If you struggle with hypermobility, you’ve probably had your fair share of doctor or physical therapy appointments with little to no change in your symptoms. You’ve probably even become quite frustrated with the healthcare system or hopeless about your chances to feel better in your body. Fortunately, there is still hope for you, it’s just that hypermobility comes with a few variations in your healing protocol that many providers don’t seem to know about.
First, it can be helpful to understand what hypermobility is.
It is an extra laxity in your ligaments, leading to more than typical movement in your joints. Oftentimes, people with hypermobility also struggle with anxiety, physical clumsiness, balance issues, frequent injuries, and experience sprained joints easily.
It may or may not be related to Ehler’s Danlos Syndrome, Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome (POTS), and/or Mast Cell Activation Syndrome (MCAS).
Where things can sometimes be confusing is that you can be hypermobile, but feel like you aren’t flexible. Meaning, there are plenty of people I work with who are hypermobile in their joints, but can’t touch their toes.
Here are the mistakes I often see in physical therapy clinics when someone is being treated for pain, but they are also hypermobile.
- Common error: PT puts too much emphasis on stretching. Fix: Start with stability first, then build into more mobility with control.
- Common error: PT is too aggressive of strengthening. Fix: Begin with foundational movements to create control from the center and move out from there. This often means starting with breathwork, simple core work, or gentle periscapular or hip stabilization work.
- Common error: PT ignores the mind/body connection. Fix: include a deepening understanding of how the mind and the body are connected. Slow down the movements and exercises/activities to allow the nervous system to adjust to accordingly.
Hypermobility benefits from a different style of treatment, but it is completely manageable and doesn’t have to leave you feeling hopeless about your life or your body.
Have you struggled with hypermobility or do you think hypermobility might be part of the reason you are dealing with so much pain?
Book your first session to see how we do physical therapy differently at The Middle Way.