Joint hypermobility resources

Joint hypermobility is a commonly encountered but often poorly understood condition in both children and adults.

Joint hypermobility changes the biomechanics of the trunk and limbs because of the combination of poor joint stability along with tightness of certain muscles. Understanding this combination allows physical therapists to plan intervention programs that carefully target tight structures, build muscle strength and improve coordination to provide the stability needed for good function.

Here you will find a collection of resources, some written for parents and others for therapists describing the impact of joint hypermobility on function and activity levels, and highlighting the importance of early intervention to prevent the later development of inactivity, chronic pain, fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue.

Generalised joint hypermobility in children

Many children with hypermobile joints have movement difficulties. Why is this and what can be done to overcome these difficulties?

How hypermobility and low muscle tone affect your baby's development

Infants with joint hypermobility have joints that are able to bend further than usual and a trunk and limbs that appear to be floppy and weak.

The increased range of movement at the joints (sometimes called joint laxity or being double jointed) is due to differences in the connective tissue that forms the joint capsule and ligaments.

Common handwriting difficulties in young children

An overview of the of the common problems with drawing and handwriting experienced by children with joint hypermobility (low muscle tone) and developmental coordination disorder (DCD and dyspraxia).

Generalised joint hypermobility, joint hypermobility syndrome and EDS/HT

Generalized joint hypermobility is now increasingly recognized as an underlying or contributing factor in movement difficulties experienced by children, both because of the impact of increased compliance in the connective tissue structures of the body but also because it is closely associated with a cautious temperament (behavioral inhibition) and related anxiety.

Does my child have tight lower back and leg muscles?

Children with generalized joint hypermobility often have loose joints but some tight muscles. The muscle tightness causes abnormal stresses in the joints and can lead to pain and discomfort.

Understanding pain and fatigue in joint hypermobility and EDS

Children with joint hypermobility and Ehlers Danlos Syndrome often experience pain in their joints and muscles. This may follow injury to the joint (sprains and subluxation) or may occur after even mildly strenuous exercise or without any apparent cause or provocation.

Night pain and growing pains in children with joint hypermobility and low muscle tone

Children with joint hypermobility and low muscle tone often complain of leg pain at night or after exercise. They also tend to suffer from growing pains. Pain can be prevented and alleviated by gentle and safe stretches that target the tight structures without stretching lax joint ligaments.

Strength training for painful legs

A program of exercises to improve flexibility and strengthen the leg muscles in children who do not like walking distances and complain of pain in the legs.

Rethinking low muscle tone

In the face of emerging knowledge about the structure of muscles, the impact of hyperrmobility on movement function and the role of anxiety and avoidance in setting central drive, as well as the importance of muscle strength and endurance on a child's everyday function, perhaps it is time to abandon the use of the term low muscle tone and replace it with more precise description of the child's movement difficulties (task performance) and an analysis of the factors contributing to these difficulties (impairments). .

Standing on one leg challenge

Being able to stand on one leg is one of those skills that children really value. If approached in a way that allows for success and a way to measure progress most children are willing to spend time practicing to improve their level of skill.

Children with movement difficulties (low muscle tone, joint hypermobility, DCD, autism) often lack shoulder strength, flexibility and coordination needed for effective control of shoulder movements needed for drawing and handwriting.

Pigeon toes: causes and how exercises can help to improve intoeing git

Pigeon toes, also known as in-toeing gait is usually caused by a combination of femoral anteversion and tibial torsion. Together these differences in bone growth lead to atypical torsional alignment of the leg. Exercises to improve strength, flexibility and coordination will usually improve the child's tendency to walk and stand with the feet turned inwards .