The frequency of hypermobility and its relationship with clinical findings of fibromyalgia patients

The etiology and pathogenic mechanisms of fibromyalgia (FM) are unknown. A number of studies have suggested that there was a link between hypermobility and FM. In this study, we aimed to expose the frequency of hypermobility in FM patients and its relation with clinical findings. For this reason, 236 women (118 FM women as study group and 118 healthy women as control group) were enrolled in the study. Joint hypermobility was evaluated in the participants by using Beighton scoring system. The rate of joint hypermobility among FM patients (Beighton score of at least 4 or more) was found to be higher than the control group (46.6 vs 28.8%). This result was also statistically meaningful (p<0.05). In addition, the mean Beighton score of FM group was observed to be higher than the control (3.68 vs 2.55, p<0.001). Although not reaching statistical difference (p>0.05), more severe clinical findings were observed in FM patients with hypermobility when compared with ones without.