Hypermobility in women with fibromyalgia syndrome

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the relationship between hypermobility and fibromyalgia syndrome (FS) in women. Ninety-three women with FS who met the American College of Rheumatology criteria for FS and 58 healthy women without FS were included in this study. All women were examined for hypermobility by blinded observers using the Beighton criteria. The mean age was 43.5±9.9 (21–68) and 40.2±11.1 (21–63) years in the FS and control groups, respectively, and the two groups were statistically similar (p>0.05). The mean Beighton total score was 4.7±2.1 and 2.9±2.4 in the FS and control groups, respectively (ppr=−0.42, pr=−0.24, p=0.03) in all patients. Hypermobility syndrome is more common in women with FS than in those in the control group. Therefore, the relationship between hypermobility and FS should be taken into consideration in the diagnosis and follow-up of women, especially those with widespread pain.