Generalized ligamentous laxity may be a predisposing factor for muscUloskeletal injuries

Objectives: The aim of this study is to determine if generalized ligamentous laxity may be a predisposing factor for musculoskeletal injuries in young males. We hypothesized that generalized ligamentous laxity would be more common in individuals with musculoskeletal injuries compared with controls. Design: Prospective Age- and Gender-matched Case-Control Study examined generalized ligamentous laxity in 100 consecutive individuals aged 18-25 who reported with musculoskeletal injuries to a primary healthcare center in the military. The Beighton score was used to measure joint laxity, which was determined to be present by overall scores equal to or exceeding 4. The control group comprised 100 age- and gender-matched individuals without any musculoskeletal injuries or complaints. The prevalence of generalized ligamentous laxity was then compared between cases and controls. Subgroup analyses were also performed to evaluate the epidemiology of injury within the cases. Methods: This prospective case-control study examined generalized ligamentous laxity in 100 consecutive individuals aged 18-25 who reported with musculoskeletal injuries to a primary healthcare center in the military. The Beighton score was used to measure joint laxity, which was determined to be present by overall scores equal to or exceeding 4. The control group comprised 100 age- and gender-matched individuals without any musculoskeletal injuries or complaints. The prevalence of generalized ligamentous laxity was then compared between cases and controls. Results: Generalized ligamentous laxity was present in 12% of the cases compared with 4% of controls Clearer to be presented as (P-value: 0.043). Individuals who presented with musculoskeletal injuries were 3.35 times more likely to have generalized ligamentous laxity as compared to controls. Lower limb injuries were more common than upper limb injuries amongst the cases. Conclusions: Generalized ligamentous laxity was more common in individuals who presented with a musculoskeletal injury. Hence, it may be a predisposing factor for musculoskeletal injuries. (C) 2013 Sports Medicine Australia. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.