The Effect of Hypermobility on Pain and Quality of Life in Young Adults

Abstract

Objective:Hypermobility is the excessive range of motion of joints, and related to various musculoskeletal and extra-articular problems that may significantly impair quality of life (QoL) by causing pain. The aim of the study is to examine the prevalence of hypermobility in young adults, and its relationship with pain in various regions of body and QoL.Methods:Two hundred and twenty five volunteers, aged between 17 and 23, were classified as subjects-with-hypermobility or subjects-without-hypermobility according to the Beighton Criteria. Chronic pain was identified by using Nordic Pain Questionnaire, QoL was identified by Short Form-36 (SF-36) Questionnaire. Pain presence in 9 body regions and SF-36 scores were compared between groups using chi-square test and Independent Samples T-test, respectively.Results:Of the participants, 164 (64%) were female, 91 (36%) were male, 119 (46.7%) had hypermobility. Upper back was the body region with the highest pain prevalence where 79% of hypermobile and 74% of non-hypermobile subjects reported pain at least once in past 12 months. Pain prevalence in body regions did not differ between groups (p>0.05). In terms of QoL, physical and mental component scores of SF-36, as well as all subgroup scores except social function were significantly lower in hypermobile subjects (p<0.05).Conclusion:Pain prevalence in different body regions did not differ between subjects with and without hypermobility whereas the QoL was significantly impaired in hypermobile subjects. Hypermobility is a substantial anatomical finding in young adults that should not be disregarded. Education, emotional support and encouraging about strengthening and proprioception exercises may contribute to their quality of life.

Keywords

• joint laxity
• hypermobility
• pain
• quality of life
• anatomy