Does muscle strength change over time in patients with hypermobile Ehlers-Danlos syndrome/ Hypermobility Spectrum Disorder? An 8-year follow-up study

Objective Reduced maximal muscle strength and strength endurance have been found in patients with hypermobile Ehlers-Danlos syndrome/hypermobility spectrum disorder (hEDS/HSD) and are recognized as common associated features of the disorder. However, the extent to which these parameters change over time is currently not documented. Therefore, the purpose of this 8-year follow-up study was to investigate this evolution. Methods Thirty female patients (mean age 41 years) with hEDS/HSD and 17 controls participated at baseline and 8 years later. Maximal muscle strength and strength endurance tests of the knee flexors and extensors, and 2 lower-extremity posture maintenance tests were performed to evaluate static strength endurance. In addition, muscle mass and density were evaluated by dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry and peripheral quantitative computed tomography. Results Maximal muscle strength and strength endurance were significantly lower at both baseline and follow-up in the hEDS/HSD group compared to the control group (P