CR5 Issue 146 July 2017

Double-jointed: Blessing or a curse?
The phrase ‘double-jointed’ can often bring to mind that one person we all knew at school
who was ultra-flexible and could contort their body parts to make everyone in the playground
feel queasy. But, although they may have seemed like a unique specimen, in fact 20 percent
of adults show some sort of double-jointed ability or joint hypermobility, and while this may
sound like the ultimate party trick it can actually come with some painful side-effects.
What causes joint hypermobility?
Joint hypermobility is often hereditary, with one of the main causes thought to be genetically
determined by changes to a type of protein in the body called collagen.
Collagen is found throughout the body – in the skin, muscles, ligaments, tendons, blood vessels
and discs in the spine. When it is weaker than it should be, it can cause the tissues in the
body to become fragile, which in turn can make ligaments and joints loose and stretchy. And
therefore able to extend further than usual.
What are the symptoms?
Some of the most common symptoms of joint hypermobility, include:
• Pain in the joints at the end of the day and after physical activity
• Clicking joints
• Bruises easily
• Stretch marks or scarring of the skin
• Recurrent strains or sprains
• Digestive problems such as irritable bowel or constipation
• Dizziness and fainting
• Back and neck pain
• Fatigue
• Night pains which disrupt sleep
• Poor Co-ordination
What can I do to alleviate the pain?
There are some self-help measures for joint hypermobility and these include:
• maintaining a healthy diet and weight; this will help improve joint strength and
reduce the strain on them
• staying active, but sticking to low impact exercises such as swimming or cycling to
reduce strain on joints
• wearing comfortable and supportive footwear to support ankles
• applying heat – such as a hot water bottle or heat-rub cream – to soothe sore joints
Physiotherapy is an important part of hypermobility management and Surrey Physiotherapy
is one of the leading centres for this. Ali Driver who trained at Kings College Hospital and has
been with us since 1998, is our expert in treating Hypermobility Syndrome.
Ali said: “We treat a lot of hypermobility issues, particularly in children and
young people, and can help with reducing pain, increasing fitness and
strength, improving posture and correcting the movement of individual joints.
We have a wide range of physiotherapy techniques that we can use and each
patient is given a personalised exercise programme to follow”
To make an appointment with Ali, or any of our Physios,
please phone the clinic on 020 8660 8070.
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