Hypermobility is the name of a new diagnostic for a condition that allows joints to have a larger range of movement. It is believed that around 15% of children are hypermobile, which means that their joints bend too far. Consequently, they often times experience sprains and pulled ligaments.
Who Suffers More from It?
Children who experience this usually have double the normal range of movement, which means that her joints are very flexible. More easily put, the collagen that is found in her ligaments (which is a connective tissue with a tough, fibrous texture, found between joints) can be stretched more easily than in other people.
Clearly this is a good thing for whoever loves dancing, but on the long run it’s not okay. Lax ligaments can easily become painful and increase the risk of injury if they are bent too far. For people who are suffering from this, pulled tendons and ligaments are a regular issue.
Medical Diagnosis May Be Wrong
However, another serious problem here is the fact that many doctors are not aware of this diagnosis. Lots of parents bring their children in to the doctor because of foot pain or sprains, but the doctors use other diagnoses, which may even lead to further complications.
The Solution
Thankfully, it seems that things are starting to change in this domain lately. Now doctors first think of hypermobility when they see such a case. Surprisingly, the solution for achy joints in this case is the one you wouldn’t expect: exercising. And the logic here is simple: strong muscles support the joints and ligaments better, offering you better control. Strong muscles are only obtained through physical exercise. However, the rough part here is the fact that people tend to avoid physical exercise since they think it will damage their body, which leads to even weaker muscles and thus, worse pains in time.
