HYPERMOBILITY
Hypermobility: Where a person’s joints can move beyond what is considered normal range of motion. Often seen in fingers, wrists, elbows and knees. Within hypermobility there is spectrum with hypermobility appearing in only 1 or 2 joints to the whole body. It can be genetic but hypermobility doesn’t always lead to pain and medical issues in most people.
Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome: A genetic disorder that affects connective tissue such as skin, joints and blood vessels. Fatigue, hypermobile joints, joint pain and clicking, thin skin, pain sensitivity, digestive problems like heartburn and constipation. Get a referral from your GP to see a specialist and physiotherapist for assessment and management.
THE HYPERMOBILITY TEST
The Beighton Scale is a simple way of testing if someone’s joints are hypermobile. It is broken down into 5 different movements and measures out of a total of 9 points. You are generally considered to be hypermobile if you test positive for any step and have a score of 5/9 or more. You perform each movement on your left and right and get a point for each side - if applicable.
WHAT DOES HYPERMOBILITY LOOK LIKE?
Signs:
Hypermobility: Where a person’s joints can move beyond what is considered normal range of motion. Often seen in fingers, wrists, elbows and knees. Within hypermobility there is spectrum with hypermobility appearing in only 1 or 2 joints to the whole body. It can be genetic but hypermobility doesn’t always lead to pain and medical issues in most people.
Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome: A genetic disorder that affects connective tissue such as skin, joints and blood vessels. Fatigue, hypermobile joints, joint pain and clicking, thin skin, pain sensitivity, digestive problems like heartburn and constipation. Get a referral from your GP to see a specialist and physiotherapist for assessment and management.
THE HYPERMOBILITY TEST
The Beighton Scale is a simple way of testing if someone’s joints are hypermobile. It is broken down into 5 different movements and measures out of a total of 9 points. You are generally considered to be hypermobile if you test positive for any step and have a score of 5/9 or more. You perform each movement on your left and right and get a point for each side - if applicable.
- Can the little finger bend back beyond 90 degrees? 1 point per side
- Does the thumb bend back to touch the forearm? 1 point per side
- Does the elbow extend 10 degrees or more? 1 point per side
- Do the knees extend beyond neutral/look hyperextended? A very common one. 1 point per side
- Bend over. Can the hands touch the floor without bending knees? 1 point
WHAT DOES HYPERMOBILITY LOOK LIKE?
Signs:
- Clicking joints
- Muscles pain & stiffness, and easily bruises
- Joint instability, recurring sprains, dislocations & ligament injuries
- Person leaning on furniture, slumping or standing on one leg more instead of evenly
- Digestive problems like IBS, constipation, reflux
- Fatigue
- Dizziness & fainting
- Poor spatial awareness, clumsiness
- Flat feet but not always
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