Postural alignment and balance characteristics in women with generalized joint hypermobility

The objective was to compare postural alignment and balance-related outcomes between women with generalized joint hypermobility (GJH) and their non-hypermobile counterparts. Materials and Methods: Seventy-six young women, aged 21.32 (1.34) years on average, were enrolled. Thirty-nine participants met the criteria for GJH, whereas 37 women without GJH formed the control group. Body posture was evaluated with the Diers Formetric 4D system. The following posture parameters were selected for analysis: sagittal imbalance, thoracic kyphosis angle, lumbar lordosis angle, pelvic torsion, pelvic rotation, vertebral rotation. Balance performance was measured with the Biodex Balance System SD using the Modified Clinical Test of Sensory Integration and Balance test. Results and conclusions: Most postural parameters did not differ significantly between women with and without GJH, including sagittal imbalance, thoracic kyphosis angle, lumbar lordosis angle, pelvic rotation in the horizontal plane, and vertebral rotation. However, women with GJH demonstrated a significantly greater pelvic torsion angle in the sagittal plane. In addition, static balance was significantly poorer in women with GJH compared with the control group. These findings suggest that GJH is not associated with major differences in most spinal and pelvic posture parameters, but may be related to increased sagittal pelvic torsion and impaired static balance.