Hypermobility Syndrome – Symptoms, Tests, Treatment

Hypermobility Syndrome is very common genetical problem often seen in the people. The syndrome is basically capability of flexing the joint beyond normal level. Any particular joint can be moved beyond expected range for Hypermobility Syndrome. 10% to 15% of children generally born have Hypermobility Syndrome. The syndrome often is often ignored as no symptoms or problem is witnessed because of it. In such cases, no treatment is required for Hypermobility Syndrome. However, sometimes the syndrome can cause severe pain in the joint. The inherited problem might need treatment to come around from the pain.

Symptoms of Hypermobility Syndrome

© American college of Rheumatology

People having Hypermobility Syndrome are generally referred as Double Jointed. The Syndrome is also known as loose Joints. Even though in many of the cases, Hypermobility Syndrome does not show any symptoms and causes no problem in normal life, but it can become a matter of concern in some cases. The exact reason for Hypermobility Syndrome is still unknown. However, doctors suggest that it occurs due to some genes that produce Collagen protein. Collagen Protein glues the joint and medical experts believe that it has a major role to play in Hypermobility Syndrome. The symptoms of the Hypermobility Syndrome are very important to notice. Sometimes, the symptoms are ignored because of the general tendency that could add sufferings for the patient. So, it is advisable to understand the symptoms of the Hypermobility Syndrome. As this is a very common syndrome so you might come across such situation and then the symptoms might become handy.

The symptoms of Hypermobility Syndrome are the high degree of flexibility of the joints. The common example of joint flexibility is that one can simply touch the thumb to the forearm. More over one can touch the palm to the floor with an extended Knee. Medically one person can flex the joint by more than 10 degrees. If one has such symptoms then, a person has Hypermobility Syndrome.

Because of excessive motion of the joints, Hypermobility Syndrome makes people injury prone. People having Hypermobility Syndrome can easily get their joint fractured because of loose joints.

Hypermobility Syndrome also creates severe pain in the joints like Knee, Elbow, fingers and Hip. The probabilities of dislocation of the joints are also very high for the Hypermobility Syndrome.

Scoliosis is one of the very common symptoms for the Hypermobility Syndrome. The spine gets curved in the problem and can cause a huge amount of pain. It also creates a problem in general locomotion.

Tests of Hypermobility Syndrome

Diagnosis of Hypermobility Syndrome is very much required for the further development. Loose joints should be segregated from normal pains of the joint. However, for the diagnosis process typical medical tests are not performed. Some activities of the joints can very well indicate to the problem. People complaining of severe joint pain generally go through the following tests which confirm the role of Hypermobility Syndrome in the body.

The most common test for Hypermobility Syndrome is the thumb test. If the thumb of the hand bends and touches the forearm then that definitely means loose joint as this is not possible in normal condition.

Another very common Hypermobility Syndrome test is for the middle finger. If the middle finger bends backward more than the normal range then also it indicates the Hypermobility Syndrome.

Hypermobility Syndrome is basically the excess range of bending of the joints. All the joints especially where the person is witnessing pain undergo flexibility test. If the joint bends more than 10 degrees or normal range then, the person is believed to have the Hypermobility Syndrome.

The person successfully diagnosed with Hypermobility Syndrome through the test then undergoes the treatment procedure. However, the Hypermobility Syndrome tends to decline with the ageing. It has been observed that with the growing age person having capability to bend joints reduces. The joints become stiffer and tougher with progress of age in Hypermobility Syndrome.

Treatment of Hypermobility Syndrome

In the majority of the cases, Hypermobility Syndrome does not have any proper medication rather they do not need treatment. The Hypermobility Syndrome does not show any problem for normal life. In few of the other cases, the problem gets reduced with the growing age and person becomes fitter.

However, if someone experiences the joint pain for Hypermobility Syndrome then Physiotherapy is advised than typical medicine course. The physical exercise can get relieve from the pain and can make the joint stronger. The need of a physiotherapist is very much required for the exercise purpose because unknowingly the exercise can cause damage to the joints. So, it is important to be under supervision of a Physiotherapist who can properly guide for effective physical exercise.