JOINT HYPERMOBILITY IS NOT A CONTRIBUTING FACTOR TO MUSCULOSKELETAL PAIN IN PREADOLESCENTS

Objective, To study the prevalence of joint hypermobility and the asso ciation of hypermobility with musculoskeletal pain in pre-adolescents. Methods. Finnish school children in the 3rd and 5th grade, n = 1637, mean ages 9.8 and 11.8 years, were studied by Beighton criteria for jo int hypermobility, with total score greater than or equal to 6 as a cu toff point for hypermobility, pretested questionnaire for musculoskele tal pain, and classification to different pain groups on the basis of painful body area and frequency of pain. Results, The mean Beighton sc ores were 2.7 and 2.4 for the 3rd and 5th grade children, respectively . Total score was greater than or equal to 6 in 7.8% of the children. No association of hypermobility with musculoskeletal pain was found. O f the hypermobile children, 29.9% (95% CI 22.3 to 38.8), and of the no nhypermobile children, 32.3% (95% CI 29.9 to 34.7) had musculoskeletal pain at least once a week. Children with hypermobility did not have m ore pain due to injuries. Disability caused by musculoskeletal pain di d not correlate with Beighton total score. Conclusion, Both joint hype rmobility and musculoskeletal pain are common in pre-adolescents. Hype rmobility appears not to be a contributing factor to musculoskeletal p ain in pre-adolescents.