Here at Klein Physical Therapy, we often have to be a bit of a sleuth for our patients.
And, many, many times, it all comes back to the pelvis (you’ll notice on our website that treating pelvic floor conditions is a prominent feature of our physical therapy work).
Recently, we worked with a patient with systemic hypermobility who was experiencing neck, jaw, low back, and pelvic pain. Could it all be related? What is the connection, they wanted to know.
The leg bone’s connected to the… well, you know the song, right? So, short answer, yes, everything is connected. And, when we can help simultaneously strengthen, relax, and help support the body with physical therapy, we find that symptoms even from chronic conditions such as joint hypermobility syndrome can be greatly relieved.
First, let’s take a look at what joint hypermobility is, what symptoms can appear, and some solutions.
Joint Hypermobility is a syndrome resulting in joints that are very flexible, yet also occasionally painful. This often starts at a young age and lessens as one matures, but that is not always the case. That’s where Physical Therapy comes in. It can often help reduce the pain and make it less of a focus during your day.
What Is Joint Hypermobility?
Often those that have joint hypermobility syndrome think of themselves as double jointed. However, if a number of your joints are “supple” or affected, this becomes joint hypermobility. While this isn’t by nature a medical condition, those that have hypermobile joints may experience pain in their muscles or joints and find that they are exceptionally prone to injury or dislocation.
What Are The Symptoms?
There are a few factors that play into joint hypermobility. While this often presents itself at a young age, it can be carried into older age and there are a few symptoms and signs you can look at.
Muscle pain or strain: If you experience pain after physical tasks, this may be the result of hypermobility. Your muscles have to work harder due to the flexibility in your joints, and this can cause strain over time.
Stiffness in joints: If you feel constant stiffness or a tense feeling in your joints this may also be a sign. The pain will often feel worse throughout the day as you continue to move and alleviate itself through the night with rest.
Neck and back pain: This can be one of the worst symptoms of joint hypermobility. If your spinal joints are especially supple, the muscles surrounding your spine may struggle to support itself.
Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome
Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome is a subset of hypermobility that is more specific. It affects the skin, joints, and blood vessel walls. It can cause dislocation due to overly flexible joints.
Many times, patients with Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome suffer from pelvic floor dysfunction. This is due to the pelvic floor muscles going into a hypertonic state to attempt to help stabilize the lumbar spine, pelvis, and hips.
Pelvic floor physical therapy is an excellent form of conservative care to help to manage symptoms such as pelvic pain and increased urgency or trouble with constipation.
What Causes Hypermobility
There are a number of traits that may play a part in joint hypermobility including genetics, gender, age, etc. Women are more likely to experience joint hypermobility than men and can potentially be a result of inherited genetics in the form of shallow joint sockets.
Some common causes of hypermobility in the joints include:
Shape of bones: If you inherit shallow sockets in your hips or shoulder, your range of movement will be wider and you have a higher likelihood of discoloration and injury.
Weak or stretched ligaments: If you have weak ligaments, caused by a number of situations such as lack of collagen you may be subject to hypermobility in the joints.
Treatment Options
Unfortunately, this syndrome is not something that has a cure since it is a result of your body's personal build. There are a combination of steps one can take to help alleviate pain caused by hypermobility.
Physical therapy is a great option for those suffering with hypermobility. Through this form of treatment, a patient will use exercise to strengthen and treat the muscle around the joints for greater stability. Professionals will be able to show you the correct exercise to strengthen the muscles while making sure they are not over stretched.