Bendy knees? Backwards elbows? Flexible fingers? These can all be subtle signs of hypermobility. Lots of people have no obvious hypermobility symptoms, but those who do can experience joint pain, fatigue, and frequent discomfort. Let’s take a closer look at what hypermobility means and when support is needed.
Hypermobility is a term used to describe ultra-flexible joints that move beyond the normal range of motion. Hypermobility can be determined using a simple test called the Beighton Score. This helps to confirm whether a person is “hypermobile” and focuses on the flexibility of the knees, fingers, thumbs, elbows, and spine.
In terms of prevalence, hypermobility is fairly common, affecting approximately 1 in 10 individuals. Lots of people are hypermobile in childhood (up to 40%) and find that their joints stabilise as they get older.
Many people go through life without any obvious symptoms of hypermobility. This is what is known as “asymptomatic hypermobility”. If you have asymptomatic hypermobility, you might show the signs of hypermobility, e.g. bendy thumbs and ultra-flexible elbows, but experience no negative effects from them. This is often the case for dancers and gymnasts, who tend to be more hypermobile than the general population.
Not everyone with hypermobility is symptom-free, though. Some people aren’t so lucky and experience pain, fatigue, and other symptoms as a result. This may be due to a recognised medical condition like hypermobile Ehlers–Danlos syndrome (hEDS) or Hypermobility Spectrum Disorder (HSD), or as a result of injury, overuse, or reduced muscle strength.
While hypermobility in hEDS is caused by a known hereditary connective tissue/collagen disorder, joint hypermobility in the wider population often occurs due to normal variation in collagen elasticity or joint anatomy. Some people are simply born with joints that move more freely than average, without an underlying condition affecting the rest of the body.
As we mentioned earlier, hypermobility is common in dancers and gymnasts. This is because years of training and repeated stretching can gradually increase how far the joints are able to move, especially when flexibility is encouraged from a young age.
So, what difficulties are faced by someone with a hypermobility disorder? Common symptoms include:
A person with hEDS or HSD might experience just a few of these issues or more. As with many conditions, symptom patterns and severity can vary from person to person.
Struggling with your own hypermobility symptoms? Although there isn’t a cure for hypermobility, moving the body regularly and strengthening muscles can make a big difference to how you feel.
Many people benefit from seeing a physio. This is because a physio can advise on how to strengthen the muscles around the joints safely, which can reduce pain and lower the risk of injury. Seeing a physio also gives you a game plan when it comes to activity modification and injury management. The more you work with the physio, the more you’ll learn about how your body works and how to avoid issues in future.
Suspect you might have hypermobility symptoms linked to hEDS or HSD? It’s always best to speak with your GP. As well as supporting you with pain management, they’ll be able to help you address any fatigue, digestive symptoms, or autonomic issues that are related to your condition.
Hypermobility isn’t classed as a disability in the UK. However, if your hypermobility symptoms are related to hEDS or HSD or have a long-term impact on your daily life (i.e. they affect your mobility, work, or self-care), they may meet the legal definition of a disability under the Equality Act 2010.
Some people with hEDS or HSD may be entitled to reasonable adjustments at work or support through benefits, depending on how significantly their symptoms affect them.
Did you know there could be a link between hypermobility and autism? Although it’s not entirely clear why, research shows that people on the autism spectrum are more likely to have joint hypermobility or hypermobility-related conditions compared with the general population. It’s thought that shared differences in connective tissue or nervous system regulation may play a role.
Of course, not everyone with autism has hypermobility and vice versa, but recognising this link can be helpful in ensuring people get the support they need when facing overlapping symptoms.
If you don’t have symptoms, you don’t usually need to seek medical support for hypermobility. However, if you are experiencing pain, fatigue, frequent injury, or any other common symptoms, it’s highly recommended to speak to a doctor. They can help to explore your symptoms and refer you to a physio or specialist if needed.
Occasionally, but not for most people. The average person with hypermobility can live a full, active life with little or no impact. However, if you have a condition like hEDS or HSD, your symptoms may be chronic and require ongoing management to maintain quality of life.
Yes, it can do. Hypermobility can lead to reduced stability, which makes sprains, strains, and dislocations more likely, especially without adequate muscle strength and control. That’s why targeted strengthening and movement awareness are so important.
Sometimes, but it depends on the individual, their symptoms, and their level of activity. Over time, hypermobility can actually improve as joints naturally stiffen with age. However, it can also cause worsening pain or instability, especially for people who’ve suffered injury or had periods of inactivity. This is why strength training and good joint management are so important.
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