How Can You Tell If You’Re Double Jointed?

Being “double jointed” sounds like you have extra joints, but you don’t. The medical term is joint hypermobility, and it means your joints move beyond their normal range of motion. You can tell if you are double jointed by checking specific movements—like bending your thumb to touch your forearm or bending your pinky back past 90 degrees. If you can do these movements, you have joint hypermobility. It is common, and for most people, it causes no problems at all.

What Does Being Double Jointed Actually Mean?

The term “double jointed” is a nickname, not a medical diagnosis. It suggests you have twice the joints, which is impossible. Instead, the condition is called joint hypermobility or hypermobility syndrome.

Your joints are held together by ligaments, which are tough bands of tissue that connect bone to bone. In hypermobile people, these ligaments are more elastic or lax. That extra stretchiness allows the joint to move further than it typically should. It is not about having extra bones or cartilage. It is about the connective tissue being more flexible.

This flexibility is often inherited. If your parents are flexible, you likely are too. It is also more common in children and young women because hormones and age affect tissue elasticity. As people get older, joints naturally stiffen, and hypermobility often becomes less noticeable.

The Beighton Score: The Standard Test for Hypermobility

Doctors do not guess when checking for hypermobility. They use a standard scoring system called the Beighton Score. This test measures flexibility in nine specific joints. It is the international standard for assessing generalized joint hypermobility.

The test involves five simple movements. You get one point for each side of the body where the movement is possible, plus one point for the spine. A higher score indicates more widespread hypermobility.

• Pinky fingers: Can you bend your pinky finger back beyond 90 degrees? One point for each hand.
• Thumbs: Can you bend your thumb down to touch your forearm? One point for each thumb.
• Elbows: Can you straighten your elbow beyond 180 degrees (hyperextend)? One point for each arm.
• Knees: Can you straighten your knee beyond 180 degrees? One point for each leg.
• Spine: Can you place your palms flat on the floor while keeping your legs straight? One point.

A score of 4 or more out of 9 generally indicates joint hypermobility. However, the Beighton Score only tests these specific joints. Some people are hypermobile in other joints, like their shoulders, hips, or jaw, without scoring high on the Beighton test.

Is Being Double Jointed a Problem?

For most people, being double jointed is simply a trait, not a disease. It does not cause pain or disability. Many dancers, gymnasts, and musicians are naturally hypermobile, and it is an advantage in their fields.

However, hypermobility can come with symptoms. Some people experience joint pain, stiffness, or a feeling of looseness in the joints. You might hear your joints click or pop. This is often harmless, but if it is accompanied by pain, it warrants attention.

In some cases, hypermobility is part of a broader condition. The most common is hypermobility spectrum disorder (HSD). This is when hypermobility causes chronic pain, fatigue, or repeated joint dislocations, but does not fit the criteria for a specific genetic syndrome.

There is also Ehlers-Danlos syndrome (EDS), a group of inherited connective tissue disorders. The hypermobile type of EDS (hEDS) shares many features with HSD. The distinction matters because EDS can affect other body systems, including the skin, blood vessels, and internal organs. If you have hypermobility plus skin that bruises easily, poor wound healing, or frequent dislocations, you should discuss this with a doctor.

How to Test Yourself at Home

You can check yourself at home using the same movements as the Beighton Score. Stand in front of a mirror and try each one slowly. Never force a joint beyond its comfortable range. If a movement hurts, stop.

Start with your pinky fingers. Hold your hand flat and gently pull the pinky back. If it goes past 90 degrees, you have hypermobility in that joint. Next, try to touch your thumb to your forearm. For most people, this is impossible. If you can do it, that is a positive sign.

Check your elbows and knees. Stand straight and look at your arms. Do they bend slightly backward at the elbow? That is hyperextension. Do the same for your knees. Finally, try to touch your palms to the floor with straight legs. This tests both hamstring flexibility and spinal mobility.

If you score 4 or more, you are likely hypermobile. But remember, a positive home test does not mean you have a disorder. It simply means you have flexible joints. Most people with hypermobility have no symptoms and need no treatment.

When to See a Doctor

Hypermobility alone is not a reason to see a doctor. But you should seek medical advice if you have any of the following:

• Joint pain that lasts more than a few weeks
• Joints that dislocate or subluxate (partially dislocate) repeatedly
• Swelling or warmth around a joint
• Fatigue that interferes with daily life
• Frequent bruises without a clear cause
• Digestive issues, dizziness, or fainting that occur alongside hypermobility

These symptoms can indicate a more complex condition. A doctor, usually a rheumatologist or a geneticist, can evaluate you properly. They will take a full medical history, perform a physical exam, and may use the Beighton Score. There is no blood test for hypermobility. The diagnosis is clinical, based on your history and physical findings.

It is worth noting that many people with hypermobility are told their pain is “all in their head” because x-rays and blood tests are normal. Joint hypermobility does not show up on standard imaging. The diagnosis relies on recognizing the pattern of symptoms and physical findings. If you feel your concerns are dismissed, seeking a second opinion from a specialist familiar with hypermobility is reasonable.

Managing Joint Hypermobility

If hypermobility causes you pain, the best treatment is not to stop moving. It is to strengthen the muscles around your joints. Strong muscles act as natural braces, supporting the lax ligaments and stabilizing the joint.

Physical therapy is the most effective approach. A physical therapist can design a program that targets the specific joints that bother you. The focus is on low-impact strengthening, like swimming, cycling, or using resistance bands. High-impact activities, like running on hard surfaces or heavy weightlifting, may aggravate symptoms.

Proprioception is also important. This is your body’s ability to sense where it is in space. Hypermobile people often have reduced proprioception, which makes them more prone to injuries like ankle sprains. Balance training, such as standing on one leg or using a wobble board, can improve this.

There is no medication that treats hypermobility itself. Pain relievers like acetaminophen or ibuprofen can help with occasional discomfort, but they do not address the underlying joint laxity. Always follow the dosing instructions on the label. If you need pain relief more than a few times a week, discuss it with your doctor rather than self-medicating long-term.

What About Children Who Are Double Jointed?

Many children are naturally hypermobile. Their connective tissue is still developing, and they are often remarkably flexible. This is usually harmless and something they outgrow as they age.

However, some children experience growing pains or joint aches related to hypermobility. This is often called benign joint hypermobility syndrome in children. It is not dangerous, but it can be uncomfortable. Gentle strengthening exercises and ensuring the child stays active are the mainstays of management.

If a child has hypermobility along with delayed motor skills, frequent falls, or pain that limits activity, a pediatrician should evaluate them. In rare cases, hypermobility in children can signal a connective tissue disorder that needs specialized care. Most of the time, though, it is simply a normal variation of childhood flexibility.