What are the symptoms of hypermobility syndrome?

[CurryMaid]

I've had a quick google but can't really find too much out, just wondered if anyone knows what signs to look out for.

My DD is 10.5 months and hasn't reached any other physical development milestones since learning to sit at just before six months.

She can roll but will only do this if left to scream (which I have only done once! to see what happened).

She doesn't like to bear weight on her legs or lie on her front - if you try to lie her on her front or put her into a standing position she will stick her legs straight out at right angles.

The other thing she does (normally when she's getting annoyed, which is often) is swivel her wrists and ankles round and round in circles.

Someone mentioned to me it could be hypermobility syndrome, but I don't know much about it, can anyone help please?

[CurryMaid]

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[hockeypuck]

Hi Currymaid.

DS has hypermobility syndrome. I didn't discover it until he started physio at 14 months old.

Similarly to your DD he didn't do anything but sit and when he eventually started to move, it was a bottom shuffle. I wasn't overly worried about that, because DD was a bottom shuffler too and went from that, straight to walking at 11 months.

DS bottom suffled, but wouldn't weight bear on his legs at all, didn't like physical games like that.

When the HV did his 12 month check she said she would refer him to the physio department just to put my mind at rest regarding his not weightbearing or standing while supported at a table or anything.

He had his first physio appointment at 14 months and straight awy on their assessment they said "yes, he is hypermobile, he is super bendy".

She showed me how happy he was about being bended into a small ball which is one of the signs of hypermobility. Is you DD comfortable to be folded up like that?

Physio went very well and he was walking the day before his 19th birthday, so while it was 6 months later than most of his peers, it was still within the normal range.

It hasn't affected him much since, he has good core stability now, a good by product of your joints being bendy. The HV said that people with hypermobility make good ballet dancers and gymnasts. He's not in to either of those, but now he is 3, he does all the things normal 3 year old does, like ride a trike, climb a climbing frame, jump, skip, hop, dance, etc. There is no difference there.

My advice would be to tray and stay as calm as possible about it. Hypermobile or not, all children develop at different rates and are always learning, so you might find that even though she is slightly behind peers physically, she will be doing well with her speech sooner than they will. It's all different.

Speak to your HV at her 12 month check and ask her to take you seriously in your concerns. If you want a physio assessment then it is best to be forthright and demand one. The worst that can happen is that the physio says your DD is doing just fine, it won't harm her to be assessed.

Having said that, I know plenty of babies who are not interested in moving and are quiet happy to be waited on by their mummys. I'm sure your DD will start to get a move on when she feels ready.

Good Luck

[CurryMaid]

Hockeypuck, thanks so much for this!

I'm glad to hear your DS is doing well now.

DD doesn't bottom-shuffle, the small ball thing, I'm not sure, I've never tried! She often throws herself flat on the ground whilst she is sitting, kind of like she is praying, and my friend's all say their babies aren't that bendy.

I guess I'm not overly concerned, would just like to be able to help her if there is anything that can be done. She can stand if holding onto a table, but she doesn't like it and normally cries.

I will speak to the HV at her 12 month check.

Thank you

[Bensonbluebird]

I and DS2 have hypermoblity syndrome. DS2 walked at 18 months, but his ankles rolled in (and still do a bit at 2.1) and he dragged his right foot. This is sorting itself as his walking position becomes more upright (feet closer together). He is a very active and determind little boy though and I think this is helping him to develop the strength to support his loose joints.

I have had various joint problems as a result of being hypermobile, dislocating knee caps when I was a teenager, RSI in my wrists, back problems, very loose joints when I was pregnant. It is worth getting diagnosed, if I had been diagnosed earlier I might have avoided some of the problems I have had.

[Bensonbluebird]

I ment to say, when DS2 was a baby our childminder's children named him the origami baby because he was happiest folded up in a little ball in a ring sling.

[simpson]

My DD is also hypermobile as am I.

She is 16mths and not yet walking and has only been bearing weight and cruising along furniture for the last month or so and cannot yet stand unaided for more than about 5 seconds.

DD also swivels her ankles round and round and is constantly doing the splits

[cory]

You can be hypermobile without having hypermobility syndrome; in fact, lots of people are.

Hypermobility syndrome is when it causes problems like pain or mobility problems.

Dd only walked at 19 months, was very unsteady, by age 3 her playschool were concerned as she seemed to be having a lot of unexplained falls. By age 4 she started having mysterious ankle pains. By age 7 she was hardly able to walk at all. Since then it has come and gone. At times, she has been unable to even sit upright because of bad back pains. She has had a series of trips to A&E from falls (now banned from using stairs at school). Now, aged 12, she can mostly walk, if she doesn't overdo it, but uses a wheelchair for back-up. She needs to use a laptop for long writing tasks, as her wrists hurt. She has also had incontinence problems.

Her main problems are chronic pain and a tendency to mini-dislocate joints.

Ds (9) has ankle painsand poor motor skills. Needs help for writing tasks at school and is still unable to do things like tie his shoe laces or cut a chop up. He finds it very difficult to sit still because his joints get uncomfortable.

But these are fairly severe cases; in my own case, all I notice is that my wrist gets sore from writing.

[BlueberryPancake]

Hypermobility can be mild (as cory said). DS1 reached all milestones but was walking with feet/knees inwards, He complained of his knees and legs hurting. After a test at physio they told me he was hypermobile, but it's not a bad case. He's now 3.5 and he's fine, because his muscles have build up and he is stronger, his legs are fine. He has issues with fine motor skills - he can't hold a pen for example, but many boys that age can't/are not interested.