The Prevalence of Joint Hypermobility among High School and University Students

Background Joint hypermobility (JH) prevails worldwide, especially in children and females, although its consequences have been neglected and understated by health care practitioners. JH can lead to musculoskeletal injuries, which can have serious negative effects on a person’s health. This topic has not been sufficiently studied in Pakistan so this study will help in filling the gap. Objective This study aims to determine the prevalence of asymptomatic joint hypermobility, among high school and university students, at 2 institutions in Pakistan. Methodology A total of 1,749 students, with an average age of 16.96 (range 14–26), who studied at Dar e Arqam School or Riphah International University in Faisalabad were examined. The Beighton criteria system was used to determine the prevalence of JH on the basis of minor criteria for hypermobility (1/9–3/9 joints, indicating localized and peripheral hypermobility) and major criteria (4/9 joints or above 4 joints, indicating generalized hypermobility). Results The results showed that the prevalence of JH in female students studying in high school was 61.9%, and in female university students, the prevalence was 58.4%. Minor hypermobility was most common among university students in their 5th to 8th semester (60.3%), while major hypermobility occurred most frequently in high school students of 9th grade (80.1%). In addition, the results of the study established that joint hypermobility was most common in the elbow joint on the right side: 673 (94.7%) male and 1,002 (96.5%) female students. Conclusion The prevalence of common hypermobility, especially generalized hypermobility, was high among female high school students compared to university students, and hypermobility in the right trunk and elbow joint was more common compared to other joints.