Joint hypermobility and its relationship to musculoskeletal pain in schoolchildren: a cross-sectional study.
OBJECTIVE
To determine if joint hypermobility is associated with musculoskeletal pain in a population of Italian schoolchildren.


METHODS
Cross-sectional, school-based study, using a pretested questionnaire administered to schoolchildren to enquire about musculoskeletal pain and Beighton criteria, with score of > or =5 as a cut-off, to test for hypermobility.


METHODS
Eight primary schools in the town of Cesena, Italy.


METHODS
1230 Italian schoolchildren aged 7 to 15 years representing an opportunistic sample of 10% of the schoolchildren in Cesena


METHODS
(1) The strength of association between hypermobiliy and musculoskeletal pain; (2) the impact of hypermobility on daily activities, using a subjective "disability score" and a "physical activity score."


METHODS
Sample size calculation for evaluating if hypermobility was associated with musculoskeletal pain was performed prior starting the study. Children experiencing pain at least once a week were used as cases, children experiencing pain seldom or never served as controls.


RESULTS
A total of 1046 consenting Italian schoolchildren (mean age 10.8 years) were included. The prevalence of musculoskeletal pain reported by schoolchildren was 18%. 22% of children with musculoskeletal pain versus 23% of controls had hypermobility (OR 1.057, 95% CI 0.7 to 1.4). Functional limitations measured by a "disability score" correlated in a weak negative way with Beighton score (p = 0.03). The "physical activity score" correlated in a weak positive way with Beighton score (p = 0.012).


CONCLUSIONS
No association was found between hypermobility and musculoskeletal pain. Hypermobile children did not experience functional limitations in daily activities, and they were slightly more active than non-hypermobile children.
Leone
V
V
Paediatric Department, Maurizio Bufalini Hospital, Cesena, Italy. valentinaleone@doctors.org.uk
Tornese
G
G
Zerial
M
M
Locatelli
C
C
Ciambra
R
R
Bensa
M
M
Pocecco
M
M
D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D004185:Disability Evaluation; D004812:Epidemiologic Methods; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007593:Joint Instability / Q000150:complications* / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D009140:Musculoskeletal Diseases / Q000150:complications* / Q000453:epidemiology; D010146:Pain / Q000150:complications* / Q000453:epidemiology