Is there a role of hypermobility in long Covid, fatigue? Study says this ...

A recent study has unveiled a potential correlation between hypermobility and long COVID-19. Hypermobility refers to the ability of a joint to move beyond its normal range of motion. This can be due to various factors including genetics, joint structure, and laxity of ligaments and tendons.

The study is also providing potential links to increased fatigue in addition to long COVID. Long Covid has a range of symptoms that persist for weeks or months after the acute phase of Covid illness has resolved.

These symptoms can affect various organs and systems in the body and can vary widely among individuals.

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Common symptoms of long COVID include fatigue, shortness of breath, chest pain, joint pain, and cognitive difficulties often referred to as "brain fog." Other symptoms may include heart palpitations, headaches, muscle pain, and sleep disturbances.

Led by Dr. Jessica Eccles from Brighton and Sussex Medical School, in collaboration with researchers from King’s College London, the study explored individuals with hypermobile joints.

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Dr. Eccles and her team delved into data from over 3,000 participants in the Covid symptom study and examined the presence of hypermobile joints, recovery status from COVID-19, and persistent fatigue.

Published in BMJ Public Health, their findings revealed that individuals with hypermobile joints were approximately 30 percent more likely to report incomplete recovery from COVID-19 and were significantly more affected by fatigue.

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Although the study didn't establish a strong relationship, Dr. Eccles proposed plausible mechanisms linking hypermobility to symptoms like fatigue, postural tachycardia syndrome (PoTS), andbrain fog.

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Dr. Eccles pointed out “It may be that some of these abnormalities were always there, but Covid unmasked them in a vulnerable person."

Understanding this link could pave the way for tailored treatments, including strategies to support core muscles, which might alleviate symptoms across various conditions associated with hypermobility, as perEccles.“What this work suggests is that there may be a subgroup of people with long Covid who are more likely to be hypermobile,” she added.

(With inputs from agencies)