Clinical characteristics of symptomatic hypermobility in children and young people: A scoping review protocol

Abstract

INTRODUCTION: Joint hypermobility (JH) is a term used to define active or passive joint range of motion that is beyond normal range, accounting for age, sex, and ethnicity. Symptomatic hypermobility is a term that can be used when symptoms are thought to be associated with JH. Children and young people with symptomatic hypermobility complain of musculoskeletal symptoms but also may report symptoms from other domains including gastrointestinal, cardiovascular, psychological, and urogenital. Many of these symptoms are not included in formal diagnostic criteria yet may impact negatively on their quality of life. The pattern of these symptoms changes with age. PURPOSE: To map the literature on clinical characteristics of symptomatic hypermobility in an age and developmental context, to improve our understanding and assist in the clinical assessment of children and young people with symptomatic hypermobility. METHODS: This systematic scoping review will be conducted in accordance with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analyses extension for Scoping Reviews (PRISMA-ScR) methodology. Studies that include children and young people from birth to 24 years with a confirmed diagnosis of symptomatic hypermobility, HSD or hEDS using internationally recognised criteria or equivalent diagnoses will be included. Data extraction and analysis will be undertaken using an iterative process. DISCUSSION: Mapping and synthesis of the data will be carried out and gaps and limitations in the literature will be acknowledged. Results will be disseminated in a peer reviewed journal. The search strategy will be made available publicly for transparency.