Developmental Coordination Disorder and Joint Hypermobility Syndrome--overlapping disorders? Implications for...

Area of Science:

• Pediatric Neurology
• Developmental Pediatrics
• Clinical Psychology

Background:

• Joint Hypermobility Syndrome (JHS) and Developmental Coordination Disorder (DCD) are typically diagnosed independently in children.
• The etiology of DCD remains largely unknown, despite its heterogeneous nature.
• This study investigates the potential overlap between DCD and JHS, examining DCD patients for JHS-consistent symptoms.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore the symptomatic overlap between Developmental Coordination Disorder (DCD) and Joint Hypermobility Syndrome (JHS) in children.
• To identify JHS-related symptoms within a cohort of children diagnosed with DCD.
• To consider the implications of these findings for future research and clinical practice.

Main Methods:

• A questionnaire assessing JHS and autonomic nervous system symptoms was administered to parents of 27 children with DCD.
• Parental responses from the DCD group were compared to those from 27 typically developing children.
• The study focused on symptom presentation indicative of JHS in children with DCD.

Main Results:

• Children with DCD demonstrated significant differences in reported hypermobility, pain, and autonomic nervous system symptoms compared to controls.
• These symptom patterns were consistent with those typically observed in Joint Hypermobility Syndrome (JHS).
• A notable similarity in symptoms was found between children with DCD and those diagnosed with JHS.

Conclusions:

• A significant overlap exists between the symptoms of DCD and JHS in pediatric populations.
• Children with DCD may present with multi-system issues, including autonomic nervous system dysfunction.
• Findings suggest a need for increased clinical awareness and tailored support for children with co-occurring DCD and JHS, potentially involving podiatry and pain management strategies.