Joint hypermobility describes a situation in which one or a number of a person’s joints have an extra range of movement. If all or many joints are hypermobile it is termed generalised joint hypermobility. On its own it is not an illness or a disease, just the way someone is put together. It can also be referred to as joint laxity or being double jointed.
Hyper means more and Mobility means movement.
Generally, children are flexible, some more than others. In the majority of children this will become less as they get older but a small percentage will remain very flexible. This is more common if their parents are still very flexible. In most cases hypermobility peaks at the age of five.
Many children who are hypermobile experience no symptoms or difficulties and being hypermobile can be an advantage. Some of our best sportsmen and musicians are hypermobile. However, in these people their muscles around the joints are well trained and strong.
There are a small number of people who experience difficulties associated with hypermobility. It is not fully understood why these children have more symptoms than others and it is not necessarily related to how hypermobile they are. However, it is believed that these problems are related to poor muscle strength, poor muscle stamina and poor control of joint movement, not the hypermobility itself.
Joint swelling for a few days after activities in children and young people is not uncommon and will usually settle without any treatment. Unless there has been a specific injury it is not a sign of joint damage or long-term inflammation.
It is essential to increase the muscle strength around the affected joints, to provide additional support and improve the joint stability.
Low impact exercise, such as swimming and cycling, will help maintain muscle strength, physical fitness and well-being. Normal activities such as PE, playtime and dance should be continued and encouraged.
Supportive footwear is recommended. Key points to consider with footwear are:
Avoid shoes with thin soles, no heel support, for example, flip flops, pumps or slip on shoes.
Upper limbs: When pain is experienced in the wrists and hands with activities such as handwriting, gripping and using cutlery, certain aids and extra support can be helpful. Please speak to your child’s schoolteacher regarding support with providing pen grips or a writing board if needed. We also recommend the following activities:
Lower limbs:
Most children and young people’s pain and difficulties will improve with the measures listed above and for the majority hypermobility is unlikely to cause problems in the future providing they remain fit and strong.
Some children benefit from a single assessment with a physiotherapist and / or occupational therapist to provide a standard home exercise programme which will target their individual challenges or alignment variations.
A small number of children will require more detailed therapeutic involvement with these professionals. This includes if the child or young person is more prone to injuries, for example ankle sprains or kneecap (patella) discomfort, or if they have long standing (chronic) pain. In these situations, they will receive more regular appointments for review and a more detailed home exercise programme.
Christ Church CE Primary School is an Academy within St Bartholomew’s CE Multi Academy Trust which is a private company limited by guarantee, with charitable status, registered in England and Wales (Company No: 10312858). Our MAT is a private limited company. Registered office address is at St Bartholomew’s CE Primary School, Sedgley Road, Wolverhampton WV4 5LG. Website address: www.stbartsmat.co.uk
St Bartholomew’s CE Multi Academy Trust 01902 558855