Prevalence, associated disorders and treatment of joint hypermobility syndrome; A systematic review.

This systematic review looked at how common joint hypermobility syndrome is in children and young people, what other conditions often happen alongside it, and what treatments seem to help. The researchers searched through multiple medical databases and checked the quality of each study they found. They discovered that roughly one in six young people has this condition, with girls being affected more often than boys.

The syndrome tends to travel with other problems, both musculoskeletal ones like scoliosis and shoulder pain, and non-musculoskeletal ones like digestive issues and anxiety. A range of treatments were tried, from physiotherapy and exercise to psychological support and splinting, and most seemed to help with the muscle and joint symptoms, though their effect on wider systemic symptoms remained unclear.

Joint hypermobility syndrome means your joints can move further than usual, and this often comes with muscle or joint pain and stiffness. This review looked at studies involving children and teenagers and found that the condition is fairly common, affecting about one in six young people overall, though it happens more often in girls than boys.

The research also showed that people with hypermobility often experience other health issues as well, such as knee problems, shoulder pain, digestive discomfort, or anxiety. A number of different treatments were studied, including exercise programs, physiotherapy, psychological counseling, and various types of bracing or supports.

The evidence suggests these treatments can help improve pain and muscle function, though researchers still need more information about how they affect some of the wider, whole-body symptoms that can come with hypermobility.

This is a summary of research, not medical advice. Talk to your own healthcare provider about anything affecting your care.

This systematic review provides useful prevalence data and a broad overview of comorbidities associated with joint hypermobility in the pediatric and adolescent population. The reported prevalence of around 17% overall, with higher rates in girls (24.2%) than boys (17.9%), aligns with clinical observation and suggests this is a relatively common presentation in routine practice.

The associated disorders span both clear mechanical problems like scoliosis and hip dysfunction, and less obviously related conditions such as orthostatic tachycardia syndrome and anxiety, pointing toward the need for a more integrated assessment approach. Multiple therapeutic modalities were identified as showing promise for musculoskeletal and psychological symptoms, including education, exercise, stability training, psychological support, and orthotic management.

However, the abstract notes limited evidence for impact on extra-articular systemic symptoms, which may reflect either genuine limitations of current interventions or gaps in how studies have measured these outcomes. The review indicates that supportive, multimodal approaches appear reasonable, though the quality and specificity of evidence for individual components remains unclear and would benefit from further investigation.