Do you have very flexible joints?
We are conducting a research study investigating knee angles and forces that act on the knee during balance tasks and walking of those with and without generalized joint hypermobility (very flexible joints).
Participation will involve:
- 1 visit, 3 hour duration
- Completing questionnaires about you (age, sex, gender, race), your experience of pain, level of physical activity and ability to complete daily tasks.
- Measuring body weight and height to help calculate forces acting on the knee and measuring range of motion in 9 joints to help us determine if your joints move beyond the expected range of motion.
- Performing balance tasks and walking for in-depth movement analysis.
Inclusion Criteria:
- 18 to 38 years of age
- People with and without very flexible joints
For further information about this study please visit this link:
Exclusion Criteria
- Ankle, knee, hip, spine, elbow or hand surgery
- An ankle sprain that required intervention (e.g., physiotherapy)
- Competitive athletes (regular practice and competition)
- Engaging in more than 4 fitness activities (30 minutes or more of structured exercise) per week or regular single leg balance training
- A pathological neurological (brain or spinal cord), vestibular (inner ear) or visual (eye) condition that could make it more difficult to perform balance tasks
- Have a diagnosis of patellofemoral pain syndrome.
- Have a diagnosed condition other than hypermobile EDS or hypermobility spectrum disorder (HSD) that causes multiple joint pain (e.g., fibromyalgia, rheumatoid arthritis)
- A diagnosis of a heritable connective tissue disorder other than hypermobile Ehlers-Danlos syndrome (hEDS)
- Pregnant or have been pregnant in the last 12 months
Interested? Want to know more?
Please contact mobilize@uwaterloo.ca OR call: 519-888-4567 ext. 38786
This study has been reviewed and received ethics clearance through a University of Waterloo Research Ethics Board (ORE45644)