Beighton Score Explains Hypermobility

The phrase “double-jointed” often describes people who can bend joints in extreme or abnormal ways or have surprising flexibility. Does this sound like you or someone you know?

This kind of flexibility may actually be hypermobility and could impact your health. How do you find out if it is hypermobility or just flexibility? The Beighton scoring system, a test used for years as a trusted way to simply and effectively qualify an individual’s flexibility and initially weigh factors to determine if there is more to an individual’s flexibility.

Using the Beighton scoring system

Can you…

-Put your hands flat on the floor with knees straight?
-Bend your left elbow backwards?
-Bend your right elbow backwards?
-Bend your left thumb back to meet the forearm?
-Bend your right thumb back to meet the forearm?
-Bend your little right finger at 90 degrees toward the back of your hand?
-Bend your little left finger at 90 degrees toward the back of your hand?

If you answered “Yes” to four or more of these questions, you may have joint hypermobility. There are varying degrees of hypermobility from benign which may include only slight pain or swelling in the evenings or after activities to more severe hypermobility affecting connective tissue throughout the body such as Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome.

People with joint hypermobility can experience a range of symptoms and pain associated with the syndrome and it is important to consult a trained and experienced professional. Dr. Mitakides and his team have dedicated their time and talents to working with Ehlers-Danlos and hypermobility patients to ensure issues with jaw, head, neck and upper back are managed and individuals are able to live with less pain.

Learn more about Dr. Mitakides or Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome on our site, or contact us to set an appointment.