|  | Conditions Treatments | Bones, Joints Muscles

Signs & Symptoms of Loose Painful Joints

Everybody seems to have that contortionist friend--the one who can bend a thumb to the back of the hand, put a shoulder behind the head or wrap a leg around the neck. Doctors have a test to tell when people can bend just a little farther than their joints were designed to do. The condition they test for is called hypermobility.

  1. About Joint Hypermobility

    • Hypermobility is the ability of a joint to move beyond its normal range of motion. It is common in children, decreases over time and usually causes no pain or other problems, according to the Mayo Clinic.

    Pain And Injury

    • Though hypermobility usually does not cause pain or other trouble, it can for some. Hypermobility can result in chronically sore joints, as well as a higher risk of dislocations and sprains, according to the Mayo Clinic.

    Diagnosis And The Beighton Test

    • According to the Mayo Clinic, people who have joint pain and hypermobility should see their doctor to determine the extent of the abnormality, and whether they should do anything to treat it. The doctor will likely use the Beighton Test to determine whether the patient has benign hypermobility syndrome. The test involves measuring the ability of the joints to bend past the point of straightening (hyperextension). For example, a person who can bend a little finger backward to a 90-degree angle is considered to have a hypermobile joint in that finger.

    The Beighton Score

    • The Beighton Test focuses on nine joints. For each that scores as unusually flexible, the patient receives a point. A score of four or higher, accompanied by chronic pain in at least four joints, indicates benign hypermobility syndrome, according to the Mayo Clinic.

    Treatment And Dangers

    • Doctors often recommend physical therapy for people who have problems from hyperextension. The therapy teaches the patient to prevent hyperextension in everyday activities. Doctors may also recommend avoiding or changing certain activities to relieve pain, according to the Mayo Clinic.

      Though hyperextension usually is not serious, people who are unusually flexible and have joint pain should see a doctor. These characteristics may be symptoms of Marfan Syndrome, a rare but serious disease of the body's connective tissue.

Bones, Joints Muscles - Related Articles