Functional Instability in Patients Suffering From Collagen Disease and Joint Hypermobility

This study examines functional instability in patients with hypermobile joints due to collagen disorders — conditions such as hypermobile Ehlers-Danlos syndrome (hEDS) or generalized joint hypermobility. These patients have joints that move beyond their normal range due to lax connective tissue, which often leads to chronic pain, repeated injuries, and functional limitations. The study aims to better understand how joint hypermobility translates into instability during everyday movement, with the goal of informing more targeted rehabilitation strategies. Eligible participants are adults aged 18–60 with moderate to severe joint hyperlaxity, measured by a Beighton-Horan score of 3 to 9. People with obesity (BMI above 25 or weight above 90 kg), those who compete in sport professionally, those with significant orthopedic spine/lower limb surgery history, neurological conditions like stroke, cancer, or inability to walk independently are excluded. People with no hyperlaxity (Beighton score 0–2) are also excluded. Participants will undergo clinical and functional assessments to measure how hypermobility affects their movement, stability, and daily functioning. This research is important because joint hypermobility disorders are underdiagnosed and frequently dismissed, yet they cause significant ongoing disability. Understanding the functional consequences more precisely is the first step to developing rehabilitation protocols that genuinely help this often-overlooked patient population.