Signs You Might Have Hypermobility Spectrum Disorder

You have always been flexible. People used to call you double-jointed as a kid. But now that flexibility comes with chronic pain, joints that slip out of place, fatigue that does not match your activity level, and a nagging sense that something is wrong but nobody can figure out what.

If this sounds like you, Hypermobility Spectrum Disorder (HSD) may be the explanation. HSD describes a range of conditions where joints move beyond the normal range of motion, leading to pain, instability, and a host of related symptoms that can affect your entire quality of life.

Common Signs of Hypermobility

Hypermobility is more than being flexible. When the connective tissue that supports your joints is looser than normal, it affects your whole body:

• Joints that bend further than they should (elbows, knees, fingers, spine)
• Chronic joint and muscle pain, often in multiple locations
• Frequent joint subluxations,joints that partially slip out of place and back
• Fatigue that seems disproportionate to your activity level
• Poor balance and coordination (impaired proprioception)
• Dizziness when standing up (a sign of co-occurring dysautonomia)
• Easy bruising and slow wound healing

Why Standard Chiropractic Adjustments Can Be Wrong for Hypermobility

This is critical. Standard high-velocity chiropractic adjustments are designed to increase range of motion in restricted joints. But hypermobile patients do not have restricted joints,they have excessive motion. Applying standard techniques to hypermobile joints can overstretch already lax ligaments and make instability worse.

At ACN, Dr. Carter and Dr. McClaren use a different approach for hypermobile patients: gentle, low-force techniques that address joint dysfunction without overstressing connective tissue. The goal is stabilization, not mobilization. We focus on strengthening the muscles that support your joints, improving your proprioception, and teaching you to protect your joints during daily activities.

The Role of Functional Neurology

Many hypermobile patients have impaired proprioception,the nervous system's ability to sense where your joints are in space. This is why you may feel clumsy, have poor balance, or injure yourself during activities that seem simple.

Dr. McClaren's functional neurology training allows him to evaluate proprioceptive function and apply targeted neurological exercises to improve your body awareness, balance, and motor control. This neurological rehabilitation is a component of care that most chiropractic offices cannot provide.

Getting the Right Diagnosis and Care

If you suspect you have hypermobility, find a provider who understands the condition. Not every chiropractor, physiotherapist, or physician recognizes HSD or knows how to modify their approach for hypermobile patients.

At Advanced Chiropractic & Neurology in La Vista, we evaluate hypermobility patients using the Beighton score and a comprehensive musculoskeletal and neurological examination. If we suspect Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome, we refer you to a geneticist or rheumatologist for formal evaluation. Our role is managing the pain, instability, and neurological symptoms,and we do it with techniques designed for your body. Call 402-597-2869 to schedule your evaluation.