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Joint Hypermobility Syndrome: Recognizing a Commonly Overlooked Cause of Chronic Pain
Journal article   Peer reviewed

Joint Hypermobility Syndrome: Recognizing a Commonly Overlooked Cause of Chronic Pain

Bharat Kumar and Petar Lenert
The American journal of medicine, Vol.130(6), pp.640-647
06/2017
DOI: 10.1016/j.amjmed.2017.02.013
PMID: 28286166

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Abstract

Joint hypermobility syndrome, also known as benign hypermobility syndrome, is a connective tissue disease characterized by joint instability, chronic pain, and minor skin changes. It shares many clinical features of Ehlers-Danlos syndrome, Hypermobility Type; enough so that many authorities consider them as one disease process. Approximately 3% of the general population is believed to have joint hypermobility syndrome, but despite this high prevalence, due to lack of awareness, heterogeneity of clinical presentation, and reliance on physical examination for diagnosis, it is largely overlooked by primary care physicians as well as by specialists. This leads to delayed or missed opportunities for diagnosis, and inappropriate interventions that frustrate both providers and patients. We review the literature regarding the pathophysiology, diagnosis, treatment options, and prognosis of joint hypermobility syndrome, and advocate for primary care physicians to consider it in the differential diagnosis of patients with chronic pain.
 Abdominal Pain - etiology Headache - etiology Prevalence Humans Musculoskeletal Pain - etiology Primary Dysautonomias - etiology Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome - therapy Fatigue - etiology Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome - epidemiology Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome - physiopathology Pelvic Pain - etiology Mitral Valve Prolapse - etiology Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome - diagnosis Chronic Pain - etiology

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