Hypermobility and peripartum pelvic pain syndrome in pregnant South African women

Objective. To determine the incidence and correlation of joint hypermobility (HM) and peripartum pelvic pain (PPPP) in an homogeneous pregnant South African population. Study design. A cross-sectional study among Cape Coloured pregnant women. Joint mobility was measured by Beighton score; PPPP with a specially developed PPPP score. Results. Using the Beighton scores with a cut-off point of HM≥5/9, only 4.9% of the 509 pregnant women were hypermobile. Hyperextension of the elbow was the largest contributor to HM (35.4%). No correlation of HM with the incidence of PPPP was established. Only 20 very mild cases of PPPP were recorded. Back pain increased significantly during pregnancy to a mean of 38%. Right handedness occurred in 95.9%. No significant relation was found between HM and the non-dominant side. Conclusion. Hypermobility in pregnant Cape Coloured women was surprisingly low (4.9%) with a decrease with age, but no increase during pregnancy. Peripartum pelvic pain is virtually absent and has no correlation with joint laxity. Back pain increased during pregnancy to a mean of 38%. Right handedness was high (96%) in comparison with the world-wide figure of 85%. No correlation was found between the dominant body side and hypermobility.