Hypermobility in Children: Which Sport Doesn't Harm the Joints?
Can your child perform incredible acrobatics, bend their fingers backward more than seems possible, or do a split with ease? While this often seems cute to parents or looks like a sign that the child is a born gymnast, in medicine this phenomenon is called Laxitas articulorum generalisata, or generalized joint hypermobility.
Hypermobility means that the baby's or child's joints are looser than usual. The ligaments and joint capsules, whose main role is to hold the joint firmly in place, are overly stretchy in these children. As a result, the joints do not stop at the normal anatomical boundary, but slide too far. The consequence of this is that during sudden movements, the joint lacks adequate support, making children significantly more susceptible to dislocations, sprains, and micro-injuries. That is why it is extremely important for parents to carefully monitor and guide their child's physical activities during key stages of development.
How to Recognize Hypermobility and Why Does It Occur?
“Joint hypermobility is a very common phenomenon in early childhood. Although parents often wonder if they did something wrong, the truth is that there is no single defined cause, and hypermobility is most often genetically predisposed,” points out pediatric physiatrist Dr. Katina Cvetković.
It stems from the specific structure of the connective tissue, which is more elastic in these children. In rare situations, joint laxity can be part of more complex syndromes, but in the vast majority of cases, we are talking about a benign, natural characteristic that a child is simply born with.
“However, parents must be on alert. Due to the lack of stability in the joints, children with hypermobility are at high risk of developing postural deformities such as abnormalities of the spine, feet, and lower extremities,” warns Prim. Dr. Katina Cvetković.
The most common issues we encounter are:
- Flat feet (Pes talovalgus): The arch of the foot collapses under body weight because the ligaments cannot hold it up.
- Knock knees (Genu valga): Due to loose knee joints, the knees cave inward and touch each other while the feet stay apart.
- Scoliosis and Kyphosis: Curvature of the spine to the side or increased hunching due to weakness of the muscular core.
Two Categories of Hypermobile Children: Where Does Your Child Fit?
When observing children with hypermobility, pediatric physiatrists generally divide them into two categories:
1. Children with Stable Posture
These children have a so-called firm or brisk gait. This means that their nervous system has excellent proprioception—that is, a sense of body position in space—and their muscles are strong enough to take over the role of loose ligaments and keep the joints in place. They walk firmly, have correct posture, and although they are hypermobile, this type is significantly less alarming. Naturally, monitoring is necessary, but the postural risk is lower.
2. Children with Impaired Posture
These children walk clumsily, trip over, and fall very often. Due to poor muscle compensation, their posture suffers. If you look at such a child from the side, their body position resembles a question mark. Due to increased kyphosis, hunched back, and rounded shoulders, the lower back curves, creating a visual effect of a protruding belly—even though the child does not actually carry extra weight.
For this category of children, check-ups with a pediatric physiatrist every 3–6 months are absolutely necessary! The goal is to monitor posture to prevent the aforementioned deformities, correct the gait, and most importantly, build muscle strength through targeted kinesitherapy exercises that will keep the joints stable.
Choosing the Right Sport: What is Best for Joint Hypermobility?
One of the most important rules states: Early involvement of a child in intense, professional sports training before the age of 7 is not recommended. Until then, the focus should be on basic motor skills, play, and balanced development.
When the time comes for sports, the right choice is crucial for injury prevention in hypermobile children.
Sports to Encourage:
- Gymnastics and Athletics — foundational sports that build strength and body control;
- Folklore and Various Forms of Dance — great for coordination and symmetry;
- Martial Arts — judo, karate, aikido, or taekwondo, which teach children stability, balance, and safe falling techniques;
- Swimming — one of the best sports because water provides resistance and strengthens muscles while joints experience no stress or impacts.
Sports to Avoid:
Asymmetrical sports and ball sports, including tennis, basketball, football (soccer), handball, and volleyball.
These sports require sudden changes of direction, jumps, jerks, and unpredictable situations on the court where loose joints easily get injured. Also, they rely on a dominant side of the body, which asymmetrically strains an already sensitive spine and drastically increases the risk of scoliosis.
Don't Forget Footwear
For children with hypermobility, especially in the ankles, sturdy high-top shoes are mandatory. Due to loose ligaments, the heel easily turns inward. High-top, anatomical shoes act as an external stabilizer. They hold the ankle joint in the correct alignment, provide stability during walking, and significantly reduce the risk of ankle twisting and sprains.
Schedule an Examination at Primea Polyclinic
Hypermobility is not a cause for panic, but a condition that requires a little extra attention and conscious guidance during periods of growth. Do not wait for the child to start complaining about joint pain or for deformities to become visible to the naked eye.
Visit a pediatric physiatrist at the Primea Polyclinic. Our expert team will perform a detailed posture examination, assess your child's degree of hypermobility, and provide personalized guidelines. From teaching the right exercises for strengthening muscles to advising on adequate footwear and recommending safe, enjoyable sports, we are here to support your child's healthy development!
