Glossary · Injury & Prevention
Between gift and risk: exceptional range of motion
Hypermobility refers to a range of motion in one or more joints that exceeds what is typical for a person's age and sex. It is often assessed using the Beighton score, a simple clinical test examining the mobility of fingers, elbows, knees, and trunk. Hypermobility can affect individual joints or occur throughout the body (generalized), and is partly genetically determined.
In many dance styles, exceptional flexibility is considered an aesthetic ideal – for a high leg extension, a deep backbend, or a soft foot line. Hypermobility is therefore often perceived as a "gift", but it is also the subject of nuanced research: a study of 185 pre-professional contemporary dancers found no direct association between generalized hypermobility and injury frequency, even though both were common in this group. A five-year follow-up study of professional ballet dancers even found that hypermobile hips were not more likely to develop cartilage damage or hip pain than non-hypermobile ones. What appears to matter more than passive range of motion itself is whether the additional mobility is actively supported by strength, trunk control, and movement quality. In cases of pronounced generalized hypermobility with additional symptoms, the literature also discusses the broader spectrum of hypermobile connective tissue variants, such as hypermobile Ehlers-Danlos syndrome, an inherited connective tissue disorder.
Because hypermobility should be understood neither as a blanket risk nor as a pure advantage, CENIT e.V. is committed to conveying a nuanced picture: mobility requires active control, not just extensibility. Recognizing hypermobile joints and stabilizing them deliberately, rather than encouraging them without reflection, supports a healthy and sustainable dance practice.
This entry serves to convey knowledge in a prevention context and is not a substitute for medical diagnosis or advice. If pronounced generalized hypermobility or accompanying symptoms are suspected, we recommend consulting professionals experienced in dance medicine – for example through ta.med's referral network or the resources provided by IADMS.
van Rijn RM, Stubbe JH. Generalized Joint Hypermobility and Injuries: A Prospective Cohort Study of 185 Pre-Professional Contemporary Dancers. J Clin Med. 2021;10(5):1007. doi.org/10.3390/jcm10051007 · Mayes S, Smith P, Stuart D, Cook J. Joint Hypermobility Does Not Increase the Risk of Developing Hip Pain, Cartilage Defects, or Retirement in Professional Ballet Dancers Over 5 Years. Clin J Sport Med. 2020;30(4):341–347. doi.org/10.1097/JSM.0000000000000862 · Malek S, Reinhold EJ, Pearce GS. The Beighton Score as a measure of generalised joint hypermobility. Rheumatol Int. 2021;41(10):1707–1716. doi.org/10.1007/s00296-020-04773-w
