Hypermobile joints

Injury	Disease	Nutrition	Poison

Symptoms	Surgery	Test	Special Topic

Hypermobile joints

Overview

Treatment

Hypermobile joints

Definition:

Hypermobile joints are joints that move beyond the normal range with little effort. The joints that are most commonly hypermobile are the elbows, wrists, fingers, and knees.

Alternative Names:

Joint hypermobility; Loose joints

Considerations:

Hypermobile joints occur in some very rare medical conditions, but can also occur in otherwise healthy and normal children. Children generally tend to be more flexible than adults, but those with hypermobile joints are capable of flexing and extending beyond normally observed limits for that particular joint. The movement is accomplished without undue force and without discomfort. Children with hypermobile joints also frequently have flat feet.

Common Causes:

Ehlers-Danlos syndrome
Down syndrome
Marfan syndrome
Morquio syndrome
Cleidocranial dysostosis

Review Date: 11/22/2004
Reviewed By: Benjamin D. Roye, M.D., M.P.H., Division of Pediatric Orthopaedics, Beth Israel Medical Center, New York, NY. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.

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