Lax Ligaments?

Question

Hi there

My 8 year old has been told he has Lax Ligaments, although i know its something to do with the joints, it has not been explained in much detail, could anyone tell me what it actually is and what causes it. Thank you

Answer 1

DESCRIPTION:
Ligament laxity is an often overlooked but extremely important cause of chronic body pain characterized by loose ligaments. When this condition affects joints in the entire body, it is called generalized joint hypermobility, which occurs in about 5 percent of the population, and may be genetic. Afflicted individuals may improve over time and lose some of their juvenile hyperlaxity as they age. Individuals over age 40 often have recurrent joint problems and almost always suffer from chronic pain. Back patients with ligament laxity in the area of the spine may also experience osteoarthritis and disc degeneration.

How does ligament laxity develop?
While ligament laxity may be genetic and affect an individual from a very early age, it can also be the result of an injury. Injuries, especially those involving the joints, invariably damage ligaments either by stretching them abnormally or even tearing them. If the injured ligament does not heal properly, as is often the case when the traditional sports medicine treatment regime of RICE, which stands for rest, ice, compression and elevation, is applied, it will be loose or lax. Loose or lax ligaments in turn are not capable of supporting joints as effectively as healthy ones, making the affected individual prone to further injury as well as compensation for the weakness using other parts of the body.

In the case of extreme laxity, or hypermobility, affected individuals often have a decreased ability to sense joint position, which can contribute to joint damage. The resulting poor limb positions can lead to the acceleration of degenerative joint conditions. Many hypermobility patients suffer from osteoarthritis, disorders involving nerve compression, chondromalacia patellae, excessive anterior mandibular movement, mitral valve prolapse, uterine prolapse and varicose veins.

What are the symptoms of ligament laxity?
Arthralgia, or symptoms such as frequent sprained ankles, shoulder dislocations, knee effusions and back problems are common among individuals with ligament laxity. Young women often suffer pain with even minor strains. Afflicted individuals are also prone to bone dislocation, and those with a sedentary job often report back pain. In addition, people may experience referred pain, that is, pain in an area of the body away from the injured or otherwise affected site.

Individuals with extremely lax, or hypermobile joints, can be identified by their ability to bend their elbows or knees past a position of neutrality. They can also easily touch their hands flat to the floor while bending forward from the waist. The ability to touch the thumb to the forearm is also common.

Conventional medical treatments may help relieve the symptoms of ligament laxity, but they do not address the root of the problem. By strengthening structural weaknesses in the body, as natural medicine treatments like Prolotherapy do, pain associated with ligament laxity may be alleviated permanently.

Discover why we believe that natural medicine treatments are the best way to treat ligament laxity.

Answer 2

It's not a major issue really it just means her ligaments allow more flexibility of her joints as such she is capable of more extreme joint positions than someone who does not have lax ligaments. the down side is that she may suffer inflammation of these ligaments. She is not likely to suffer anything more extreme than that though it doesn't for instance increase the risk of arthritis. It is a bit of a vague diagnosis though so if she develops any further symptoms i would go back to see the doc.

Answer 3

LAX LIGAMENTS
Ligaments are fibrous bands or sheets of connective tissue linking two or more bones, cartilages, or structures together. One or more ligaments provide stability to a joint during rest and movement. Excessive movements such as hyper-extension or hyper-flexion, may be restricted by ligaments. Further some ligaments prevent movement in certain directions.

Lax ligaments are ligaments which have become stretched. Lax ligaments cause the joint to become unstable.during rest and movement. Lax ligaments allow excessive movements in the joint like hyper-extension or hyper-flexion. Lax ligaments allow abnormal movement in certain directions.

Lax ligaments are produced by stresses, obesity, traumatic injury, arthritis (inflammation of the joint), etc.
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Constant L.