Federal Project Grant Award Summary

The National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases (NIAMS) awarded a Project Grant totaling $124,158 to The Regents of the University of Colorado–Denver to conduct research investigating the biomechanical mechanisms underlying chronic joint pain in individuals with generalized joint hypermobility (GJH). The research, initiated May 15, 2026, and scheduled for completion March 31, 2031, examines how dynamic joint stability—comprising passive (connective tissue), active (muscle), and neural (sensorimotor control) subsystems—contributes to pain development in symptomatic GJH populations. The study aims to characterize performance across all three stability subsystems of the neck and determine the role of central sensitization in chronic pain manifestation, with particular focus on understanding why some individuals with GJH remain asymptomatic while others develop chronic pain conditions.

This research supports the NIAMS Arthritis, Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases Research program (CFDA 93.846) by addressing a significant gap in mechanistic understanding of musculoskeletal pain pathophysiology. The anticipated deliverables include empirical data on biomechanical and neurophysiological factors in GJH populations, research findings to inform evidence-based clinical management guidelines, and peer-reviewed publications advancing the scientific knowledge of joint hypermobility-related pain mechanisms. The work is being performed at the University of Colorado–Denver facility in Aurora, Colorado.