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Exercise for joint stability |
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July 31, 2017 |
By: Jeff Petersen, PT, DPT
Physical Therapist
Boundary Community Hospital Rehabilitation
Services
How many times, on the sports field or
playground, do you hear the kids talking about
being “double-jointed?” This is common slang for
a condition called joint hypermobility or joint
laxity, and it simply means that someone is able
to move their joints farther than most people
can.
In some children (and adults) this condition may
be the cause of joint pain.
The majority of patients I see who are under the
age of 18 and not post-surgical complain
primarily of joint pain.
In addition, they tend to score in the mild to
moderate 4 – 6 point range of the 9-point
Beighton score for joint hypermobility. This
patient population represents only a very small
percentage of the total population in this age
group in Boundary County.
Because many individuals do not seek treatment,
this suggests the condition may be more
widespread.
The problem with joint laxity is that the
connective tissues involved, which typically
provide joint stability, are looser than they
should be, and allow excessive range of motion.
This can be congenital in nature, which
typically presents throughout the body, or from
a traumatic event affecting just one or a few
joints specifically.
These tissues do not stretch and rebound like
muscle tissue, and therefore if they allow
excessive range of motion, there is no changing
that without surgical intervention.
On a more conservative note, if the muscles that
attach to the joint connective tissues can be
strengthened and trained to work more as joint
stabilizers, they can help reduce the strain on
the connective tissues, and provide increased
joint stability when performing movements,
especially with sports.
What options do you have to postpone or prevent
issues with joint hypermobility?
Most people do very well participating in a
physical therapy program to evaluate deficits
and establish an individual plan of care. The
objective of the plan of care is to improve
tolerance to functional mobility, especially
sports and other recreational activities, and to
reduce joint pain and associated symptoms.
Make a habit of including strength and stability
training in a life-long, regular exercise
program to minimize the effects of joint laxity. |
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