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Article ID	#18558
Title	Generalized joint hypermobility is more common in chronic fatigue syndrome than in healthy control subjects
URL	http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=Citation&list_uids=16396727
Journal	J Manipulative Physiol Ther. 2006 Jan;29(1):32-39
Author(s)	Nijs J Aerts A De Meirleir K
Subject(s)	Fatigue Syndrome, Chronic Joint Instability Knee Joint Pain / etiology Proprioception
Peer Review	Yes
Publication Type	Article
Abstract/Notes	OBJECTIVES: This study aimed at (1) comparing the prevalence of generalized hypermobility in patients with chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) and healthy volunteers, (2) examining the clinical importance of generalized hypermobility in patients with CFS, and (3) examining whether knee proprioception is associated with hypermobility in patients with CFS. METHODS: Sixty-eight patients with CFS filled out two self-reported measures (for the assessment of symptom severity and disability), were questioned about muscle and joint pain, and were screened for generalized hypermobility. Afterward, the patients performed a knee repositioning test (assessment of knee proprioception), and it was examined whether or not they fulfilled the criteria for benign joint hypermobility syndrome (BJHS). Sixty-nine age- and sex-matched healthy volunteers were screened for generalized joint hypermobility and performed the same knee repositioning test. RESULTS: Compared with the healthy volunteers (4.3%, 3/68), significantly more patients with CFS (20.6%, 14/69) fulfilled the criteria for generalized joint hypermobility (Fisher exact test, P < .004). No associations were found between generalized joint hypermobility and the self-reported measures (including pain severity) or knee proprioception (Spearman correlation analysis). Knee proprioception was similar in both groups (Mann-Whitney U = 1961, z = -1.745, P = .81). Forty patients with CFS (58.8%) fulfilled the criteria for BJHS. CONCLUSIONS: These data indicate that a subgroup of patients with CFS present with generalized joint hypermobility and most patients with of CFS fulfill the diagnostic criteria for BJHS. There appears to be no association between musculoskeletal pain and joint hypermobility in patients with CFS. Click on the above link for the PubMed record for this article; full text by subscription. The abstract is reproduced here with the permission of the publisher.

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