The Beighton score as a predictor of Brighton criteria in sport and dance

Objectives: To determine the efficacy of using the Beighton joint hypermobility score as a predictor of Brighton criteria components, considering the influence of gender and sports participation. Design: Cross sectional study design. Setting: A University. Participants: Sixty-five female rugby players (age: 20.89 ± 1.91 years, weekly participation 9.22 ± 0.60 hours), 38 male rugby players (21.03 ± 2.1 years, 9.08 ± 0.61 hours), 61 netball players (20.18 ± 1.2 years, 9.11 ± 0.51 hours), 42 female dancers (20.01 ± 1.03 years, 9.32 +/- 0.57 hours), 40 male controls (20.15 ± 1.43 years) and 40 female controls (20.23 ± 1.11 years) from a University cohort. Main outcome measures: The Beighton score was assessed using the Beighton and Horan Joint Mobility Index. The Brighton criteria was used to assess joint hypermobility syndrome. A binary logistic regression was performed initially for a pooled sample (n = 286), and subsequently for gender and sport to assess the Beighton score as a predictor of Brighton criteria. Results: Beighton scores were found to be a predictor of arthralgia (P = 0.002), dislocation and subluxation (P = 0.048) in the pooled analysis; a predictor of dislocation and subluxation (P = 0.047) in males and arthralgia (P = 0.001) in females. Beighton scores were a predictor of arthralgia in female rugby (P = 0.003) and in female controls (P = 0.012). Conclusions: The potential of the Beighton score to predict joint arthralgia and dislocation/subluxation may allow clinicians to implement effective injury prevention strategies.