Hypermobility: A Need for a New Approach
Hypermobility is increasingly being acknowledged as conditions such as POTS, EDS, and Hypermobility Syndrome are being better understood and reliably diagnosed.
Hypermobility is characterized by additional joint range of motion, when range of motion is greater than what is average. The cause of hypermobility is understood as decreased collagen fibers in tendons resulting in less joint stability. However, the experience of hypermobility goes greater than this. People with hypermobility can experience increased rates of injury, increased recovery time, fear of exercise and movement due to a fear of injury, joint pain, fatigue, digestive issues, and curiously, stiffness. You might be surprised that people with hypermobile joints experience stiffness if they have more movement potential available to them, however, due to the decreased stability from their tendons, muscles and fascial tissue can compensate for the decreased stability.
Commonly, hypermobility is addressed through physical therapy and surgery (when necessary to address recurrent or acute injury). Research does not support the use of collagen supplements to address hypermobility because the body is not able to direct the supplemented collagen to the specific joints.
In a movement setting, it has been most common to address hypermobility with a focus on muscles and bones: correcting alignment, restricting range of motion, conditioning stabilizers, and in some approaches, avoiding flexibility based work. If this were enough, we would be seeing widespread, positive results and better management of hypermobility. Yes, these strategies are effective, but there is far greater potential to help people and help them achieve longer lasting impact.
What I believe is missing from typical approaches of addressing hypermobility, is considering the nervous and fascial systems. In terms of the nervous system, addressing clients’ proprioception, motor control, focus, and mindfulness are some key ways of integrating their nervous system into their movement experiences. With regards to the fascial system, strategically addressing fascial restrictions and compensations is key in order to address pain, discomfort and stiffness of people with hypermobile bodies.
People with hypermobility are experiencing movement in a very different and very real way from people without hypermobility. To exclusively address them with a typical musculoskeletal approach, while not wrong, is not the most effective way to help this population.
If you'd like to learn more, I'm co-presenting a 6 hour course with Carolyne Anthony, founder of The Center for Women's Fitness in November. To learn more about our Integrated Approach To Hypermobility workshop or to book your ticket, click here.