Joint hypermobility in African non-pregnant nulliparous women.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the prevalence of joint hypermobility in non-pregnant nulliparous women and the influences of age and Quetelet-index in a rural, female population in Tanzania.


METHODS
A cross-sectional study. Joint mobility was measured according to the scoring systems of Beighton and Biro.


RESULTS
According to the Beighton criteria with a score of 0 to 9 points, 50.5% of 705 non-pregnant nulliparous women scored 3, while 30.8% scored > or =4 and 18.6% > or =5. There were no correlations between hypermobility and age or Quetelet-index. The prevalence of hypermobility at the dominant body side was significantly lower (19.2%) than at the non-dominant side (23.4%) (p<0.001).


CONCLUSIONS
This study confirms that there are ethnic differences in the prevalence of hypermobility. The prevalence of hypermobility in Tanzanian non-pregnant nulliparous women is about 1.5-times higher as compared to Dutch non-pregnant nulliparous women. Prevalence of hypermobility was higher at the non-dominant body side. The most predictive test for the diagnosis of hypermobility was the hyperextension of the elbows >10 degrees.
Verhoeven
J J
JJ
Erasmus University, Rotterdam, Netherlands.
Tuinman
M
M
Van Dongen
P W
PW
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D015992:Body Mass Index; D002648:Child; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004550:Elbow / Q000503:physiopathology; D005260:Female; D005385:Fingers / Q000503:physiopathology; D006225:Hand / Q000503:physiopathology; D006801:Humans; D007593:Joint Instability / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D007717:Knee / Q000503:physiopathology; D010298:Parity; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D015995:Prevalence; D012424:Rural Population; D013636:Tanzania / Q000453:epidemiology; D013933:Thumb / Q000503:physiopathology