The hypermobility spectrum in rugby union players, netballers and dancers: Implications for injury and performance.

Abstract

Armstrong Ross. The hypermobility spectrum in rugby union players, netballers and dancers: implications for injury and performance. Journal of Education, Health and Sport. 2018;8(7):269-290. eISNN 2391-8306. DOI http://dx.doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.1311592 http://ojs.ukw.edu.pl/index.php/johs/article/view/5650 https://pbn.nauka.gov.pl/sedno-webapp/works/870747 The journal has had 7 points in Ministry of Science and Higher Education parametric evaluation. Part b item 1223 (26/01/2017). 1223 Journal of Education, Health and Sport eissn 2391-8306 7 © The Authors 2018; This article is published with open access at Licensee Open Journal Systems of Kazimierz Wielki University in Bydgoszcz, Poland Open Access. This article is distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution Noncommercial License which permits any noncommercial use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author (s) and source are credited. This is an open access article licensed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution Non commercial license Share alike. (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0/) which permits unrestricted, non commercial use, distribution and reproduction in any medium, provided the work is properly cited. The authors declare that there is no conflict of interests regarding the publication of this paper. Received: 02.06.2018. Revised: 18.06.2018. Accepted: 13.07.2018. The hypermobility spectrum in rugby union players, netballers and dancers: implications for injury and performance Ross Armstrong Ross Armstrong, BSc (Hons), MSc, MSc (Sports and Exercise Medicine)a, a.Department of Sport and Physical Activity, Sports Injuries Research Group, Edge Hill University, Ormskirk, Lancashire, L39 4QP, England. Corresponding author: Ross Armstrong Address: Department of Sport and Physical Activity, Sports Injuries Research Group, Edge Hill University, Ormskirk, Lancashire, L39 4QP, England. Telephone: (0044) 01695 584246 Fax: (0044) 01695 579997 Email: [email protected] Abstract Objectives: Hypermobility has been associated with injury and performance and a new hypermobility framework has been introduced. This study aimed to report the prevalence of localised joint hypermobility, generalised joint hypermobility (GJH), peripheral joint hypermobility and hypermobility Ehlers-Danlos type in female rugby players, male rugby players, female netball players, female dancers, male and female controls. Methods: This study determined joint hypermobility via the Beighton score and the associated criteria of the hypermobility spectrum in 378 participants. Results: Localised joint hypermobility ranged from 61.11% (netballers), 57.33% (female rugby), 48.15% (male controls), 46.30% (male rugby), 38.33% (female controls) to 28.57% (female dancers). Significant differences existed for Beighton scores (p<0.001) between female dancers and all other cohorts, female rugby and male controls (p=0.005), male rugby and netball (p=0.001), netball and male controls (p=0.001) and female controls and male controls (p=0.021). Prevalence of GJH ranged from 69.84% (female dancers), 25% (netball), 21.67% (female controls), 18.67% (female rugby), 3.70% (male rugby) to 1.85% (male controls). In participants with GJH, dancers had the highest prevalence of pain and dislocation/subluxation. Significant differences existed between dancers and all other groups for hypermobility Ehlers-Danlos type criteria (p<0.001). Five participants met the criteria for diagnosis of hypermobility Ehlers-Danlos type. Male rugby players had the highest prevalence of peripheral joint hypermobility (29.63%). Conclusion: Significant findings between dance and other cohorts may highlight a potential performance adaptation. Significant findings between control groups for the Beighton score may indicate a gender effect. There is a need to consider these factors in relation to performance and injury. Keywords: Beighton score, general joint hypermobility, hypermobility Ehlers-Danlos type, peripheral joint hypermobility, female dancer