People who possess an unusually large range of movement in their joints—often referred to as being “double-jointed” or having joint hypermobility—may face an increased risk of long-term health complications associated with Covid-19, including persistent fatigue. This conclusion stems from a collaborative investigation conducted by the Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust and King’s College London, which draws a potential connection between hypermobility and the lingering symptoms of what has become known as long Covid.
Joint hypermobility, a condition where some or all of a person’s joints move beyond what is typically considered normal due to variances in connective tissue structure, is a trait present in up to 20% of adults. While it can confer advantages in certain fields such as music and athletics, hypermobility is also associated with a range of complications including pain, fatigue, and digestive issues. Against the backdrop of the Covid-19 pandemic, researchers became intrigued by the possible intersection of hypermobility with post-viral syndromes.
The researchers, led by Dr. Jessica Eccles of Brighton and Sussex Medical School, tapped into data from 3,064 participants in the Covid symptom study, now known as the Zoe health study. They sought to determine if hypermobile individuals had fully recovered from their last bout of Covid-19 and whether they were experiencing ongoing fatigue. The findings, as published in BMJ Public Health, were revealing: those with hypermobility were approximately 30% more likely to report not having fully recovered from Covid-19, with a pronounced predilection for high levels of fatigue.
The potential mechanisms linking hypermobility to long Covid symptoms such as fatigue, brain fog, and postural tachycardia syndrome (PoTS), are plausible yet complex. One theory revolves around the effects of loose connective tissue on blood circulation, particularly when upright, potentially leading to insufficient blood flow to the brain and subsequent symptoms. “PoTs is closely associated with hypermobility,” Eccles added, illuminating the potential for pre-existing conditions to be exacerbated or ‘unmasked’ by the strain of a Covid-19 infection.
While the study does not assert a direct causality between hypermobility and long Covid, the findings suggest the potential for targeted treatment strategies. “What this work suggests is that there may be a subgroup of people with long Covid who are more likely to be hypermobile,” Eccles explained, with implications for therapeutic approaches that may assist individuals with hypermobility more generally, such as strengthening core muscles.
It’s important to note that long Covid, as described by the study authors, is not a singular condition but rather a constellation of symptoms stemming from a variety of intersecting bodily processes. As such, the study’s insights into hypermobility’s association with long Covid underscore the heterogeneous nature of the condition and the need for personalized treatment modalities.
These results also carry implications for clinical procedures, upcoming studies, and public health strategies, such as precision methodologies. There is a pressing necessity to examine predisposing factors and comorbidities related to joint hypermobility. Further investigations are required to delve into the influence of pre-existing conditions as potential risk elements, especially those associated with various physical manifestations, necessitating larger sample sizes, more diverse participant pools, and a strict definition of long COVID to enhance the applicability and credibility of the study outcomes.
Relevant articles:
– People with hypermobility may be more prone to long Covid: People with excessively flexible joints were about 30% more likely to say they hadn’t fully recovered from Covid-19 than those with normal joints, and were significantly more likely to be affected by high levels of fatigue.
– Joint hypermobility syndrome linked to increased risk of long Covid, Nursing Times, Wed, 20 Mar 2024 16:37:37 GMT
– People who are ‘double jointed’ may be at heightened risk of long COVID, says study, Medical Xpress, Tue, 19 Mar 2024 23:30:01 GMT
– Study Says ‘Double Jointed’ People At Higher Risk Of Long COVID, Medical Daily, Wed, 20 Mar 2024 07:36:51 GMT