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Introduction

This article is a summary of the more common concerns that can present in hypermobility disorders and an update on terminology arising as a consequence of the 2017 International Criteria on Ehlers-Danlos syndrome. The article is written primarily for non-specialist clinicians but is also suitable for a layperson with background knowledge. We have deliberately presented the information in a bullet format to highlight the key messages and advice, and cited recommended articles should the reader wish to seek more detail.

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We also have this Quick Reference Guide poster (as per the image on the right) created by Kim Clayden and Dr Philip Bull, which can be downloaded below: 

The Hypermobility quick_20241127_125522_0000.png

Why look for hypermobility?

 

1. It may explain musculoskeletal symptoms and loss of physical function:

  • Isolated or widespread, and recurrent injury to joints, ligaments, tendons and other soft tissues around joints may occur

  • Acute and chronic joint pain, and neuropathic symptoms can arise

  • There may be associated instability leading to joint subluxation or dislocation, or vertebral listhesis; and /or poor proprioception increasing the risk of injury

  • The ability to undertake daily activities of living, or exercise, schooling, or work may be significantly compromised.

 

2. It may be associated with a chronic pain syndrome and chronic fatigue, requiring adaptation to treatments to account for hypermobility / joint instability.

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3. There is a growing recognition of an association with other concerns such as:

  • Cardiovascular symptoms and dysautonomia (tachycardia, hypotension, syncope)

  • Mechanical and neuropathic bowel dysfunction (hernia, reflux, sluggish bowel and constipation, and chronic inflammation (including mast cell activation))

  • Myopia, astigmatism

  • Poor response to local anaesthetic

  • Pelvic floor weakness, rectal and/or uterine prolapse, chronic bladder inflammation (including mast cell activation)

  • Influence of progesterone – worsening musculoskeletal symptoms; also heavy and painful menstrual cycle

  • Musculoskeletal and pelvic complications of pregnancy, and

  • Anxiety disorders, such as panic disorder and agoraphobia.

 

4. There may be an underlying heritable disorder of connective tissue that explains concerns such as:

  • Multiple fractures

  • Poor wound healing, bruising, thin or atrophic scarring, excess stretch marks

  • Eye problems – cataracts, retinal detachment

  • Heart valve disease and arterial vascular pathologies such as dissection / aneurysm

  • Spontaneous rupture of viscera.

Identifying hypermobility​

 

It is important to note that hypermobility may be local (one or two joints), peripheral (fingers and toes), or generalised. Clinicians are advised to use a goniometer to measure the range of movement at a joint.

It is also important to note that while there are screening tools for generalised joint hypermobility such as the Beighton Score, joints not included in these scores should also be assessed, particularly if they are sites of pain / injury. For example, the shoulder, hip and ankle are common sites of pain and instability but are not included in the Beighton Score. In such a situation only using the Beighton Score to decide whether hypermobility might explain a presentation is inappropriate.

Also one should be aware that an injured hypermobile joint might appear to have a ‘normal’ range of movement i.e. beware the stiff hypermobile joint.

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Two screening tools for generalised joint hypermobility are commonly used; the Beighton Score and the 5-Point Questionnaire. Specialists and researchers will also use other tools including the Contompasis.

The Beighton Score (see image above)

A total of 9 points are collated from 5 maneuvers comprising:

  1. Passive dorsiflexion of the little fingers beyond 90° - 1 point for each hand

  2. Passive apposition of the thumbs to the flexor aspects of the forearm - 1 point for each thumb

  3. Hyperextension of the elbows beyond 10° - 1 point for each elbow

  4. Hyperextension of the knee beyond 10° - 1 point for each knee

  5. Forward flexion of the trunk with knees fully extended so that the palms of the hands rest flat on the floor – 1 point

(It is important to note that the beighton score is not definitive. It only looks at a limited number of joints, and only takes one direction of movement into account. Individuals can have significant, widespread hypermobility but still have a low beighton score.)

 

The 5-point Questionnaire – an answer in the affirmative to a 2 or more of the questions has 85% sensitivity and specificity (tested internationally and in different languages)

  1. Can you now (or could you ever) place your hands flat on the floor without bending your knees?

  2. Can you now (or could you ever) bend your thumb to touch your forearm?

  3. As a child did you amuse your friends by contorting your body into strange shapes or could you do the splits?

  4. As a child or teenager did your shoulder or kneecap dislocate on more than one occasion?

  5. Do you consider yourself double-jointed?

10 things to explore in clinic that might begin to identify a hypermobility-related disorder

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These are a recommendation - the start of an enquiry that should lead to more detailed assessment. There may be a number of reasons why certain symptoms are present. It would not be appropriate to assume that they are always associated with a hypermobility disorder. They should in their own right be assessed and managed accordingly, but equally multiple symptoms of this nature may arise from an over-arching condition that might not be realized if each issue is considered in isolation.

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  1. Do your joints feel like they twist easily or injury easily? Does it feel like certain joints may be slipping in and out of place? Which ones?

  2. Do you bruise very easily, or have you noticed widened scars or lots of stretchmarks on different parts of the body? Has it been noted that (or do you think that) your skin is more stretchy than other peoples?

  3. Do you constantly feel tired (physical or mental) - perhaps not refreshed after sleep?

  4. Is there a lot of stomach acidity / reflux, nausea, or constipation - perhaps multiple food intolerances? Any hernias?

  5. Do you regularly notice a fast heart rate or feel dizzy as if you might pass out? When does this happen?

  6. Have you had any bladder concerns? Perhaps difficulties in passing or controlling urine, or repeated burning / painful urine?

  7. Have you noticed your symptoms are worse around the time of your menstrual period?

  8. Do you consider yourself to be anxious or depressed? What do you think is driving that?

  9. Is there anything like this in your family history? Possibly even eye, vascular, or bowel problems?

  10. Are there any other symptoms or concerns that are worrying you?

The Most Common Diagnoses 

 

The most common diagnosis of a hypermobility-related disorder was previously called Joint Hypermobility Syndrome (JHS). The JHS diagnostic criteria covered a wide group of patients, some of whom had signs and symptoms that might equally be described as the Hypermobile variant of Ehlers-Danlos syndrome (EDS). As such, some confusion arose over JHS/EDS co-terminology.

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The 2017 International Classification on EDS aimed to address this by giving clarity to the criteria for hEDS, and a newly coined diagnostic term of hypermobility spectrum disorder (HSD) for those who don't meet the hEDS critera (or any other Heritable Disorder of Connective Tissue (HDCT)). These criteria are still in the process of being validated.

 

So in practice, everyone with symptomatic hypermobility who fall within this hEDS/HSD/JHS group requires the same symptom based treatment and management, with the awareness that there could be a connective tissue disorder present.

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You can find more information on the diagnostic criteria for these conditions here.

Investigations and Management of symptomatic hypermobility, JHS, HSD and hEDS

 

A patients’ concerns may be protean. A long list of investigations and treatments is inappropriate for a summary of this nature. Detail regarding specific concerns is presented on other pages on the HMSA website and in the Reviews cited in the reference literature. Many aspects of care should employ guidance over self-management, and likely include physical treatments, medicines, and therapies, often running in parallel and managed in a multidisciplinary way.

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The more common areas of investigation include:

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Musculoskeletal and Fatigue blood tests:

If there is any concern that joint and/or muscle pain may be due to an inflammatory or autoimmune disorder then the relevant blood tests should be undertaken

Blood tests may be required to exclude haematologic, endocrine, and metabolic causes for fatigue.

 

Neuro-Muscular Imaging:

  • Radiographs, Ultrasound, MRI : imaging of joints / soft tissue may help to determine whether mechanical or inflammatory damage is present, impingement at the joint or of a nerve has arisen, or whether subluxation/listhesis etc. is occurring.

  • Neuropathic concerns might require central nervous system imaging; peripheral tests including NCS/EMG

 

Echocardiography if there is any concern on examination, or as part of the diagnostic work up for hEDS and other HDCT

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Bowel and Urogynaecologic Investigations:

Tests for helicobacter, coeliac, bacterial over-growth

Upper or lower GI endoscopy and functional bowel tests

Urodynamics and cystoscopy might be required to delineate a problem, as might hysteroscopy

 

The more common areas of management include (recent reviews cited in brackets):

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  • Physical therapies (Engelbert et al, 2017)

  • Pain Management (Chopra et al. 2017)

  • Anxiety and Mood management (Bulbena et al. 2017)

  • Fatigue (Hakim et al. 2017a)

  • Reflux, nausea, and sluggish bowel (Fikree et al. 2017)

  • Cardiovascular autonomic dysfunction (Hakim et al. 2017b)

  • Management of gynaecological concerns 

 

Very recent literature reviews in this field of medicine detail the current understanding of the associations with hypermobility-related disorders (in particular HSD and hEDS) and the treatment options available. These are cited in the references below, and marked in green with an *. We encourage all to read these. Also the pages of the HMSA website ‘hypermobility.org’ detail a number of the concerns and provide further references to the general literature.

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We recognize that the problems a person may have (medical and social) often require a team of doctors, therapists, and social support with complementing skills. The HMSA is here to help patients and professionals in any way it can with the support from our own medical and therapy advisors and our trained volunteers, sign posting you to information and services as required.

Dr Alan J Hakim MA FRCP

Consultant Physician and Rheumatologist. Medical Advisor 

Written March 2017. (v.2). Peer reviewed by Donna Wicks and HMSA IS members. Updated July 2021. Next review July 2024

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Please email info@hypermobility.org for the list of references used.

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