Rheumatology Advance Access published online on December 16, 2008
Rheumatology, doi:10.1093/rheumatology/ken435
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Proprioception and muscle torque deficits in children with hypermobility syndrome
1Professional Registration Department, School of Health, Psychology and Social Care, Manchester Metropolitan University, Manchester, 2School of Health & Social Care, University of the West of England, Bristol, 3Physiotherapy Subject Area, Queen Margaret University, Edinburgh, 4HealthQwest, Bioengineering Unit, University of Strathclyde, Glasgow, UK.
Correspondence to:
F. Fatoye, Professional Registration Department, School of Health, Psychology and Social Care, Manchester Metropolitan University, Elizabeth Gaskell Campus, Hathersage Road, Manchester M13 0JA, UK. E-mail: f.fatoye{at}mmu.ac.uk
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Abstract |
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Objectives. Sensorimotor deficits such as impaired joint proprioception and muscle weakness have been found in association with hypermobility syndrome (HMS) in adults. HMS is more common in children than adults, yet such deficits have not been adequately investigated in paediatric populations. It is therefore uncertain as to what sensorimotor deficits are present in children with HMS. This study investigated knee joint proprioception and muscle torque in healthy children and those with HMS.
Methods. Thirty-seven healthy children (mean age ± S.D. = 11.5 ± 2.6 yrs) and 29 children with HMS (mean age ± S.D. = 11.9 ± 1.8 yrs) participated in this study. Knee joint kinaesthesia (JK) and joint position sense (JPS) were measured, with the absolute angular error (AAE) calculated as the absolute difference between the target and perceived angles. Knee extensor and flexor muscle torque was assessed and normalized to body mass. Mann–Whitney U-tests were performed to compare JK, JPS and muscle torque between the two groups.
Results. Children with HMS had significantly poorer JK and JPS compared with the controls (both P < 0.001). Knee extensor and flexor muscle torque was also significantly reduced (both P < 0.001) in children with HMS compared with their healthy counterparts.
Conclusions. The findings of this study demonstrated that knee joint proprioception was impaired in children with HMS. They also had weaker knee extensor and flexor muscles than healthy controls. Clinicians should be aware of these identified deficits in children with HMS, and a programme of proprioceptive training and muscle strengthening may be indicated.
KEY WORDS: Hypermobility syndrome, Joint kinaesthesia, Joint position sense, Muscle torque, Proprioception, Sensorimotor deficits
Submitted 7 April 2008;
revised version accepted 16 October 2008.
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