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Help for Ligamentous Laxity – also known as knocking knees!

Ligamentous laxity is a condition that gives people a greater degree of flexibility in their joints than usual. It can be advantageous for some people such as gymnasts and dancers, but for others it causes pain and other issues. The risk of dislocations is greater for example, there is instability in the joints and pain and fatigue can be commonplace. Ligamentous laxity affects between 5% and 12% of people.

The Beighton test is the most common means of assessing whether a person has ligamentous laxity. During this process, various are tested. The doctor will get the patient to perform several moves, including bending little fingers and thumbs backwards and bending and placing the palms on the ground with straight legs to determine if they have ligamentous laxity.

Treatment isn’t necessary for those who don’t experience pain. But for those who do, physiotherapy exercises may be useful in helping to strengthen and stabilise the joints. During physiotherapy sessions you can find out precisely which joints are affected, receive treatment for specific injuries you have sustained and develop a unique exercise regime to treat your affected joints.

Low impact forms of exercise are generally recommended as they produce less strain on the joints. If you enjoy cycling or swimming or walking for example, these are good exercises to do. It is important that you maintain a healthy weight. This helps to reduce the load and stress on the affected joints. Additionally, exercises that will strengthen muscles will aid in reducing the chances of injuries to the joints and improve your general stability and balance. Weightlifting and hill walking are just two options you could consider.

Prolotherapy consists of an injection of an irritant solution into the affected joints. The irritant usually includes a type of sugar known as dextrose. The theory behind prolotherapy is that it triggers growth in the connective tissue, thereby reducing pain. Studies have produced mixed results and lab tests have proven inconclusive, giving rise to the theory that prolotherapy is an effective placebo.

Many people have no trouble living with ligamentous laxity but if you are among those who do, you shouldn’t suffer. Treatment is available.

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