Beighton Score

How is the Beighton score test used to measure joint hypermobility?

Your healthcare provider gently maneuvers your joints into certain positions. Using a nine-point joint mobility scale, you get one point if you can:

• Bend forward and place your hands flat on the floor without bending your knees.
• Straighten your elbows past a neutral position (hyperextend) (one point for each elbow).
• Straighten your knees past a neutral position (hyperextend) (one point for each knee).
• Bend your pinky (little) fingers back beyond 90 degrees (one point for each finger).
• Bend your thumbs back to touch your forearms (one point for each thumb).

The second part of the Beighton score involves questions about your history. Your healthcare provider asks you about your joint mobility and any joint pain. Each “yes” answer is one point:

1. Can you now (or could you ever) put your hands flat on the floor while keeping your knees straight?
2. Can you now (or could you ever) bend your thumb and touch your lower arm?
3. When you were younger, did you entertain your friends by warping yourself into different positions? Could you do splits?
4. When you were a child or teenager, did you have a dislocated shoulder or kneecap more than once?
5. Do you think of yourself as double-jointed?

Your healthcare provider tallies up your points. You could have joint hypermobility syndrome if you either:

• Reach four or more points on the maneuvers and have had pain in four or more joints for at least three months.
• Answer “yes” to two or more of the historical questions.

What should I expect during the Beighton score?

Your healthcare provider asks you to move your joints into certain positions. You may have to lie down or sit in a chair to perform the maneuvers. The test should only take a few minutes, and you should not feel pain.

What are the risks of the Beighton score? Are there side effects?

There are no risks or side effects associated with the Beighton score.

What is a positive Beighton score?

A positive Beighton score for joint hypermobility syndrome is either:

• Four points or more on the flexibility maneuvers.
• Two points or more on the historical questions.

What do the results of a Beighton score mean?

The higher your number, the higher the laxity of your joints. Positive results on a Beighton score test mean you likely have joint hypermobility syndrome. But this syndrome is sometimes a result of other underlying conditions. Your provider will talk to you about the next steps, which will most likely be more testing to figure out any other condition you may have.

The Beighton score itself can’t diagnose EDS, Marfan syndrome or osteogenesis imperfecta. It’s part of a series of tests to get to the bottom of your symptoms.

When should I know the Beighton score results?

You should know the results of the Beighton score immediately. Your provider can calculate the results as you complete each part of the test.