A Study of Joint Hypermobility in School Children of Rawalpindi/Islamabad, Pakistan: Prevalence and Symptomatic Features

Aim: To find out the percentage prevalence of HMS and it correlation with different aspects including family history, dietary status and socio-economic status Methods: The Hypermobility Syndrome (HMS) is considered as a benign condition in which joints mobility is beyond the normal range. The syndrome is identified by a variety of names and is maximum at birth than in adult life. Women generally have more lax joints than men at all ages. It is a common familial condition which results from genetic variations in connective tissue matrix, associated with common rheumatic disorders. It is aggregation of varieties of articular and extra-articular abnormalities depending on age, race and ethnicity. Hypermobility appears to decrease with advancing age and may present as symptomatic or asymptomatic condition. Results: The data was collected from students of a private school at Rawalpindi city using goinometer. Data was analyzed by using statistical system (Percentage Method and Chi Square). It was observed that 30.8 percent students between 8 to 17 years of age were hypermobile. Although both the genders were seen to be hypermobile but its percentage was higher in females than in males. Other nonspecific conditions noticed in HMS patients included headache, breathing problems, Flat Feet, Diabetes Mellitus, joint and Heart diseases.