Have you ever heard of the Beighton Scoring System? Do you think you might be hyper-mobile? If you can do four of the below nine movements (some are broken down into one on each side), you could be a solid contender for hyper-mobility.

Joint hyper-mobility is a connective tissue disorder. Thick bands of tissue (your ligaments) hold joints together and keep them from moving too much or too far out of range. Those who have joint hyper-mobility will find these ligaments can be loose or weak; your joints are very flexible!

Hyper-mobility doesn’t typically cause serious pain or medical issues, but it can cause joint paint, joint ligament injuries, tiredness, bowel issues and other symptoms. You might even notice that you bruise more easily than others, have ‘stretchy’ skin or struggle with balance and coordination.

There are less obvious ‘symptoms’ as well, typically classified as ‘benign hyper mobility syndrome’, which can include trouble toning or building strength in your muscles, a poor sense of proprioception – the ability to sense how far you’re stretching, or even bone shape or the depth of the joint sockets.

For children who might be constantly corrected for ‘slumping’, they too might be hyper-mobile. For youth, this can lead to progressive scoliosis and spinal issues, if left untreated. This is especially true for those who are not active, or those who sit for long periods daily.

There are different types of hyper mobility, and also a range of different symptoms people might face, what’s important to know is that if you suspect or know that you’re hyper-mobile, a physical therapist can help provide a range of exercises that can help keep you stable, support balance and prevent pain and injury.

This is true for people who are both active, as well as more sedentary.  For example, if you know which areas you might need to strengthen or be mindful of, it allows you to take caution when doing certain movements. Even certain practices, like some yoga practices, can add strain or injury to those who are hyper-mobile, versus supporting your body, so it’s good to be aware of when and how to be cautious. Ie; don’t overextend your joints just because you can!

The Beighton score is a popular screening technique for hyper mobility. Consisting of nine movements, it includes five maneuvers, four passive bilateral and one active unilateral movement. It has been in use for 30 years, however it only evaluates a few joints and not the entire system. It’s worth noting that hyper-mobile joints outside the selected group will inevitably be overlooked. It’s also an all-or-none test, meaning that you either qualify, or you don’t, but it doesn’t take into account different ranges.

Now onto the exercises …

1.Being able to bend forward and place your hands flat on the floor without bending your knees.

2.Being able to bend your elbows backward (one point each).

3.Being able to bend your knees backward (one point each).

4.Being able to bend your thumbs backward to touch your forearms (one point each).

5.Being able to bend your little fingers backward beyond 90 degrees (one point each).

If you scored four or more points and have had pain in four or more joints for at least three months, you may have joint hyper-mobility syndrome.

Of course, your physical therapist might ask you more questions or do more tests if you come in for a check. What’s interesting about being hyper mobile is that the more you move your body, the better it actually might feel. The more ‘feedback’ you give to your body, the more aware it can become. If you think that you might be hyper mobile, but don’t move often, it is worth coming in to UP to get simple exercises that could make you feel better on a day-to-day basis.

Regardless, for both movers and ‘less-frequent’ movers, body awareness is key. If you’re struggling with any pain, have more questions about managing hyper-mobility or learning if you are, or want to feel better daily, connect with us to schedule an appoint and start moving and feeling stronger.