Dynamic Stability Exercises in Patients With Hypermobile Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome and Hypermobility Spectrum Disorder

Overview

Background: Symptomatic hypermobility may lead to a number of restrictions in daily life. So far, there is a lack of effective treatments. A whole-body dynamic stability exercise intervention targets to stimulate the dynamic stability and activation of the proprioceptive system and thereby intends to improve patients' health. The aim of the current study was to examine the feasibility, acceptability and impact of a whole-body dynamic stability exercise intervention in patients with hypermobile Ehlers-Danlos syndrome and hypermobility spectrum disorder. The aim of the current study was to examine the feasibility, acceptability and impact of a dynamic stability exercise intervention in patients with hypermobile Ehlers-Danlos syndrome and hypermobility spectrum disorder. Methods: This is a mixed-methods feasibility study. Fifteen patients (14 women and 1 man) with hypermobile Ehlers-Danlos syndrome or hypermobility spectrum disorder and chronic pain were recruited from two pain specialist clinics in the South-East of Sweden. A dynamic stability exercise program for daily home-exercise was applied during five physiotherapist led sessions distributed over seven weeks. Patient reported outcome measures (PROMs) included pain and function, psychological well-being and quality of life. The clinical tests included walking and balance. Through qualitative interviews patients and physiotherapists described their experiences of the assessments and intervention. Assessments were done at baseline, after the intervention, and at the 3-month follow-up.

The specific research questions are: 1. Do retention rates, adherence rates and adverse events allow continuation to a large scale RCT? 2. What are the tendencies of impact of the exercise program on pain, function, psychological well-being and quality of life? 3. Which of the outcome measures used are appropriate and acceptable? 4. What are the patients' and physiotherapists' experiences of the exercise program and protocol.