Joint Hypermobility In Women Research Articles

Association between joint hypermobility and anxiety in Brazilian university students: Gender-related differences

IntroductionAnxiety disorders may be associated with several non-psychiatric disorders. Current literature has been investigating the association between anxiety and joint hypermobility (JHM), with special interest in non-articular symptoms that may be related to autonomic dysfunction. This study investigated the association between anxiety and JHM in a sample of Brazilian university students. MethodsData were cross-sectionally collected in two Brazilian universities (N=2600). Participants completed three validated self-rating anxiety scales: Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI), Social Phobia Inventory (SPIN) and the brief-version of SPIN (Mini-SPIN). They also answered the self-rating screening questionnaire for JHM: the Five-part Questionnaire for Identifying Hypermobility. ResultsHypermobile women showed significantly higher scores in all the anxiety scales, when compared with men: BAI total score (t=3.77; p<0.001), its four subscales, SPIN score (t=2.71; p<0.007) and Mini-SPIN (t=2.58; p<0.01). Among BAI subscales, the autonomic subscale was shown to be more significantly (t=3.89; p<0.001) associated with joint hypermobility in women. ConclusionsThe results of the present study support earlier evidence on the relationship between anxiety and JHM in women, showing specific gender-related features in this field. It also directs attention to non-articular symptoms that may be enrolled in this association.

Joint Hypermobility in Women with Cesarean Section

Background: Delivery modalities are importantobstetrical issues. Joint hypermobility (JHM) is a common clinical condition with striking female predominance. The aim of the study was to assess JHM in women with cesarean section (CS). Methods: This case control study included 100 women with CS and 100 women with normal vaginal delivery (NVD) matched in age and BMI. Joint mobility was measured by a blinded observer according to Beighton score. Women with joint mobility score ≥ 4 were hypermobile. Results: JHM was significantly less in women with CS than NVD group [8 (24.2%) vs 25 (75.8%), OR (95% CI), P=0.002].Total joint mobility score was significantly less in CS group (111) than in NVD group (197) (p=0.002).Joint mobility score at cut off ≤ 3 had accuracy of 59 %, with positive predictive value 55 % , sensitivity (92%), and specificity (25%). Conclusions: Joint mobility was reduced in women with CS. Joint mobility score at cut off ≤ 3 had moderate accuracy and high sensitivity to diagnose women who may need CS. This may suggest that women with more hypermobile joints may be a prognostic and facilitating factorof spontaneous vaginal birth.

Genitourinary prolapse and joint hypermobility in women

To determine whether joint hypermobility, a clinical marker for connective tissue abnormalities, is associated with genital prolapse. One hundred seven women were recruited from a university gynecology clinic. Subjects were examined in the standing and nonstraining positions for cystocele, rectocele, and uterine or vault prolapse. The degree of prolapse was graded 0-3. A separate investigator, blinded to the results of the gynecologic examination and using accepted criteria, evaluated each subject for joint hypermobility. Clinical joint hypermobility was found in 39 of 107 (36%) study patients. Subjects with joint hypermobility had a significantly higher prevalence of cystocele (33 of 37 [89%] versus 40 of 69 [58%], P = .001), rectocele (32 of 38 [84%] versus 33 of 69 [48%], P = .0002), and uterine or vault prolapse (25 of 38 [66%] versus 20 of 69 [29%], P = .0002) compared to women with normal joint mobility, respectively. No differences in the prevalence of stress incontinence were found between the two groups. Women with joint hypermobility have a significantly higher prevalence of genital prolapse compared to women with normal mobility, which suggests an underlying connective tissue abnormality as one etiology of pelvic relaxation.