Joint hypermobility

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Joint hypermobility means some or all of your joints have an unusually large range of movement; you may be particularly supple at one or more joints.

Joint hypermobility occurs because connective tissue in the joints, muscles, tendons, and ligaments are more loose and stretchy than in most people. This means the joints are more flexible and can extend further. It is often first noticed when as a child you could bend into strange positions or were called â€˜double jointedâ€™.

Joint hypermobility can vary greatly between different people. If your hypermobility is mild it will not affect you too much and will not need treatment. If it is more severe you may be in some pain, your joints may often dislocate and you could injure yourself.

Joint hypermobility affects certain racial groups more than others and women more than men; this is because female hormones increase flexibility. In many cases, it is hereditary.

Occasionally, joint hypermobility is part of a rare, serious condition that affects the tissue protein, such as osteogenesis imperfecta (affects the bones), Marfan Syndrome (affects the heart, eyes and blood vessels) and Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome. There are many different types of Ehler-Danlos Syndrome; symptoms are easy bruising, lens dislocation and skin changes.