Diagnosis of Joint hypermobility

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Diagnosis for hypermobility is often based on the Beighton-modified version of the Carter and Wilkinson method. This consists of nine tests:

1. Can you put your hands flat on the floor with your knees straight?

2. Can you bend your left elbow backwards?

3. Can you bend your right elbow backwards?

4. Can you bend your left knee backwards?

5. Can you bend your right knee backwards?

6. Can you bend your left thumb back on to the front of your forearm?

7. Can you bend your right thumb back on to the front of your forearm?

8. Can you bend your little finger on your left hand up at 90Â° to the back of your hand?

9. Can you bend your little finger on your right hand up at 90Â° to the back of your hand?

If you answer yes to five or more out of nine, you are said to be hypermobile. However, some people are very supple at a few joints, but not all. For this reason a new method of diagnosis, called the Brighton criteria has been developed to be used in addition to the method above. It takes account of symptoms such as joint pain and incidences of dislocation.

Hypermobility can be misdiagnosed as fibromyalgia or ME. Your GP may do blood tests and x-rays to rule out rheumatic diseases.