A 30-year-old member asked:
How can someone tell if you're double jointed?
1 doctor answer • 4 doctors weighed in

A Verified Doctoranswered
34 years experience
No such thing: There is no such thing as being double jointed. This is a term that is commonly used for people who have increased flexibility and "loose joints".
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.7k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
Similar questions
A 41-year-old member asked:
What does it mean if someone if double jointed?
1 doctor answer • 1 doctor weighed in

Dr. Daniel Massanswered
Orthopedic Surgery 48 years experience
Elastin: You are double jointed because you have too much elastin in the ligaments that control the extremes of motion of your joints. This allows for too much potential motion and therefor injury.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.7k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 48-year-old member asked:
Is it rare for someone to have all their digits double jointed?
1 doctor answer • 1 doctor weighed in

Dr. Naresh Raoanswered
Sports Medicine 26 years experience
It is rare: Double jointed digits are rare and usually is a result of genetic disorders called hypermobility syndromes. It does not usually involved the digits only however. Ligaments are excessively flexible and create more motion that normal. It can lead to pain and early arthritis if chronically overused.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.4k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
Last updated Dec 9, 2016
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