Original ArticleBeighton Score: A Valid Measure for Generalized Hypermobility in Children
Section snippets
Standardized Beighton Score Protocol
All the items were described and visualized with photos. Cutoff points for declaring an item as positive or negative were included (Appendix). Goniometry was used to measure the passive bilateral dorsiflexion of the fifth metacarpophalangeal joint and the passive bilateral hyperextension of the elbow and knee.
Standardized Joint Mobility Protocol
To obtain a reliable impression of overall joint mobility, an extended “standardized joint mobility protocol” (SJP) was developed. This describes test position, positioning of the
Results
In this random sample, 9.1% of the children scored 7 or more out of a possible 9 points on the Beighton score, and 35.6% scored 5 or more (Table III). Complaints of pain in joints, muscles, or ligaments were quite common. Overall, 13.3%, 12.8%, and 4.1% of participants cited this in respective Beighton score bands 1, 2 and 3. Pain after exercise or sport was reported for 8.8%, 9.6%, and 10% of the children, in bands 1, 2, and 3, respectively. These percentages were not significantly different
Discussion
The Beighton score is a valid measure for generalized joint hypermobility in children, on the basis of the detailed analysis of the ranges of motion of all major joints. Although the Beighton score covers a sample of joints, it was shown that increased mobility is present in other joints not covered. Pain over a period of time or after exercise does not seem to be valid extra information in hypermobility related complaints in children under 13 years. This concurs with the study by El-Metwally
References (23)
- et al.
Hypermobility in two Dutch school populations
Eur J Obstet Gynecol Reprod Biol
(1997) - et al.
Articular mobility in an African population
Ann Rheum Dis
(1973) - et al.
Hypermobility among Egyptian children: prevalence and features
J Rheumatol
(1998) - et al.
A study of joint mobility in a normal population
Ann Acad Med Singapore
(1999) - et al.
The prevalence of joint hypermobility among high school students
Rheumatol Int
(2005) - et al.
General joint laxity in 1845 Swedish school children of different ages: age-and gender-specific distributions
Acta Paediatr
(2004) - et al.
Articular hypermobility in Icelandic 12-years olds
Rheumatology
(1999) - et al.
High Hypermobility of joint laxity in West Africans
Br J Rheumatology
(1994) - et al.
Joint mobility among university students in Iraq
Br J Rheumatology
(1985) - et al.
Epidemiology of general joint hypermobility and basis for the proposed criteria for benign joint hypermobility syndrome: review of the literature
J Rheumatology
(2007)
The hypermobility syndrome
Ann Rheum Dis
Cited by (262)
Evaluation of surgical outcomes of calcaneonavicular coalition and too-long anterior process in children: A prospective study
2024, Revue de Chirurgie Orthopedique et TraumatologiqueImpact of chronic wrist hypermobility on proprioception, strength, and functional performance in young adults
2024, Journal of Hand TherapyDiagnosis of generalized joint hypermobility with gait patterns using a deep neural network
2023, Computers in Biology and MedicineThe Effectiveness of Early Rehabilitation in Limiting the Progression of Idiopathic Scoliosis
2024, Journal of Clinical Medicine
The authors declare no conflicts of interest.