Cervicalgia in patients with hypermobility syndrome
DOI: 10.32364/2587-6821-2026-10-9-9
Cervicalgia in patients with hypermobility syndrome
D.Kh. Khaibullina1, I.Kh. Khairullin2
1 Kazan State Medical Academy — Branch of the Russian Medical Academy of Continuous Professional Education, Kazan, Russian Federation
2 ACSOM (American Canadian School of Medicine), Picard-Portsmouth, Commonwealth of Dominica
Background: neck pain (cervicalgia) is common in medical practice, regardless of a health specialty, and it is often associated with connective tissue dysplasia (CTD) and joint hypermobility syndrome (JHS), especially in women. Despite their prevalence, the comorbidity of these conditions and their impact on pain syndrome are still underinvestigated.
Aim: to investigate characteristics of cervical spine pain syndromes in patients with joint hypermobility.
Materials and Methods: 114 patients (18–60 years old) complaining of neck pain were enrolled. The study group (SG) consisted of 94 individuals (77.7% women, median age: 36.7 years) with JHS, and the control group (CG) consisted of 20 individuals (median age: 40.7 years) without JHS and signs of CTD. Neurological and neuro-orthopedic examinations were performed; hypermobility was assessed using the Beighton score and the Brighton criteria; pain severity, central sensitization, anxiety and depression levels, and quality of life were evaluated.
Results: in the SG, pain onset was earlier (27.6 vs. 37.5 years), and exacerbations were more frequent (up to 3 times per year vs. 1 time per year). According to the VAS, pain intensity was higher (p=0.042), but central sensitization level did not differ. The SG demonstrated mixed headache (cervicogenic + tension-type headache), while isolated tension-type headache was reported in the CG. In patients with CTD, functional blocks were more common in the craniocervical junction (C0-CIII) versus CIV-CV in the control group. A direct correlation was found between CTD severity and incidence of panic attacks and mood disorders (p<0.001) associated with increased central sensitization and decreased quality of life.
Conclusion: in patients with cervicalgia, CTD and JHS are associated with early onset, mixed headache, specific localization of functional blocks, and high incidence of psychoemotional disorders associated with central sensitization. This justifies a need for a multidisciplinary approach involving a neurologist, a chiropractor, and a psychologist to manage patients with cervicalgia and CTD.
Keywords: pain, neck pain, cervicalgia, joint hypermobility, hypermobility spectrum disorders, connective tissue dysplasia.
For citation: Khaibullina D.Kh., Khairullin I.Kh. Cervicalgia in patients with hypermobility syndrome. Russian Medical Inquiry. 2026;10(9):652–657 (in Russ.). DOI: 10.32364/2587-6821-2026-10-9-9
About the authors:
Dina Kh. Khaibullina — C. Sc. (Med.), Assistant Professor, Department of Neurology, Kazan State Medical Academy — Branch of the Russian Medical Academy of Continuous Professional Education; 36, Butlerov str., Kazan, 420012, Russian Federation; ORCID iD 0000-0001-6883-7649
Ilshat Kh. Khairullin — C. Sc. (Med.), Lecturer, Department of Medicine, American Canadian School of Medicine; Robert Ross blvd., Picard-Portsmouth, St. John's Parish, Commonwealth of Dominica, 00109–8000; ORCID iD 0000-0003-0919-035X
Contact information: Dina Kh. Khaibullina, e-mail: dina.khaibullina@mail.ru
Financial Disclosure: the study was funded by a grant no. 5/2025-PD-KGMA dt 12.22.2025, from the Academy of Sciences of the Republic of Tatarstan to higher education bodies, scientific and other organizations to support qualified staff development plans in terms of stimulating scientific and scientific pedagogical employees to defend their doctorates and to carry out scientific researches.
There is no conflict of interest.
Received 07.09.2026.
Revised 11.09.2026.
Accepted 18.09.2026.
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