Hypermobility

Understanding Hypermobility: When Flexibility Becomes a Challenge

While you might not have heard of hypermobility, you have probably heard of being “double-jointed”. You know that ability some people have to bend their fingers backwards or touch the floor without bending their knees. While this flexibility might seem like a party trick, for many people, hypermobility can present real challenges that significantly impact their daily lives.

What Exactly Is Hypermobility?

Hypermobility is a condition where joints can bend and stretch beyond the normal range of movement. Recent research suggests it affects between 20-30% of the population, with some studies indicating that around 20% of people in the UK may experience symptomatic hypermobility that could affect their quality of life.

Its exact cause is unknown but it involves the genes responsible for the production of collagen, a protein important for joint, tendon, and ligament function. Because collagen is also present in connective tissue, hypermobility can affect many of the body’s systems, not just the joints. 10% of the people with hypermobility have symptoms that range from mild to extremely disabling where they can dislocate joints just by sneezing or sustain an injury due to a fall that would not be an issue to someone without the condition. Interestingly, hypermobility is more common in women than men (with a ratio of approximately 3:1), children, and people of Afro-Caribbean and Asian descent. It’s also frequently seen in gymnasts, dancers, athletes, and musicians who rely on flexibility for their activities.

The Different Types of Hypermobility

While there are several forms of hypermobility, the most common ones include:

Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome (EDS): A hereditary condition affecting the structure and function of collagen and connective tissue throughout the body.
Hypermobility Spectrum Disorder: This encompasses various symptomatic hypermobility conditions, including genetic disorders, loose ligaments, or poor muscle tone.
Marfan Syndrome: A connective tissue disorder that most commonly affects the heart, blood vessels, bones, joints, and eyes.

Many people with hypermobility experience no symptoms at all and are classified as ‘asymptomatic hypermobile’. However, for others, the condition can range from mildly inconvenient to severely disabling.

Recognising the Signs

The symptoms of hypermobility can be surprisingly varied and complex, which is why the condition is often missed by healthcare professionals who may focus on individual symptoms rather than the bigger picture.

Common symptoms can include:

Joint pain and frequent dislocations – even from simple activities like sneezing
Heart and circulation issues – including Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome (PoTS), which can cause dizziness and fainting
Digestive problems – similar to Irritable Bowel Syndrome, including bloating and constipation
Dental health complications – affecting jaw function and gum health
Resistance to local anaesthetics – A number of people with Joint Hypermobility Syndrome (JHS) and EDS appear to be resistant to local anaesthetics. If this sounds familiar it is important for your dentist or your doctor to know so that they can provide alternative pain relief. Symptoms often become problematic after a trigger event – this could be an injury, illness (including COVID-19), stress, pregnancy, or significant life changes that tip someone from ‘coping’ to ‘struggling’.

Managing Hypermobility Effectively

There is no cure for being hypermobile, but there are many things that you can do to help manage any symptoms. With the right management, many hypermobile people can significantly improve their quality of life so here are a few things that you can do.

Exercise and Movement:Targeted exercise is crucial for people with hypermobility, but it needs to be done correctly otherwise it can cause additional problems. Working with a healthcare professional who understands the condition can help develop a personalised routine that:

Improves joint stability
Strengthens supporting muscles
Enhances balance and proprioception (joint position awareness)
Reduces chronic pain

Pain Management: Pain is a common symptom of hypermobility syndromes with intensity varying significantly between individuals.

This might include a combination of approaches:

Medications (discuss with your GP)
Manual therapy such as osteopathy or physiotherapy
Heat therapy and relaxation techniques
TENS machines for nerve stimulation

Lifestyle Adaptations: Simple changes can make a significant difference in managing day-to-day challenges.

Getting the Right Support

Hypermobility is a relatively common condition that often goes undiagnosed because of its complexity.

If you recognise any of the symptoms covered previously, consider checking your Beighton score – a simple assessment that can indicate whether you might have hypermobility. While it’s not a definitive diagnosis, it can help identify whether you need to contact your GP for further medical assessment.

The key is finding healthcare professionals who understand hypermobility and can look at your symptoms as a whole rather than treating them individually. This holistic approach is essential for effective management.

Unsurprisingly osteopathy is a great treatment approach for the management of many of the symptoms caused by hypermobility so If you would like advice on how I can help please get in touch.

I hope you found this article useful.

You can always get in touch if you have any concerns for yourself for someone you know.