Relationship between Idiopathic Scoliosis and Generalized Joint Hypermobility: a cro ss-sectional study

Objective This study examined the relationship between idiopathic scoliosis and generalized joint hypermobility in children, with a focus on whether joint mobility correlates with Cobb angle in mild to moderate cases. It also evaluated whether generalized joint mobility could serve as a predictor for scoliosis development. Methods From May 2024 to May 2025, 192 pediatric patients with idiopathic scoliosis (IS group) were recruited from Hangzhou Children’s Hospital and Hangzhou Integrative Medicine Hospital Affiliated to Zhejiang Chinese Medical University. A control group of 166 children with a Cobb angle below 10° was also enrolled. Demographic data and joint mobility scores were collected for all participants. Analyses compared joint mobility between groups and explored correlations between scoliosis severity and clinical factors. Results Beighton scores were significantly higher in the scoliosis group than in controls (z = 5.18, P  < 0.001) and differed between mild and moderate scoliosis subgroups (z = 2.48, P  < 0.05). Scoliosis was associated with a greater risk of generalized joint hypermobility (Beighton score > 4) (OR = 3.00, 95%CI:1.88–4.81, P  < 0.001). The risk of hypermobility was higher in mild scoliosis than in moderate cases ( P  < 0.05). Generalized joint hypermobility also tripled the likelihood of scoliosis (OR = 3.00, 95%CI:1.87–4.82, P  < 0.001). Among patients with mild scoliosis, Cobb angle was positively correlated with Beighton score (r = 0.261 and 0.213; P  < 0.05), whereas no significant correlation was found in moderate scoliosis (r = 0.160, P  > 0.05). Age showed no association with generalized joint hypermobility ( P  > 0.05). The prevalence of hypermobility differed significantly between scoliosis and control groups and between scoliosis subgroups ( P  < 0.05). Conclusion Idiopathic scoliosis is closely linked to generalized joint mobility. Higher Beighton scores were generally associated with greater Cobb angles, particularly in mild cases, suggesting that hypermobility may contribute to both the onset and progression of scoliosis. These findings highlight the potential value of assessing generalized joint mobility for early detection and management of scoliosis. Trial registration: Not applicable.