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Ligament Laxity: What Is A Ligament?
Ligament Laxity: What Is A Ligament?
Ligament Laxity (1 of 2)
What is a ligament?
Ligaments are strong, flexible bands that hold bones together at
joints.
Ligaments help to keep joints stable, although they are not the only
structures to do this. Muscles also help to stabilise the joint.
Childrens Physiotherapy
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Ligament Laxity (2 of 2)
with joints of the fingers pushed back excessively and with more of the fingers in
contact with the pencil.
Pressing excessively hard onto the paper.
Although these strategies seem to help stability they hinder fluency and cause poor
blood flow through the muscles, resulting in cramps and pain.
Poor sitting position when writing.
3. Difficulties with activities that involve walking, standing on one leg or balancing generally.
Children who have underdeveloped foot arches due to ligament laxity often find it difficult
to stand on one leg and can find sport involving balancing on one leg difficult.
Where arches are well developed, the weight of the body is taken through the outer border
of the foot and the muscles and ligaments are correctly aligned to control balance. If the
weight is taken through the inner border of the foot because of ligament laxity, the muscles
and ligaments are poorly aligned, making it more difficult to balance. This can cause foot
and calf pain and minor repetitive injury.
Many thanks to Sally Wright who allowed us to base this information sheet on one that she
had produced.
Childrens Physiotherapy
01722 336262 ext 4667/2280