Are You Double Jointed?

It Could Explain More Than You Think

Have you ever been told you’re “double jointed”?

Perhaps you could bend your thumb back to your forearm as a child, put your hands flat on the floor without bending your knees, or entertain your friends with unusual flexibility.

Many people think of this as a fun party trick.

For some people, however, unusually flexible joints can be the reason behind years of recurring aches, sprains, and persistent pain.

This condition is known as joint hypermobility.

What Is Joint Hypermobility?

Joint hypermobility means your joints move further than what is considered a normal range of motion.

This usually happens because the ligaments and connective tissues that support the joints are naturally more flexible.

Some people have hypermobile joints and never experience any problems.

Others develop ongoing symptoms, a condition known as Hypermobility Spectrum Disorder (HSD).

Recent research suggests that between 10 and 30 percent of people have some degree of joint hypermobility, although only a smaller percentage develop ongoing symptoms.

Signs You Might Be Hypermobile

People with hypermobility often describe a lifetime of injuries or unexplained pain.

You might recognise some of these:

• You were called “double jointed” as a child.

• You’ve had repeated ankle sprains.

• Your joints click, pop or feel unstable.

• You have ongoing neck or back pain despite normal X-rays or scans.

• Your pain improves with treatment but returns quickly.

• You often feel clumsy or unsteady.

• You’ve experienced shoulder, kneecap or finger dislocations.

Many people spend years searching for answers before learning that joint hypermobility is the underlying cause.

It’s About More Than Flexible Joints

Joint hypermobility doesn’t only affect the joints.

Some people also experience:

• Fatigue.

• Headaches or migraines.

• Dizziness.

• Poor balance.

• Digestive problems.

• Anxiety.

• Sleep difficulties.

Because these symptoms seem unrelated, the condition is sometimes mistaken for other chronic pain disorders.

Why Stability Matters

This is where chiropractic care needs to be tailored to the individual.

If a joint already moves too much, the answer is rarely making it move even more.

Instead, the goal is to improve stability.

Think of it like the mast of a sailing boat.

If the supporting ropes are loose, the solution isn’t to loosen them further. The solution is to improve the support around the mast.

Your muscles act like those supporting ropes.

They provide the control and stability that flexible ligaments cannot.

How Chiropractic Can Help

Every patient is different.

For people with hypermobility, treatment often focuses on:

• Identifying areas that are truly stiff rather than simply flexible.

• Improving movement where it is restricted.

• Reducing pain.

• Improving balance and body awareness.

• Teaching exercises that improve joint stability.

• Helping patients return safely to the activities they enjoy.

Research suggests that strengthening muscles and improving proprioception, your body’s awareness of where your joints are in space, plays a key role in long-term success.

The Best Exercises

Hypermobile joints usually respond better to control than to stretching.

Helpful activities include:

• Pilates.

• Tai Chi.

• Swimming.

• Resistance training.

• Core stability exercises.

Exercises such as Bird Dog, Dead Bug and Side Bridge are excellent ways to build the deep muscles that support the spine.

Progress should be gradual.

Trying to do too much too soon often leads to flare-ups.

Everyday Tips

Small changes often make a big difference.

Try to:

• Avoid locking your knees or elbows when standing.

• Change position regularly rather than sitting for long periods.

• Maintain good posture while sitting and working.

• Build strength before returning to high-impact activities.

• Listen to your body and allow time for recovery after exercise.

Click here for Spinal Stability Exercise Could This Be You?

If you’ve experienced years of recurring injuries, ongoing pain, or feel like treatment never quite lasts, joint hypermobility may be worth considering.

At Lane Cove Chiropractic, we look beyond the site of pain to understand how your body functions as a whole. For some people, recognising hypermobility changes the way we approach care and leads to better long-term results.

If you’ve always wondered whether you’re simply flexible or whether your flexibility could be contributing to your symptoms, mention it at your next visit.

A simple clinical assessment and a detailed history are often enough to identify whether joint hypermobility is playing a role in your health.

The goal isn’t to stop you moving.

It’s to help you move with greater confidence, better stability and less pain, so you can keep doing the things you love for years to come.

---

Dr Mark has a special interest in helping recreational athletes of all ages perform better and prevent injury. Correct breathing and postural alignment are critical for top performance and injury prevention and is an integral part of “The Over 40 Athlete System” that Mark has developed.

Dr Julie has a special interest in helping mothers and “mothers to be”. Her Post Graduate qualifications in Paediatric Chiropractic and as an ex-midwife give her a unique ability to help pregnant women, new mums and their young children.

Yours in Health,

Dr's Mark & Julie