General Information About Hypermobility
Disease Details and Frequently Asked Questions
It is the ability of joints to stretch easily and painlessly beyond their anatomical limits due to the ligaments and capsules around the joints being structurally loose or rubbery.
Merely having joint flexibility is not a disease; it is even an advantage for some athletes (gymnasts, etc.). However, if this flexibility leads to pain, dislocations, or early osteoarthritis in the person's joints, it is considered 'Hypermobility Syndrome'.
Bending the fingers or knees/elbows backward in reverse, experiencing frequent ankle sprains, joint pains that cause waking up at night, and shoulder, jaw, or kneecap dislocations.
In ordinary hypermobility, only the joints are flexible. In severe genetic conditions like Ehlers-Danlos, joint flexibility is accompanied by dough-like stretching of the skin, aneurysms in the heart vessels, and serious organ problems.
Diagnosis is made by a doctor using the 9-point 'Beighton Score' test, which scores the degree of flexibility of the person's joints (thumbs, little fingers, elbows, knees, and trunk).
For the treatment of these individuals, whose ligaments are already very elastic and weak, movements that stretch the joints even further, such as yoga, are strictly prohibited. The solution is not to stretch, but to strengthen the muscles through pilates or weight training, so they can take over the role of the weak ligaments.
Our health library contents are prepared for informational purposes only and with scientific data available at the time of recording. For all your questions, concerns, diagnosis, or treatment regarding your health, please consult your doctor or a healthcare institution.
