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Joint Hypermobility is being able to extend a joint beyond its normal limit. This is often called being “double-jointed”. This connects to the unit 4 objective “Describe the movement of bones using the proper terminology” as the movement of bone is through joints. So, if your joints are not working normally, you do not have normal movement of the bone. For example, usually with your elbow, you can have flexion or extension at the elbow. However, people who have joint hypermobility at the elbow may also have hyperextension at the elbow because they do not have normal-working joints. Joint hypermobility encompasses a range of diseases of the connective tissue, such as Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome (EDS), Generalized Joint Hypermobility (GJH), and Localized Joint Hypermobility (LJH), which all experience joint hypermobility (Teran-Wodzinski, P., & Kumar, A., 2023).
A common way to test joint hypermobility is through the Beighton Score. The Beighton Score uses 9 different points on the body to test the angles in which the participant can extend their joints and is used to see if the participant has joint hypermobility, and therefore may have a connective tissue disorder, such as EDS (Malek, S., Reinhold, E. J., & Pearce, G. S., 2021). The test scores the hypermobility of the wrist (on both sides, seeing if the participant can have flexion of the wrist with the thumb abducted, and seeing if the thumb can touch the forearm), little finger (on both sides, seeing if the participant can dorsiflexion of the little finger more than 90 degrees), knees (on both sides, seeing if the participant can hyperextend the knee past 10 degrees), elbow (on both sides, seeing if the participant can hyperextend the elbow past 10 degrees), and waist (seeing if the participant can have a forward flexion of the trunk, and able to place both palms fully on the ground in front of them).
Although Joint hypermobility can allow individuals to be more “flexible”, it is a condition of improperly functioning connective tissue. The looseness of the joints can cause issues such as higher rates of arthritis, it can be easier for individuals with joint hypermobility to dislocate joints, and it is much more likely for these individuals to have musculoskeletal injuries (Reuter, P. R., & Fichthorn, K. R., 2019). And as previously mentioned, joint hypermobility can be associated with the connective tissue disorder EDS and Generalized Hypermobility Spectrum Disorder, which can cause issues such as “chronic fatigue, headaches, walking and balance problems, pelvic dysfunction, gastrointestinal and cardiological issues, autonomic dysfunction, and anxiety disorders” (Teran-Wodzinski, P., & Kumar, A., 2023). Although joint hypermobility cannot be fixed, it can be managed in some ways. One way is through strength training, and having stronger muscles around the joint(s) affected so that the joint is less likely to be displaced. Another way is through
In the art aspect of this project, I have made little guys who have joint hypermobility. You can see some with hyperextended knees, some with hyperextended trunks, and other abnormal ways that the joints are not working as they properly should.
References
Malek, S., Reinhold, E. J., & Pearce, G. S. (2021). The Beighton Score as a measure of
generalised joint hypermobility. Rheumatology international, 41(10), 1707–1716.
https://doi.org/10.1007/s00296-021-04832-4
Reuter, P. R., & Fichthorn, K. R. (2019). Prevalence of generalized joint hypermobility,
musculoskeletal injuries, and chronic musculoskeletal pain among American university
students. PeerJ, 7, e7625. https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.7625
Teran-Wodzinski, P., & Kumar, A. (2023). Clinical characteristics of patients with hypermobile
type Ehlers-Danlos syndrome (hEDS) and generalized hypermobility spectrum disorders
(G-HSD): an online survey. Rheumatology international, 43(10), 1935–1945.
Akela Byrne did their steam project on joint hypermobility, with it most commonly being referred to as being “double-jointed.” The learning objective they covered was “Describe the movement of bones using the proper terminology,” which they established very well as they discussed the regular range of flexion and extension at the elbow in comparison to hyperextension. Their physical art piece shows just this, as the figures made out of clay have limbs that are flexing beyond the points of regular joint extension and flexion (hypermobility). In the written side of their project, they also discussed how the Beighton Score is used in order to test for hypermobility. They use this test to measure the nine different points on the body to test the angles of the extending joints, and with a baseline, they are able to establish whether the participant has joint hypermobility and, in connection, may have a connective tissue disorder. The reason for the relation of a connective tissue disorder is the fact that the condition is more than just flexibility. It is the improperly functioning connective tissue within the joints that can cause issues such as higher rates of arthritis and dislocating joints, and it is much more likely for these individuals to have musculoskeletal injuries. Similarly, they discussed that people with joint hypermobility can also develop Generalized Hypermobility Spectrum Disorder, which can cause chronic fatigue, headaches, walking and balance problems, pelvic dysfunction, gastrointestinal and cardiological issues, autonomic dysfunction, and anxiety disorders. And as they discussed, it is not an issue that can be fixed; however, it can be managed through strength training and eating nutritious foods to maintain a healthy weight. They did a great job on their project, and it helped me greatly understand joint hypermobility beyond simply being flexible.