Does Hypermobility Matter?
Hypermobility is common; in one study, 1% of athletes were hypermobile; another study found that 30% of healthy medical students were unusually flexible. When it is not associated with more serious, systemic (body-wide) abnormalities in connective tissue (such as Marfan s syndrome), hypermobility may cause no symptoms at all or cause annoying (but not life-threatening) joint pain, muscle pain, fibromyalgia, osteoarthritis and back pain. These may be treated in a similar way to people who are not hypermobile, with exercises and/or braces, pain medicines, anti-inflammatory medications and muscle relaxants. Back to top The Bottom Line If you have a family history of highly flexible joints or other features suggestive of an inherited connective-tissue disease, learn more about Marfan s syndrome and Ehlers Danlos syndrome at the links below. There are important ways to prevent complications in these conditions. Recognize, though that most people with hypermobility have nothing so serious. T
