CONTEXT AND OBJECTIVE: Standardization of normal joint mobility criteria is complex, especially for preschool children, for whom differentiation from hypermobility (JH) is even more difficult. This study aimed to investigate joint mobility of the fifth finger, wrist, elbow, knee and trunk among preschool children, estimate the incidence of JH and evaluate the effect of gender and age and the applicability of standard criteria for identifying JH among preschool children. DESIGN AND SETTING: Cross-sectional descriptive and quantitative study, at São José do Rio Preto medical school. METHODS: 1,120 healthy children (534 boys, 47.7%; 586 girls, 52.3%; age range: 4-7 years) were evaluated using Beighton scores. Passive extension of fifth finger (> 90º), passive apposition of thumb to forearm, active extension of elbow and knee (> 10º) and anterior trunk flexion placing flat hand on ground were assessed. One point was scored for each positive result (maximum: 9). Scores > 4 were considered to be JH. Student’s t test and variance analysis were used for statistical analysis. RESULTS: JH was observed in 80% of wrists, 53.3% of fifth fingers, 36.6% of elbows, 14% of trunks and 12.5% of knees. Scores > 4 were found for 64.6% of the children. Females had higher angular values. Lower scores were associated with greater age. CONCLUSIONS: JH is a common condition among preschool children and currently available methods are inadequate. New parameters and criteria should be developed for identifying JH among these children.
Joint instability; Child; Pliability; Musculoskeletal physiologic phenomena; Knee joint; Wrist joint; Metacarpophalangeal joint; Elbow joint