With more light being shed on conditions such as Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome (EDS) and Hypermobility Spectrum Disorder (HSD), the term “hypermobility” or “hyper mobility” is being thrown around a lot. So what does hypermobility mean?
Merriam-Webster dictionary defines hypermobility as “an increase in the range of movement of which a body part and especially a joint is capable.” The person’s movement is more than the expected normal range.
Flexibility vs. Hypermobility
Flexibility is the ability to move through one’s full available range of motion. Therefore if your joint allows 90 degrees of movement and your muscles also allow 90 degrees of movement, that would be “flexible.” However, if the soft tissue structures are shortened and only allow 70 degrees then the joint would not be flexible. Flexibility is made up of the extensibility of the muscles, tendons, and ligaments around a joint.
Flexibility does not require excess movement beyond the “normal range.” This is where it differs from hypermobility. A hypermobile person has joints that move more than the norms established for a joint. You may have heard this called “double jointed.” This is largely due to the ligaments and joint capsules surrounding a joint.
Hypermobile Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome
Hypermobile Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome (hEDS) is an inherited disorder that affects all the connective tissue within the human body. The most commonly associated symptom is hypermobile joints due to these connective tissue changes. However, hEDS also produces other symptoms from the gastrointestinal system, skin, dysautonomia, and anxiety.
Just because someone has 1 or more hypermobile joints doesn’t mean they have hEDS. There are diagnostic criteria. If you think you may have hEDS, seek an appointment to get a diagnosis. The Ehlers-Danlos Society has a list of practitioners that you can search for based on your location.