Do I have Hypermobility and can I safely exercise with it?
Are you super bendy? You’ll want to read this.
Can you straighten your elbows or knees right back? Does it look like your “double-jointed”?
Have you tried exercising but somehow keep hurting yourself? Do your joints feel unstable when exercising?
Do you or your friend dislocate your joints frequently?
You probably have a disorder known as Hypermobility Spectrum Disorder (HSD). This is a common and frequently underdiagnosed condition.
What is Hypermobility Spectrum Disorder?
Hypermobility Spectrum Disorder (HSD) affects the connective tissue in one or multiple joints in the body. The symptoms and severity will vary from person to person. For example, one person may have mild joint involvement while another will have severe joint damage.
A person may experience one, two, or many other symptoms such as fatigue, dizziness, constipation, anxiety or headaches. In some cases the connective tissue disorder also impacts the organs.
How is Hypermobility Spectrum Disorder Diagnosed?
Diagnosis is made clinically by a trained physiotherapist or doctor through physical examination of your joints and looking at your medical history.
Common problems include:-
- Joint dislocation
- Joint damage and pain
- Early degenerative joint changes
- Recurrent ligament and/or tendon injuries
- Poor body position awareness
For the most up to date information about HSD we recommend visiting the Ehlers-Danlos Society Website.
What is the best treatment for Hypermobility Spectrum Disorder?
Evidence from recent research shows that exercise is the best form of treatment for managing HSD. For more severe cases, a multidisciplinary approach is necessary as it requires involvement from other health professionals.
Exercise needs to be individualized to your specific problems and that can only be done with a trained physiotherapist. Exercise options include supervised Clinical Pilates, aerobic exercise, walking, swimming and even weight lifting for the right person.
Your physiotherapist will evaluate your problems and give you exercises to address those problems in a safe manner.
Exercises focus on
- improving your joint control
- building body awareness
- developing strength at the end range positions.
Physiotherapy helps with
- injury prevention and treatment
- pain management
- education and support
Here at Next Wave Therapy, our approach is holistic. We look at the body as a whole and address the physiological and psychological issues together. Our Pilates studio and gym are well equipped to create a program that suits your needs and lifestyle.
Key Points about Hypermobility Spectrum Disorder
- HSD is a condition that affects the connective tissue of one or multiple joints and symptoms can be mild to severe.
- Joint issues can often lead to frequent injuries and chronic pain
- Exercise is the best form of treatment as it helps you manage your symptoms through improved control and body awareness
HSD is a condition you can not only manage well but thrive with given the right help. If you or someone you know is struggling with hypermobility and needs to be assessed, call or email the clinic and book in with our trained physiotherapist, Rushil Shah.
