and help prevent injuries.

Pain clinics

If your pain does not improve, your doctor may refer you to a pain clinic.

Pain clinics can offer you treatments that your GP cannot provide. They are intended to support you in developing your own self-help skills and to manage and relieve your pain.

Treatments may include:

• medicine
• analgesic injections
• therapy manual
• exercise
• TENS-machines
• complementary therapy
• psychological therapy.

Surgery

Surgeryon your joints is usually not recommended if you have hypermobility. This is because the tissue in and around the joint normally does not heal very well.

Some hypermobile people also bruise easily and may need more blood transfusions if they need major surgery.

But if you tear a tendon, which is more likely if you have hypermobility, it is usually repaired surgically.

Some people with hypermobility are also resistant to local anesthetics, either in the form of topical creams or injections. It is important that your dentist or doctor knows your hypermobility so that they know what to do if you have problems with local anesthesia.

Stay active

Regular exercise is important as part of a healthy lifestyle and there is no reason why people with hypermobile joints should not exercise. However, if you notice that certain sports or exercises involve movements that cause pain, you should stop these activities until it is clear why there is pain.

With proper strengthening exercises, it may be possible to return to these activities without increasing pain. A physiotherapist can advise you on exercises to improve control of the movements required for your favorite sport or exercise.

Swimming can help if your body's weight is supported by water, although breaststroke can irritate the knees and hips, so it's best to paddle with your legs. Cycling is also recommended.

If you have trouble staying motivated, exercising with a friend or in a group can help. It can also be a good way to socialize and meet new people.

We organize activities throughout the country especially for people with arthritis, such as walking groups and Chair Chi.

Learn more aboutexercising with arthritis.

In addition to exercise, other methods of pain relief may help, such as hot or cold compresses and a transcutaneouselectrical nerve stimulation (TENS) machine..

Cost

There is no one diet that helps everyone with hypermobility. But some people find that changes in their diet help their symptoms.

Learn more abouteat right with arthritis.

Additional treatments

Learn more aboutcomplementary and alternative treatments.

Occupation

Everyone working with a disability in Britain has the right to equal treatment in the workplace. The Equality Act 2010 protects you from discrimination if you are in England, Scotland and Wales. The Disability Discrimination Act 1995 covers this if you live in Northern Ireland. This also means that your employer must work with you to make the workplace accessible to you through 'reasonable adjustments'.

Reasonable accommodations can include anything from adjusting your working hours or providing special equipment to help you do your job.

If your employer cannot make all the necessary adjustments, you may be able to get help through Access to Work. This could include grants to pay for equipment or adjustments, to support employees to help you or to get to and from work.

If you live in England, Scotland or Wales, you can find out more heresupport at work if you have a disability or health condition (access to work).

If you live in Northern Ireland, you canfind more information Work in Northern Ireland.

Learn more aboutworking with arthritis.

Hypermobility can also affect younger people. Learn more aboutsupport available for young people with arthritis at school.

Emotional well-being

Research has shown that you are more likely to experience anxiety if you have hypermobility. This, along with living with a long-term health condition, can cause feelings of depression due to pain, fatigue and disruption to daily life. That's why it's important to take care of your mental health.

If you are having difficulty with this, it is important to contact a healthcare professional as they may be able to refer you to a psychologist who can help you with coping strategies.

If you need some extra support, remember that you are not alone. We are here to help you, every step of the way.

• You may find it helpful to join a Versus Arthritis support group, where you can connect with like-minded people and talk about what you're going through. Let's see if we run onelocal support group near you.
• Or you couldjoin our online communitywhere you can connect with real people who share the same daily experiences as you.
• You can alsocall the Versus Arthritis Helplinefree on 0800 5200 520, where our trained advisors can offer you a listening ear.

Sex and relationships

Most couples – whether they have hypermobility or not – go through phases where their sex life is less exciting or satisfying than it was. There may be physical reasons for this, but emotional factors and stress often play a role.

Hypermobility can bring a number of challenges to a relationship, including the following:

• Pain and fatigue can reduce your enjoyment of sex and other activities and interests you share with your partner.
• Hypermobility may mean that you cannot always perform the household tasks you usually do or may require assistance with them.
• If your hypermobility affects your work, it can lead to financial concerns.
• Having hypermobility can affect your mood and self-esteem.
• Your partner will be concerned about how the condition will affect you.

For more information, see ourcontent about sex, relationships and arthritis.

Pregnancy, fertility and breastfeeding

Pregnancy and childbirth are often a completely normal experience for people with HSD or hEDS. However, there are a number of issues that can cause a problem:

• During pregnancy you may experience more pain, especially in your spine and joints.
• When you give birth, you may experience a faster delivery.
• If you are resistant to local anesthesia, you may not benefit from an epidural.
• If you experience a tear healing may be slower, this should also be taken into account if you require surgery.

It is important to tell your midwife or doctor that you have HSD or hEDS so that they are aware of any complications. And discuss with them which medications you are taking.

After giving birth, it is important that all your postnatal exercises are done carefully.

It's also important to have a good support system around you, as your hypermobility may make it harder for you to eat and care for the child.

It is important to note that children are often more hypermobile and may lose this as they get older. And if they are hypermobile, it doesn't necessarily mean they have problems. If this is the case, it is important that the doctor knows that HSD or hEDS runs in the family.

Learn more aboutpregnancy, fertility and breastfeeding.

Sleep and fatigue

If you have trouble sleeping, change your bedtime habits to improve the following:

• Make sure your bedroom is dark, quiet and a comfortable temperature.
• Try a warm bath before going to bed to relieve pain and stiffness.
• Develop a regular routine where you go to bed and wake up at the same time every day.
• You may want to listen to soothing music before going to bed.
• Some light exercise can help reduce muscle tension, but it's probably best to avoid vigorous exercise right before bed.
• Place a notebook next to your bed. If you think of something to do the next day, write it down and then put it out of your mind.
• Avoid caffeine in the eight hours before you go to bed.
• Do not drink alcohol just before going to bed.
• Avoid eating main meals just before going to bed.
• If you smoke, try to quit or don't smoke right before going to bed.
• Try not to sleep during the day.
• Don't watch TV or use computers, tablets or smartphones in your bedroom.
• Don't always keep an eye on the time at night.

discover moretips to help you get a good night's sleepand learninghow to better manage your fatigue.

Research led by Dr. Jessica Eccles from the University of Sussex is testing a new treatment therapyanxiety in people with hypermobility. Many people with hypermobility experience more anxiety than the general population, but there are no specific treatments aimed at reducing anxiety for this group of people.

Treatment involves helping people cope with anxiety related to changes in their body (such as an increased heart rate).

The study will also include a pilot study comparing this new treatment with a more standard anxiety treatment. Some people in the study will also undergo brain scans to help understand how the treatment works and how it can be improved.

This project will increase understanding of how anxiety affects people with hypermobility and will help people better manage their anxiety and improve their quality of life.

Readmore about this research.

Over the years, many tears have been shed behind closed doors about hypermobility, whether it's because of the pain or simply because many people don't understand it.

I could always tell that something was not quite right with my joints and growing up I always had a bandage on my knee because it was painful. But most people often thought I was just doing it for attention.

It wasn't until I was 13 and my knee swollen so badly that I ended up in hospital on bed rest for six weeks until they finally decided something was wrong and I was diagnosed with hypermobility.

But by the time I left the hospital, all the muscle I had wasted because I hadn't used my legs. This put my knee out even more and probably in worse shape overall than when I went in.

I was referred to a physio when my gait had become so bad that I dislocated my hip, but was told to get on with it. So in my twenties I started looking into complementary therapies which really helped.

They also helped me work, although I often found that a week of work would lead to a weekend in bed.

When I had my daughter Mia, we noticed that she was also hypermobile.

She often sat with her legs in a W position and all her joints were super bent. After 18 months we noticed that she couldn't really keep up and that's when the correct diagnosis was made.

As a mother with hypermobility, I found it difficult, especially in baby groups, because I wouldn't be able to sit on the floor to play with her, and it would cause a lot of pain in my arm to carry her car seat home. and from the car. .

I was also asked why my daughter was sitting the way she was, so we stopped after a while and spent more time with the family.

Physio and exercise are the main things that have helped me over the years. It has helped me keep my muscles strong and my joints more stable.

I still see a physiotherapist and I have a short set of exercises that I do every day.

I would say to anyone who has hypermobility: be kind to yourself; it is not a weakness to be able to say no to certain situations when you are in pain. Living with hypermobility is a challenge and we all have dark days. Try to stay strong through exercise and relaxation. I try to follow the three L's! Straight away! Laughter and love!