Pain With Hypermobility Joint Syndrome

Hypermobility joint syndrome, or benign hypermobility syndrome, is a condition that allows joints to be moved beyond their normal range of motion. Patients with this condition may develop joint pain and other joint problems.

Normal Hypermobility

• Loose or hypermobile joints are common in children and generally decrease as a person ages, according to the Mayo Clinic.

Syndrome Complications

• People with benign hypermobility syndrome may have a greater frequency of sprains, dislocations or osteoarthritis as well as pain in their hypermobile joints.

Arm and Hand

• Doctors may look for specific kinds of hypermobility when diagnosing benign hypermobility syndrome such as the ability to bend a thumb to the forearm, the ability to bend a little finger backward at a 90-degree angle or hyperextension of the elbow.

Other Joints

• Patients with benign hypermobility syndrome may be able to bend a knee more than 10 degrees beyond a vertical position or they may be able to bend forward and place their hands flat on the floor while their knees are straight.

Treatment

• Physicians may treat joint pain from benign hypermobility syndrome with analgesic medications and have patients restrict their activities to prevent joint pain from recurring. Patients may use physical therapy to strengthen hypermobile joints.