Hypermobility spectrum disorder

  1. Home
  2. Wiki
Hypermobility Spectrum Disorders symptoms and comorbidities by body system

Hypermobility spectrum disorder
Other namesHypermobility syndrome
Joint hypermobility syndrome
Hypermobile thumb
SpecialtyRheumatology, genetics Edit this on Wikidata
SymptomsJoint hypermobility, musculoskeletal pain, fatigue[1]
CausesGenetic[2]

Hypermobility spectrum disorders (HSD) are a group of heritable connective tissue disorders where joints are flexible enough to cause problems such as instability and pain. Different forms and sub-types have been distinguished, but it does not include asymptomatic joint hypermobility, colloquially known as double-jointedness, or Ehlers–Danlos syndromes.[3]

This condition was called "joint hypermobility syndrome" (JHS) until 2017, when it was renamed and subtypes were defined.[4]

There is a strong association between HSD and neurodevelopmental disorders such as attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and autism spectrum disorder.[5]

Classification

[edit]

Hypermobility spectrum disorders are diagnosed when individuals have symptomatic joint hypermobility but do not meet the criteria for other connective tissue disorders, such as Ehlers–Danlos syndrome.[6]

In March 2017, the International Consortium on the Ehlers-Danlos Syndromes published a revised classification naming two syndromes: hypermobile EDS (hEDS), which has narrowly defined criteria, and hypermobility spectrum disorder (HSD) for those with some but not all the features of hEDS.[7][8][9] This reclassification aimed to address the overlap between joint hypermobility syndrome and what was previously termed EDS-hypermobile type (EDS-HT).[7] Patients who have a diagnosis of EDS-HT or JHS will fall into one of these two new categories.[8]

Hypermobility spectrum disorder does not include people with asymptomatic hypermobility or people with double-jointedness but no other symptoms. Hypermobile Ehlers–Danlos syndrome and hypermobility spectrum disorders may be equally severe.[6][7]

HSD is further classified into different subtypes, which include:[7]

  • Generalized HSD (G-HSD): Involves widespread joint hypermobility affecting multiple joints.
  • Localized HSD (L-HSD): Limited to a few joints, without generalized involvement.
  • Peripheral HSD (P-HSD): Affects joints in the hands and feet.
  • Historical HSD (H-HSD): Diagnosed when there is a history of joint hypermobility that is no longer present, along with other symptoms.

These classifications help in identifying the specific pattern and extent of joint hypermobility and in determining the appropriate management strategies.

Signs and symptoms

[edit]

Some common symptoms of hypermobility spectrum disorder may include:[10]

Musculoskeletal symptoms

[edit]
  • Joint instability and soft tissue injuries: Dislocations, subluxations, or damage to muscles, ligaments, tendons, synovium, or cartilage as a result of excessive joint movement.
  • Chronic pain: Recurrent joint pain that can develop into hyperalgesia, with a higher rate of small fiber neuropathy in some individuals.[7]
  • Disturbed proprioception: Reduced proprioception and muscle weakness, creating a cycle of increasing activity limitations

Extra-articular symptoms

[edit]
  • Autonomic dysfunction/dysautonomia: Symptoms may include orthostatic intolerance, dizziness, palpitations, Raynaud's phenomenon, and postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (POTS).
  • Functional gastrointestinal disorders: Symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, constipation, bloating, early satiety, reflux, and irritable bowel syndrome.
  • Pelvic and bladder dysfunction: Symptoms include pelvic pain, dyspareunia, bladder dysfunction, organ prolapse, and association with conditions like polycystic ovaries, fibroids, or endometriosis.
  • Fatigue: Profound fatigue, often linked to sleep disturbances, non-restorative sleep, and nocturnal musculoskeletal pain, affecting concentration and quality of life.
  • Mood disorders: Anxiety, depression, panic attacks, and emotional distress, often related to chronic pain and reduced physical function.

Symptom expression varies widely, with different combinations and severities seen in individuals. Symptoms may fluctuate over time, often triggered by physical exertion, stress, illness, or injury.

Diagnosis

[edit]
Beighton score

The Beighton score can be used to determine generalised joint hypermobility (GJH) related to hypermobility syndrome.[11] The newer term "generalised hypermobility spectrum disorder" includes people with generalised joint hypermobility, often determined using the Beighton score, and other symptoms. Those who do not meet the Beighton score criteria may be diagnosed with historical joint hypermobility spectrum disorder, peripheral hypermobility spectrum disorder, or localised hypermobility spectrum disorder.[7]

In comparison to the diagnostic criteria of hypermobile Ehlers–Danlos syndrome, the criteria for hypermobile spectrum disorder are less strict. However, these criteria are differentiated from criteria of other EDS types and therefore its less-strict criteria are only comparable to the criteria of hEDS. As those with HSD experience a considerable amount of discomfort, it is important to focus on the treatment, not the labels. The severity of each condition can be equivalent. In particular, musculoskeletal involvement is a requirement for diagnosis with any form of hypermobility spectrum disorder but not for hypermobile Ehlers–Danlos syndrome. Like hypermobile Ehlers–Danlos syndrome, hypermobility spectrum disorders are associated with orthostatic tachycardia, gastrointestinal disorders, and pelvic and bladder dysfunction.[9]

Treatment

[edit]

Hypermobility spectrum disorders no direct cure, but its symptoms can be treated. Physiotherapy, particularly exercise, is the main treatment for the condition, although there is only limited evidence for its effectiveness.[12]

Prevalence

[edit]

While the heritability of hypermobility is strong, specific genes implicated in the condition have not been identified.[4]

Prevalence of HSD alone is unknown, though previous estimates have placed the combined prevalence of hEDS and HSD between 194.2 per 100 000 (0.19%) or 1 in 500 people.[8] Other studies have suggested that it affects around 3% of the UK population.[4] The condition is relatively common in those attending musculoskeletal clinics.[13][14]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "What Is HSD?". The Ehlers–Danlos Society. Retrieved 30 May 2018.
  2. ^ Hakim, Alan. "Hypermobility Disorders- An Update for Clinicans". Hypermobility Syndromes Association. Archived from the original on 5 June 2018. Retrieved 30 May 2018.
  3. ^ "Hypermobile Ehlers–Danlos syndrome | Genetic and Rare Diseases Information Center (GARD) – an NCATS Program". rarediseases.info.nih.gov. Archived from the original on 20 January 2023. Retrieved 19 June 2017.
  4. ^ a b c Atwell, Karina; Michael, William; Dubey, Jared; James, Sarah; Martonffy, Andrea; Anderson, Scott; Rudin, Nathan; Schrager, Sarina (1 July 2021). "Diagnosis and Management of Hypermobility Spectrum Disorders in Primary Care". The Journal of the American Board of Family Medicine. 34 (4): 838–848. doi:10.3122/jabfm.2021.04.200374. ISSN 1557-2625. Retrieved 23 September 2025.
  5. ^ Kindgren, Erik; Perez, Antonia Quiñones; Knez, Rajna (10 February 2021). "Prevalence of ADHD and Autism Spectrum Disorder in Children with Hypermobility Spectrum Disorders or Hypermobile Ehlers–Danlos Syndrome: A Retrospective Study". Neuropsychiatric Disease and Treatment. 17: 379–388. doi:10.2147/NDT.S290494. PMC 7882457. PMID 33603376.
  6. ^ a b "What are the hypermobility spectrum disorders?". The Ehlers Danlos Society. Retrieved 20 October 2020.
  7. ^ a b c d e f Castori, Marco; Tinkle, Brad; Levy, Howard; Grahame, Rodney; Malfait, Fransiska; Hakim, Alan (March 2017). "A framework for the classification of joint hypermobility and related conditions". American Journal of Medical Genetics. Part C, Seminars in Medical Genetics. 175 (1): 148–157. doi:10.1002/ajmg.c.31539. hdl:1854/LU-8510229. ISSN 1552-4876. PMID 28145606.
  8. ^ a b c Demmler, Joanne C.; Atkinson, Mark D.; Reinhold, Emma J.; Choy, Ernest; Lyons, Ronan A.; Brophy, Sinead T. (1 November 2019). "Diagnosed prevalence of Ehlers-Danlos syndrome and hypermobility spectrum disorder in Wales, UK: a national electronic cohort study and case–control comparison". BMJ Open. 9 (11) e031365. doi:10.1136/bmjopen-2019-031365. ISSN 2044-6055. PMC 6858200. PMID 31685485.
  9. ^ a b Ehlers–Danlos Society. "Hypermobile Ehlers–Danlos syndrome (hEDS) vs. hypermobility spectrum disorders (HSD): What's the difference?" (PDF). Ehlers–Danlos Society. Retrieved 31 January 2019.
  10. ^ Carroll, Matthew B (22 July 2023). "Hypermobility spectrum disorders: A review". Rheumatology and Immunology Research. 4 (2): 60–68. doi:10.2478/rir-2023-0010. ISSN 2719-4523. PMC 10457547. PMID 37637226.
  11. ^ "Assessing Joint Hypermobility". The Ehlers–Danlos Society. Retrieved 30 May 2018.
  12. ^ Palmer et al., 2014[permanent dead link]
  13. ^ Palmer et al., 2017
  14. ^ E. Connelly, A. Hakim, S. Davenport, J. Simmonds. "A study exploring the prevalence of joint hypermobility syndrome in patients attending a musculoskeletal triage clinic." Physiother. Pract. Res., 36 (1) (2015), pp. 43-53