Do you feel un-coordinated and awkward when trying to exercise?

Sounds like you need a movement teacher with has a comprehensive understanding of hypermobility and joint mechanics.

Hypermobility is present in up to 15% of the population in one form or another.  For the general public, hypermobility most commonly refers to general joint hypermobility (or an increased range of joint movement).This can be caused by a variety of factors, including genetics and for some connective tissue disorders such as EDS and hEDS. While being hypermobile can be advantageous in certain sports and activities, it can also lead to joint pain, instability, and an increased risk of injury.  

In our experience within the any.BODY Studio space people with joint hypermobility when participating in movement struggle to control their range of movement (ROM) - making them feel ‘out of control during movements’ but also employ “whole body bracing” strategies to help stabilize themselves. They can feel un-coordinated with movements, have reduced balance, reduced proprioception and have a far more complex relationship with movement. This in conjunction with a lot of ‘guarding’ means that those that live in hypermobile bodies quite often also present stiff, with an increase in fascia / connective tissue to assist with the instability that is present at the joint.

Symptoms of Hypermobility

Many of the people on the hypermobility spectrum experience negative effects, some of the most common symptoms include:  

• frequent subluxations or dislocations 

• chronic pain 

• neural tissue pain (eg. pins and needles) 

• gut issues (eg. IBS)  

• autonomic dysfunction (eg. POTS)  

• anxiety  

• fatigue  

• general deconditioning  

• excessive bruising  

• disrupted sleep  

• headaches / dizziness  

• pelvic floor concerns or prolapse 

Here are some ways an Exercise Physiologist can help someone with Hypermobility or Ehlers Danlos Syndrome.

Assess Joint Stability: An exercise physiologist can assess your joint stability and determine which joints are at increased risk of injury. They can also help you develop exercises to strengthen the muscles around those joints for added stability.

Develop Appropriate Exercise Programs: An exercise physiologist can design an exercise program that takes into account your joint in-stability. Most importantly it is important to engage with an exercise physiologist that can teach you proper bracing strategies. Example: How do I actually activate my core, while doing functional movements.

Provide Education: An exercise physiologist can educate you on the importance of proper form and technique during exercise to reduce the risk of injury. They can also educate you on how to listen to your body and recognize signs of overuse or injury. Example: What pain is good pain, how should movements “feel” and how do I know if I am doing them '“correctly”.

Address Pain and Discomfort: Hypermobility can cause joint pain and discomfort, which can make exercise challenging. An exercise physiologist can work with you and your physiotherapist to develop strategies to manage pain and discomfort, such as modifying exercises, using heat or ice therapy, or incorporating rest periods into your workouts.

Monitor Progress: An exercise physiologist can monitor your progress and adjust your exercise program as needed. We will use specific strategies to ensure we mobilise joints in the correct way, improve joint stability and slowly start to load your joints to improve overall strength through the body.