Hypermobility is a condition where joints are extremely flexible, with a genetic component affecting around 10% of people. While it may not require medical treatment, physical therapy and low-impact exercise can help strengthen joints and prevent complications. Overstretching can lead to joint pain and arthritis later in life.
Hypermobility is a medical condition characterized by extremely flexible joints. People with this condition can bend their joints far more than normal, often being able to do things like tuck their thumbs against the backs of their hands, for example. You may hear someone who has hypohypermobility referred to as “double jointing,” even though people with the condition don’t actually have extra joints.
Often, hypermobility occurs on its own and may be limited to certain joints in the body. The condition may not require any medical treatment, and as the patient ages, their joints may become less flexible over time. However, there are some instances where people with this condition need medical attention, as the condition can accompany other, more serious medical conditions, and there are some medical complications associated with hypermobility.
Just because someone with the condition can bend their joints more than normal doesn’t mean this is a good idea. It is possible to damage muscles, tendons and other connective tissue with overstretching, and the condition is sometimes linked to joint pain and arthritis later in life. Depending on how widespread the weakness in the connective tissue is, someone with hypermobility may be at risk for prolapse, irritable bowel disease, flat feet, easy bruising, and other unfortunate complications.
There appears to be a genetic component to hypermobility, and around 10% of people are thought to have the condition, to varying degrees. The condition can be caused by a number of factors including weakened muscle tissue, malformed joints, and damage to the bones around the joint. In people with mild hypermobility, the condition simply manifests as extreme stretchiness, which isn’t necessarily a bad thing.
In case the condition is extreme enough to require medical treatment, most doctors focus on physical therapy which is used to strengthen and tone the joints. Low-impact exercise is also used to keep the body fit without putting strain on the joints. By staying fit and toned, patients can keep their connective tissue strong and in good shape; anti-inflammatory drugs may be prescribed for pain flare-ups.
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