The significance of hypermobility syndromes for rheumatology

Joint hypermobility (JHM) arises from multifactorial influences including age, gender, trauma, conditioning, infection, inflammation, and genetic factors. It frequently co-occurs with skin overstretching seen in connective tissue disorders such as Ehlers-Danlos syndrome (EDS). The 2017 international classification updated definitions to distinguish primarily between hypermobile EDS (hEDS) and generalized hypermobility spectrum disorder (g-HSD). Primary diagnostic tools remain the Beighton score and a validated 5-part questionnaire (5PQ) instrument. As in the general population, hypermobility is observed frequently with inflammatory rheumatic musculoskeletal diseases (RMD) and in patients presenting with arthralgia without overt inflammation. However, the extent to which hypermobility influences the clinical course or treatment outcomes remains unclear and warrants further research.