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Hypermobility of Joints pp 53–80Cite as

Clinical Features of Hypermobility: Locomotor System and Extra-articular

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Abstract

The majority of people with lax ligaments and loose joints probably suffer no articular problems. For example, symptoms were no more prevalent amongst a group of 31 healthy hypermobile blood donors (average age 28 years) than in age- and sex-matched controls (Jessee et al. 1980). For most hypermobile subjects the impression is that it is a positive attribute, which enables enhanced participation in a wide variety of physical activities (see Chapter 8). However, not all are so fortunate, and some do experience locomotor and other problems as a direct effect of their laxity. Joint hypermobility is a feature common to most of the heritable disorders of connective tissue (HDCT), which include the Ehlers-Danlos and Marfan syndromes (EDS; MFS) and osteogenesis imperfecta (01) (see Chapter 9). It is seen in its grossest form in the EDS. Generally speaking the likelihood of developing symptoms, notably arthralgia and joint instability, is directly proportional to the degree of hypermobility, although exceptions to this rule occur. When symptoms occur in seemingly otherwise healthy individuals the term hypermobility syndrome (HMS) is applied (Kirk et al. 1967). In recent years, however, its usage has been increasingly replaced by the preferred term “benign joint hypermobility syndrome” (BJHS) because of the favourable prognosis, at least, as far as threat to life is concerned. Some authorities refer to BJHS as the familial articular hypermobilty; others to Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome Type III (EDS III), although this remains a contentious issue.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Human Genetics, University of Cape Town Medical School, Observatory 7925, Cape Town, South Africa

    Peter Beighton MD, PhD, FRCP, FRCPCH, FRSSA

  2. Hypermobility Clinic, UCL Hospitals, 40-50 Tottenham Street, W1P 9PG, London, UK

    Rodney Grahame CBE, MD, FRCP, FACP

  3. Clinical Pharmacology Unit, University of Leeds, Chapel Allerton Hospital, Chapeltown Road, Leeds, West Yorkshire, LS7 4SA, UK

    Howard Bird MA, MD, FRCP

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  1. Peter Beighton MD, PhD, FRCP, FRCPCH, FRSSA
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  3. Howard Bird MA, MD, FRCP
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Beighton, P., Grahame, R., Bird, H. (1999). Clinical Features of Hypermobility: Locomotor System and Extra-articular. In: Hypermobility of Joints. Springer, London. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4471-3633-0_5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4471-3633-0_5

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