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All my life I have sprained and strained various joints. I've had injuries to my wrists, ankles, knees, and both thumbs. I was finally diagnosed with a generalized joint hypermobility (GJH) condition. I found some information in a book that says people like me are more likely to experience joint injuries because of the GJH. But an article I read on-line said there's no real proof of that. Which is it?
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Generalized joint hypermobility (GJH) is defined as a condition in which most, if not all, of a person's joints are super flexible. They move past the range of motion that the normal, average person has. This type of connective tissue flexibility is sometimes referred to as being "double jointed".
The person really only has one joint at each location. It's just that those joints move too far, too easily. Sprains, strains, subluxations (partial dislocations), and complete dislocations are common. It seems like athletes with generalized joint hypermobility (GJH) actively involved in sports injure the joints of the legs more often than those players who don't have GJH. But does it just seem that way or is it a true observation?
The results of a recent systematic review with meta-analysis suggest there is a direct link between GJH and leg injuries. In fact, an Australian physical therapist (they are called physiotherapists down under) won The American Journal of Sports Medicine's annual competition in 2009 for the best systematic review with meta-analysis on the subject of leg injuries in athletes who are hypermobile.
Let's back up a bit and explain a few things. First, what's the big deal about the competition? Well, a systematic review involves sifting through 1000s (4841 to be exact in this study) of studies on a particular topic. Meta-analysis means the researchers had to find studies that were similar enough in data collection and analysis that the results could be pooled together.
There was a wide range of athletes included from ballet dancers and divers to military recruits and football players, the last group was from the college and professional level. Some of the injuries were from contact activity with high-impact collisions (with another body or with the ground). Others were from overuse (e.g., diving, dancing). Overall, there were significantly more injuries among the contact or collision sports participants.
As for the joints injured most often -- that distinction goes to the knees. Individuals with generalized joint hypermobility (GJH) were much more likely to injure the knee (much moreso than the ankle) compared with athletes who had normal joint motion.
These findings are consistent with what other studies show about ankle injuries -- namely, that loss of ankle motion is the key risk factor in ankle injuries (not hypermobility).
Likewise, when it comes to knee injuries, when the foot is planted on the ground and the body twists or rotates above, the lack of restraint on the knee joint in someone with GJH contributes to knee injuries. Without stiff ligaments, there's no tension keeping the joint from sliding too far.
So to answer your question, there is finally some clear and conclusive evidence that people with generalized joint hypermobility are at an increased risk of leg (especially knee) injuries.
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*Disclaimer:*The information contained herein is compiled from a variety of sources. It may not be complete or timely. It does not cover all diseases, physical conditions, ailments or treatments. The information should NOT be used in place of visit with your healthcare provider, nor should you disregard the advice of your health care provider because of any information you read in this topic. |
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