title: United States Physical Therapists' Knowledge About Joint Hypermobility Syndrome Compared with Fibromyalgia and Rheumatoid Arthritis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Joint hypermobility syndrome (JHS) is one of the most common inherited connective tissue disorders. It causes significant pain and disability for all age groups, ranging from developmental delay among children to widespread chronic pain in adults. Experts in JHS assert that the condition is under-recognized and poorly managed.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to assess US physical therapists' knowledge about JHS compared with other causes of widespread pain and activity limitations: fibromyalgia, juvenile rheumatoid arthritis and adult rheumatoid arthritis.
  
  
  METHODS
  Cross-sectional, Internet-based survey of randomly selected members of the American Physical Therapy Association and descriptive statistics were used to explore physical therapists' knowledge about JHS, fibromyalgia, juvenile rheumatoid arthritis and adult rheumatoid arthritis, and chi square was used to compare knowledge about the different conditions.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The response rate was 15.5% (496). Although 36% recognized the Beighton Scale for assessing joint hypermobility, only 26.8% of respondents were familiar with the Brighton Criteria for diagnosing JHS. Few respondents (11-19%) realized that JHS has extra-articular features such as anxiety disorder, fatigue, headache, delayed motor development, easy bruising and sleep disturbance. Physical therapists working in environments most likely to see patients with JHS underestimated the likely prevalence in their patient population.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results suggest that many physical therapists in the United States are not familiar with the diagnostic criteria, prevalence or common clinical presentation of JHS.
authors.affiliation: Clarkson University, Potsdam, NY, USA.|Canton-Potsdam Hospital, Potsdam, NY, USA.
authors.forename: Leslie N
authors.identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0002-2642-9011
authors.initials: LN
authors.lastname: Russek
authors.affiliation: Highland Nursing Home and Rehab, Massena, NY, USA.
authors.forename: Emily A
authors.initials: EA
authors.lastname: LaShomb
authors.affiliation: Ladacin Network, Wanamassa, NJ, USA.
authors.forename: Amy M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Ware
authors.affiliation: Rehabresources at Syracuse Homes Association, Oswego, NY, USA.
authors.forename: Sarah M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Wesner
authors.affiliation: Walton Rehabilitation Hospital, Augusta, GA, USA.
authors.forename: Vanessa
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Westcott
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000534:rehabilitation; D002983:Clinical Competence; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D005356:Fibromyalgia / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000534:rehabilitation; D019538:Health Care Surveys; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D007593:Joint Instability / Q000151:congenital* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000534:rehabilitation; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D020380:Needs Assessment; D059825:Physical Therapists / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D026741:Physical Therapy Modalities; D015995:Prevalence; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014481:United States
keywords: Ehlers-Danlos syndrome hypermobility type; benign hypermobility syndrome; knowledge; physical therapist