The doctor refuted the myth of increased joint flexibility as a sign of acromegaly

Increased joint flexibility, or hypermobility, is not a sign of acromegaly, as some myths claim. In an interview with Izvestia on September 12, Alexander Shelepov, a traumatologist and orthopedist at Medicine JSC (Academician Roitberg Clinic), announced this.

He explained that with acromegaly, on the contrary, there is a limitation of joint mobility, rather than their increased flexibility. Acromegaly is a chronic endocrine disease that occurs due to excessive secretion of growth hormone, most often due to pituitary adenoma. This leads to pathological overgrowth of bone and cartilage tissue, thickening of ligaments and joint deformities, which causes pain and restriction of movement.

"Joint flexibility decreases rather than increases with acromegaly. Joint hypermobility is more often associated with hereditary connective tissue diseases, such as Ehlers-Danlos syndrome or Marfan syndrome, or is a physiological feature in children and adolescents," Shelepov noted.

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The main symptoms of the disease include pain and stiffness in the joints, deformities, as well as changes in appearance, such as an increase in the size of the hands and feet, rough facial features and an enlarged tongue. In addition, acromegaly can be accompanied by headaches, visual disturbances, fatigue, hypertension, and other symptoms.

If acromegaly is suspected, Shelepov recommends contacting an endocrinologist and an orthopedist, and diagnosis includes laboratory and instrumental methods such as MRI of the pituitary gland and IGF-1 tests.

On August 12, Olga Ulankina, a doctor, spoke about the consequences of an incorrectly selected school briefcase. According to her, an uncomfortable or age-inappropriate briefcase can cause muscle strain.

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