Comparison between Elbow Joint Proprioception in Female Athletes and Non-Athletes Showing General Hypermobility Syndrome and Healthy Female Athletes

Hypermobility is generally referred to as a distinguished risk factor in developing joint instability and the possibility of causing damage. Thus, it is widely believed that proprioception goes impaired in individuals with hypermobility. Therefore, the present study was carried out to compare elbow joint proprioception in female athletes and non-athletes showing hypermobility syndrome and healthy female athletes.
The study followed a case-control methodology and the sampling was choice-based and based on the availability of the participants. A total of 30 female participants were categorized into three distinct groups, each comprising of 10 healthy athletes, 10 athletes showing hypermobility, and 10 non-athletes with hypermobility. Participants age range was between 20-30. Elbow flexion position sense error was measured through isokinetic dynamometer biodex system 3 through active method in 45 and 60 degrees and the values obtained were compared among the three groups and different angles. For data analysis, variance analysis test with repeated measures was used. The significance level was set at pData analysis indicated that the athletes showing hypermobility syndrome and healthy athletes both showed a higher proprioceptive precision compared with non-athletes demonstrating hypermobility. Additionally, the athletes with hypermobility and healthy athlete groups demonstrated more accurate proprioceptive acuity at an angle of 60 degrees compared with that of 45 degrees. But, the non-athletes showing hypermobility demonstrated a less accurate proprioceptive acuity at an angle of 60 degrees compared with that of 45 degrees.
Unlike the previous investigations, the current study rejected the notion of existing impaired proprioception within the individuals showing hypermobility. So far, the hypermobility athletes’ proprioception has not been evaluated, which can be a good reason to justify this claim, since we may direct attentions to the key role of physical exercises in joints proprioception. Therefore, it seems that we could rely on hypermobility athletes to be used in higher levels of competition and in sport talent scouting.