Prevalence of Joint Hypermobility in Adolescent Females

Abstract

The joint hypermobility syndrome is a condition that characterises joints that are mobile past the range expected for that particular joint. Hypermobility has a significant impact on quality of life of affected individuals. Hypermobile individuals may be more susceptible to musculoskeletal maladies and orthopaedic problems [1] like joint effusions, pain, joint subluxations [2] and alterations in joint proprioception. The objective of this study was to investigate the prevalence of generalized joint hypermobility in school going adolescent females (13-18 years). A cross sectional observational study was undertaken with a sample size of 1827 adolescent females studying in schools of Haryana. Generalised joint hypermobility was assessed using a cut-off Beighton score of ≥5 in accordance with the 2017 International Classification of EDS criteria. Selective joint hypermobility was classified on scores from 1-4/9. Score 0/9 was taken as no hypermobility at all. Adolescent females in the age group of 13-18 years who were not injured were chosen as subjects because young females are more likely to have generalised joint hypermobility. The point prevalence of hypermobility was 28.51 percent whereas prevalence of selective joint mobility was 56.10 percent. 15.59% percent females were not hypermobile according to Beighton’s score in 13-18 year old females. In this population of youngsters, predominantly women, localized hypermobility was more frequent than generalized hypermobility. The fifth metacarpophalangeal joint is the most commonly affected joint, followed by thumb, elbow, spine and then knee joint. Left side showed more hypermobility than right side. Upper limb joints showed more hyper-mobility than lower limb joints and spine.