Background

Generalized joint hypermobility (GJH) is a common, but often ignored, condition characterized by general joint laxity, which is reported to increase one’s risk of anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury and osteoarthritis. Nevertheless, it is not clearly learned in the prevalence and dynamic characteristics in college students.

Research question

Is the active motion stability in the six-degree-of-freedom (6DOF) kinematics of the knee joint of people with GJH poorer than that of others?

Methods

This is a cross-sectional study. A population of 489 college students was recruited who was divided into two groups: a GJH group (Beighton score ≥ 4, n = 54) and a normal group (Beighton score < 4, n = 435). A paper questionnaire with questions about the participants’ demographic characteristics and musculoskeletal disorder symptoms was collected. A three-dimensional gait analysis system was used to collect the participants’ knee joint kinematic parameters during treadmill walking. Variables were evaluated using independent t-tests and Wilcoxon signed-rank tests.

Results

The prevalence of GJH was found to be 11.0 % among college students. Participants with GJH exhibited a greater active range of motions in the anterior/posterior translation than the normal (P = 0.026). Participants with GJH exhibited greater flexion at the end of the terminal stance (P = 0.039) and greater anterior translation of the tibia during almost the whole gait period than the normal group (P＜0.05) during the treadmill gait. A greater external angle was found in GJH group during the periods of middle stance (P = 0.008).

Significance

GJH with a prevalence of 11.0 % among college students should be paid attention. Poor active motion stability in anterior/posterior translation may play an important role in the development of knee joint instability, potentially resulting in subsequent ACL deficiency and the development of knee osteoarthritis among people with GJH.

中文翻译：

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大学生普遍关节过度活动的发生率和动态特征

背景

全身关节过度活动症（GJH）是一种常见但通常被忽略的疾病，其特征是关节普遍松弛，据报道这会增加前交叉韧带（ACL）损伤和骨关节炎的风险。然而，在大学生的流行和动态特征方面尚不清楚。

研究问题

GJH患者膝关节的六自由度（6DOF）运动学中的主动运动稳定性是否比其他人差？

方法

这是一项横断面研究。招募了489名大学生，将其分为两组：GJH组（Beighton得分≥4，n = 54）和正常组（Beighton得分<4，n = 435）。收集了一份纸质问卷，其中涉及参与者的人口统计学特征和肌肉骨骼疾病症状。使用三维步态分析系统来收集跑步机步行过程中参与者的膝关节运动学参数。使用独立的t检验和Wilcoxon符号秩检验对变量进行评估。

结果

在大学生中，GJH的患病率为11.0％。与正常人相比，GJH的参与者在前/后平移中表现出更大的活动范围（P  = 0.026）。在跑步机步态中，GJH的参与者在最终 步态结束时表现出比正常组更大的屈曲（P = 0.039），胫骨的前移更大（P＜0.05）。在中间姿势期间，GJH组的外角较大（P  = 0.008）。

意义

应注意大学生中GJH的患病率为11.0％。前/后平移中主动运动稳定性差可能在膝关节不稳的发展中起重要作用，可能导致随后的ACL缺乏和GJH患者中膝盖骨关节炎的发展。