BENIGN HYPERMOBILITY OF JOINTS IN PATIENTS OF FIBROMYALGIA

Abstract

Background: Fibromyalgia is a chronic musculoskeletal disorder characterized by widespread pain, fatigue, sleep disturbance, and other functional symptoms. Objective: To determine the frequency of benign joint hypermobility in patients with fibromyalgia. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted from December 2025 to April 2026, included 354 patients with fibromyalgia aged 10–40 years. Patients were recruited through non-probability consecutive sampling. Fibromyalgia was diagnosed according to the modified 2016 American College of Rheumatology criteria, while benign joint hypermobility syndrome was assessed using the revised Brighton criteria and Beighton score. Demographic, clinical, and laboratory parameters were recorded, and associations with potential effect modifiers were assessed. Results: The mean age of patients was 31.4±7.1 years, and 294 (83.1%) were females. Benign joint hypermobility was present in 227 (64.1%) patients, including generalized hypermobility in 151 (42.7%) and localized hypermobility in 76 (21.5%). The mean Beighton score was 4.6±2.3. Hypermobility was significantly more frequent in patients aged 10–20 years (81.0%) and 21–30 years (70.7%) compared with those aged 31–40 years (55.3%) (p=0.001). It was also significantly more common in females than males (67.3% vs. 48.3%, p=0.008). Conclusion: It is concluded that benign joint hypermobility was common among patients with fibromyalgia, particularly in younger patients and females. Generalized joint hypermobility was more frequent than localized hypermobility.