Hypermobility in two Dutch school populations

Objective: To determine the presence of hypermobility and differences between females and males in a Dutch population. Study design: Joint mobility was measured in a primary and a secondary school population. Beighton and Biro measurements were used. The data were evaluated statistically. Results: Using the Beighton score, 15.5% of group I (n=252; 4-13 years) and 13.4% of group II (n=658; 12 - 17 years) were hypermobile. Hypermobility was found more in females than in males, the difference being significant in the older group. Overall, hypermobility did not significantly diminish with ageing, although the individual joints did show a significant decrease in mobility with ageing. Hypermobility was significantly more pronounced at the non-dominant body side in both groups. The Quetelet-index did not show a significant relation to hypermobility. Conclusion: Hypermobility was found more in females than in males, with a trend of decrease of hypermobility with ageing. The non-dominant body side proved to be more hypermobile and the Quetelet-index did not show a relation to hypermobility. Beighton's measurements proved best, since Biro considers the two body sides being equal. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science Ireland Ltd.