Hypermobility refers to being able to bend one or more joints in the body beyond the typical range of movement. Common slang terms for this include double jointed.
Hypermobilty is common and thought to effect 1 in 4 people. Most children wont experience difficulties “asymptomatic” and in some cases can be advantageous in some sports to have mobility and strength – like gymnastics and swimming.
What is the cause of hypermobility? It frequently runs in families. It tends to effect girls more than boys, and some cultural backgrounds are more likely to be hypermobile.
When you might see a physio for advice?
Often we see young children who are delayed in walking who can be hypermobile in the feet or hips and in these circumstances we can advise on exercises to help strengthen the muscles and appropriate footwear to help your child start walking.
Low tone children can also be hypermobility. The tone/ activity in the muscles is harder to activate and then they lack strength and stability around the joints. Children often appear ‘floppy’ and are slow to progress in their gross motor skills (delay in crawling or walking). In these more extreme cases children can move through the splits and do a hamstring stretch with their foot by their ear! Physiotherapy can really help with suggesting equipment and ideas to help gradually strengthen muscles and make things easier to practice moving.
A more specialist area to manage is ‘hypermobility syndrome’ this where children experience regular pain and/or excessive fatigue (tiredness). This type of presentation needs more specialised care and individual treatment plans. Our therapists at Klint Kids are trained in working with such presentations.
Hypermobility syndrome Symptoms can include:
- Poor co ordination
- Poor body awareness
- Brusing easily
- Regular sprains or dislocations
- Scarring and stretchy skin
- Stomach aches
- Dizziness
If regular pain and fatigue is getting in the way with everyday life and making your child avoid activity, then this is the time to seek out physiotherapy support. When school attendance is affected your whole routine will be looked at to spread activity throughout the day.
The stronger the muscles are to protect the joints the more effective your body will be with movement which will help reduce pain. Starting out can be difficult so your physiotherapist will start with stretches to ease into movement, hydrotherapy can be a great way to get started.
