The relationship between kinaesthesia, motor performance, physical fitness and joint mobility in children living in Nigeria.

Purpose: This study aimed to determine the relationship between kinaesthesia, motor performance, fitness, and joint mobility in children.

Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted involving children from two primary schools in the South-Eastern part of Nigeria. The Beighton criteria were used to measure joint mobility.

Prevalence and Demographic Distribution of Hypermobility in a Random Group of School-Aged Children in Nigeria.

Background: The purpose of this study was to determine the prevalence of hypermobility in randomly selected healthy children, without previous trauma or disease process affecting the joints and whether other demographic variables (age, sex, BMI) had an impact on Beighton scores and range of motion (RoM) in children between 6 and 10 years of age.

Results: 286 children were included; 27.3% of them had a Beighton score ≥7/9 and 72% would be classified hypermobile if we had used a Beighton cut-off score ≥4/9.

Judging heel height: A new test for proprioception while standing reveals that young hypermobile children perform better than controls.

Background: Children with Generalized Joint Hypermobility (GJH) have been reported to have poorer proprioception than children with normal mobility. However, they were usually tested under unloaded conditions and in an age-group in which pain starts to play a role.

Research Question: In contrast, some young children with GJH perform well in motor tasks, suggesting they may have good proprioceptive abilities if assessed more ecologically.