CONDITION: Benign Congenital Hypermobility

DESCRIPTION:

What is benign congenital hypermobility?
Benign congenital hypermobility is a condition in which ligaments, joint capsules and intervertebral discs are abnormally lax or flexible. It is an often overlooked but extremely important cause of chronic body pain. Generalized joint hypermobility – loose joints in the entire body – is due to lax ligaments and occurs in about 5 percent of the population. It may be genetic. Afflicted individuals may improve over time and lose some of their juvenile hyperlaxity as they age. Those affected over age 40 often have recurrent joint problems and almost always suffer from chronic pain. Back patients with hypermobility in the spine may also experience osteoarthritis and disc degeneration.

How does benign congenital hypermobility affect joints?
Hypermobility sufferers often have a decreased ability to sense joint position, which can contribute to joint damage. The resulting poor limb positions can lead to the acceleration of degenerative joint conditions. Many hypermobility patients suffer from osteoarthritis, disorders involving nerve compression, chondromalacia patellae, excessive anterior mandibular movement, mitral valve prolapse, uterine prolapse and varicose veins. People with a sedentary job often report back pain.

What are the symptoms of benign congenital hypermobility?
Hypermobility is considered a state rather than a disease. Arthralgia, or symptoms such as frequent sprained ankles, shoulder dislocations, knee effusions and back problems are common. Young women often suffer pain with even minor strains. Afflicted individuals are also prone to bone dislocation.

Individuals with hypermobile joints can bend their elbows or knees past a position of neutrality. They can also easily touch their hands flat to the floor while bending forward from the waist. The ability to touch the thumb to the forearm is also common. Some cases of benign congenital hypermobility, however, can only be diagnosed with a medical examination.
Conventional medical treatments may help relieve the symptoms of benign congenital hypermobility, but they do not address the root of the problem. By strengthening structural weaknesses in the body, as natural medicine treatments like Prolotherapy do, pain associated with benign congenital hypermobility may be alleviated permanently.