title: The examination of the musculoskeletal system based only on the evaluation of pelvic-hip complex muscle and trunk flexibility may lead to failure to screen children for generalized joint hypermobility.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of the study was to evaluate whether the clinical assessment of the pelvic-hip complex muscle and trunk flexibility is sufficient for diagnosing generalized joint hypermobility (GJH).
  
  
  METHODS
  A cross-sectional study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Center of Body Posture in Olsztyn, North East Poland.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study included 136 females and 113 males aged 10-13 years.
  
  
  METHODS
  In order to assess muscle flexibility, the straight leg raise (SLR) test (for hamstring) and modified Thomas test for one- (O-JHF) and two-joint (T-JHF) hip flexors were performed. To evaluate trunk flexibility the fingertip-to-floor (FTF) and lateral trunk flexion (LTF) tests were used. The GJH occurrence was assessed with the use of nine-point Beighton scale (threshold value ≥5 points for females, ≥4 for males). The analysis was carried out separately for females and males.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There were no significant differences between females with versus without GJH, and males with versus without GJH regarding SLR (p = 0.86, p = 0.19 for females and males, respectively), O-JHF (p = 0.89, p = 0.35 for females and males, respectively), T-JHF (p = 0.77, p = 0.4 for females and males, respectively), FTF (p = 0.19, p = 0.84 for females and males, respectively) and LTF (p = 0.58, p = 0.35 for females and males, respectively) tests results.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Clinical examination of the pelvic-hip complex muscles and trunk flexibility by use of SLR, O-JHF, T-JHF, FTF and LTF revealed to be insufficient in diagnosing GJH in children aged 10-13 years. Thus, the Beighton scale should be considered a standard element of physiotherapeutic examination of the musculoskeletal system in children and youth.
authors.affiliation: Department of Rehabilitation, University of Physical Education, Marymoncka 34, 00-968 Warsaw, Poland; Department of Physiotherapy, Józef Rusiecki University College in Olsztyn, Bydgoska 33, 10-243 Olsztyn, Poland.
authors.forename: Dariusz
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Czaprowski
authors.affiliation: Department of Posture Correction and Compensation, Faculty of Physical Education and Sport in Biała Podlaska, Józef Piłsudski University of Physical Education in Warsaw, Akademicka 2, 21-500 Biała Podlaska, Poland.
authors.forename: Agnieszka
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kędra
authors.affiliation: Department of Physical Education, University of Physical Education, Marymoncka 34, 00-968 Warsaw, Poland.
authors.forename: Paulina
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Pawłowska
authors.affiliation: Department of Physical Education, University of Physical Education, Marymoncka 34, 00-968 Warsaw, Poland.
authors.forename: Aleksandra
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kolwicz-Gańko
authors.affiliation: Department of Physical Education, University of Physical Education, Marymoncka 34, 00-968 Warsaw, Poland.
authors.forename: Justyna
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Leszczewska
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopedics, Pediatric Orthopedics and Traumatology, The Centre of Postgraduate Medical Education in Warsaw, Konarskiego 13, 05-400 Otwock, Poland.
authors.forename: Marcin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Tyrakowski
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D005188:False Negative Reactions; D005260:Female; D006615:Hip / Q000503:physiopathology*; D006801:Humans; D007593:Joint Instability / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D008297:Male; D009068:Movement; D009132:Muscles / Q000503:physiopathology*; D010388:Pelvis / Q000503:physiopathology*; D010865:Pilot Projects