Remember those days in childhood when you challenged a friend to a physical stunt...such as a split...and having conversations about being able to perform such challenges due to being "double jointed"?
As it turns out, being "double jointed" is a two-edged sword. The medical term for this phenomenon is hypermobility. It appears that many people who have been genetically gifted to perform well in sports and dancing are often more prone to have hypermobility. Well it's a good thing to be a star athlete or an accomplished ballerina, there may be consequences for those who have this trait.
Generalized joint hypermobility (GJH) seems to be a predecessor to a host of chronic pain conditions that develop as age progresses. Poorly understood, it frequently occurs in a number of persons diagnosed with diseases of connective tissue, such as Marfan syndrome, osteogenesis imperfecta, and Ehlers-Danlos syndrome. Hypermobility syndrome affects approximately 57% of the general population, and many of those affected suffer from issues with chronic pain for years, unaware of the underlying cause.
According to a recent review in the Journal of Pain Research, there are three key challenges in addressing this condition.
1) Due to clinical heterogenicity, hypermobility conditions are poorly understood and under diagnosed.
Explanation: Medical practitioners at large do not recognize enhanced athletic ability, talent in dance,gymnastics, or martial arts as a "red flag". The patients themselves do not see a problem picture either, so when pain issues come up they are often not recognized as coming from a connective tissue disorder.
2) There are many theories regarding GJH --> development of chronic pain; however, a pathophysiological model does not exist. This could be accomplished--by establishing a record of types and subtypes, successful treatments, etc. This will require a great deal of research, but in the end having better recognition and ability to treat these types of conditions will improve treatment of chronic pain for a good number of individuals.
3) The psychosocial aspect of chronic pain is part of this condition. This should not be overlooked.
Treating the patient as a whole is important to the overall success of any chronic pain treatment plan.
Sources: hcplive.com; wikipedia
As it turns out, being "double jointed" is a two-edged sword. The medical term for this phenomenon is hypermobility. It appears that many people who have been genetically gifted to perform well in sports and dancing are often more prone to have hypermobility. Well it's a good thing to be a star athlete or an accomplished ballerina, there may be consequences for those who have this trait.
Generalized joint hypermobility (GJH) seems to be a predecessor to a host of chronic pain conditions that develop as age progresses. Poorly understood, it frequently occurs in a number of persons diagnosed with diseases of connective tissue, such as Marfan syndrome, osteogenesis imperfecta, and Ehlers-Danlos syndrome. Hypermobility syndrome affects approximately 57% of the general population, and many of those affected suffer from issues with chronic pain for years, unaware of the underlying cause.
According to a recent review in the Journal of Pain Research, there are three key challenges in addressing this condition.
1) Due to clinical heterogenicity, hypermobility conditions are poorly understood and under diagnosed.
Explanation: Medical practitioners at large do not recognize enhanced athletic ability, talent in dance,gymnastics, or martial arts as a "red flag". The patients themselves do not see a problem picture either, so when pain issues come up they are often not recognized as coming from a connective tissue disorder.
2) There are many theories regarding GJH --> development of chronic pain; however, a pathophysiological model does not exist. This could be accomplished--by establishing a record of types and subtypes, successful treatments, etc. This will require a great deal of research, but in the end having better recognition and ability to treat these types of conditions will improve treatment of chronic pain for a good number of individuals.
3) The psychosocial aspect of chronic pain is part of this condition. This should not be overlooked.
Treating the patient as a whole is important to the overall success of any chronic pain treatment plan.
Sources: hcplive.com; wikipedia
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