Association of generalized joint hypermobility with a history of glenohumeral joint instability

Little is known about the relationship among sex, generalized joint hypermobility, and glenohumeral joint instability.

To examine the relationship among sex, generalized joint hypermobility scores, and a history of glenohumeral joint instability within a young, physically active cohort and to describe the incidence of generalized joint hypermobility within this population.

Cross-sectional cohort study.

United States Military Academy at West Point, New York.

Of the 1311 members of the entering freshman class of 2010, 1050 (80%) agreed to participate.

Generalized joint hypermobility was assessed using the Beighton Scale. A history of glenohumeral joint instability was identified via a baseline questionnaire.

Most participants (78%) had no signs of generalized joint hypermobility. Only 11 volunteers (1.5%) had Beighton Scale scores of 4 or greater. Logistic regression analysis revealed a relationship between generalized joint hypermobility and a history of glenohumeral joint instability (P = .023). When sex and race were controlled, those with a total Beighton Scale score of >or=2 were nearly 2.5 times as likely (odds ratio = 2.48, 95% confidence interval = 1.19, 5.20, P = .016) to have reported a history of glenohumeral joint instability. A relationship was observed between sex and nearly all individual Beighton Scale items. Although women had higher total Beighton Scale scores than men, sex (P = .658) and race (P = .410) were not related to a history of glenohumeral joint instability when other variables in the model were controlled.

In these participants, generalized joint hypermobility and a history of glenohumeral joint instability were associated.