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Luder G.1, Mueller Mebes C.1, Schmid S.2, Stettler M.2, Stutz U.1, Ziswiler H.-R.3, Radlinger L.2
1Bern University Hospital, Department of Physiotherapy, Berne, Switzerland, 2Bern University of Applied Sciences, Health, Discipline Physiotherapy, Berne, Switzerland, 3Osteo Rheuma Bern, Zentrum für Muskuloskelettale Medizin, Berne, Switzerland
Background: Generalized joint hypermobility (GJH) depends on age, sex and ethnicity, whereby women are usually more often affected than men and, with increasing age, joint mobility is commonly reduced. In a recent survey conducted by Mulvey the prevalence of GJH in a general population was reported to be 18% with hypermobile subjects having a 40% increased risk of reporting severe chronic widespread pain. Furthermore, recurrent joint dislocation or subluxation, arthralgia, soft tissue injuries, fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue syndrome, risk for early osteoarthritis as well as back pain, reduced activity level in sports and reduced strength seem to be associated with GJH.
Purpose: The aim of the current study was to record specific problems and disorders of hypermobile women and to investigate the activity level of hypermobile women compared to women with normal mobility.
Methods: A total of 195 women, 67 normomobile (NM) and 128 hypermobile, whereof 56 were further classified as hypermobile with symptoms (HM-s) and 47 as hypermobile without symptoms (HM-as) were included in this explorative study. Symptoms were first recorded with the Canadian Occupational Performance Measure (COPM) and then monthly over a period of 6 months with a face validated questionnaire including a general overview of impairment, the localization, type, intensity and frequency of problems. Activity level was determined by the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ).
Results: Concerning COPM there was no significant difference between patients in the NM and HM group. In the face validated questionnaire pain in different localization by remaining in a position was mentioned as most important problem. The highest activity level showed the HM-s group compared to NM (p=0.028).
Conclusion(s): There seem to be differences in symptoms and activity level between hypermobile and women with normal mobility. Though the hypermobile women were classified as BGJH half of them were complaining about pain. Therefore a more comprehensive procedure of screening, and a more specific investigation may help to evaluate the finely graduated differences between the groups.
Implications: Widespread pain and level of activity are aspects which have to be included in the holistic approach in the management of patients with GJH.
Funding acknowledgements: The project was supported by the Swiss National Science Foundation, with the grant number # 13DPD6 127285.
Topic: Rheumatology
Ethics approval: This study was approved by the local research Ethics Committee of Canton Bern, Switzerland (Number 229/2008).
All authors, affiliations and abstracts have been published as submitted.
