Are people with Joint Hypermobility Syndrome slow to strengthen?

Publication date: Available online 30 December 2018

Source: Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation

Author(s): May To, Caroline M. Alexander

Abstract

Objective

Primary objective

To investigate whether the rate of change of muscle strength in people with Joint Hypermobility syndrome (JHS) who have anterior knee pain (AKP) differs when compared to two control groups who have AKP.

Secondary objective

To evaluate the relationship between strength and pain as well as the impact of strength upon activity and knee function.

Design

A cohort study, with 3 groups: Joint Hypermobility Syndrome with AKP (JHS), Generalised Joint Hypermobility with AKP (GJH), and normal flexibility with AKP (CG). Follow up appointments were fortnightly for 16 weeks.

Setting

Participants attended the physiotherapy outpatient department within a xxx hospital.

Participants

102 people, aged between 18 and 55 years, were recruited between July 2014 and March 2016; 47 JHS, 29 GJH, and 26 CG. After 16 weeks, 31, 20 and 21 participants completed the study respectively.

Recruitment from support groups, a xxxx Hospital Group and University, local sports centres and clubs.

Interventions

Individualised leg exercises for 16 weeks

Main Outcome Measure(s)

Muscle torque generated from the lower limb, every 2 weeks for 16 weeks.

Results

There was no difference in the rate of change of concentric muscle strength between the JHS group and the CG or GJH groups (p > 0.88 and 0.97 respectively). There was no difference in the rate of change of eccentric muscle strength between the JHS group and the CG or GJH groups (p > 0.60 and 0.94 respectively). However, people with JHS were significantly weaker than the other two groups, taking 3-4 months to reach the baseline strength of the GJH group.

Conclusion

People with JHS can strengthen at the same rate as other people in pain.

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