As a child I have always been interested in the way people move, so it wasn’t surprising that I have eventually developed a fascination for hypermobility.
Even after decades of practicing as a doctor, kinesiologist, and fascial manipulation specialist, I am still intrigued by how differently hypermobility manifests in individuals.
In some people, it is benign and even advantageous. Gymnasts, ice skaters, and circus artists often take advantage of their hypermobility to succeed in their crafts. However, many people with hypermobility experience comorbidities such as chronic pain, fatigue, gastrointestinal distress, and mood disorders.
If hypermobility impacts you negatively, there is hope. A severely hypermobile patient who has been practicing Rev6 is now almost within a range I associate with non-hypermobile people. If you want a sample of the workouts they do, make sure to read until the end!
Lack of Flexibility Doesn’t Rule Out Hypermobility
Hypermobility is more obvious in people with flexible joints—they are usually drawn to gymnastics, dance, ice skating, and circus arts. However, even individuals who aren’t flexible can still be hypermobile.
A new patient of mine belongs to the latter category. She was suffering from severe back pain for nearly a year, incapacitating her. She attributes this symptom to a childhood injury, but moments into examining her, it became apparent to me that she was hypermobile.
This revelation was shocking to her as she never felt flexible. But, I saw her hypermobility in the way she locked her knees and moved her hips relative to her gait. She had soft and rubbery skin and scars that behaved like hypermobile tissue. Her kidneys had also slid down inside their fascial pockets.
Learning of her hypermobility was an aha moment for her. It explained experiences and symptoms beyond her back pain. With treatment and diligent practice of my prescribed exercises, she will be well and better than ever.
What causes hypermobility, and what are its symptoms?
Hypermobility involves alterations in the collagen fibers and the hyaluronic acid within the fascia. People with hypermobility do not produce enough collagen, which provides structure, support, and strength to the fascia.
This alteration in the fascia—which touches every cell, tissue, and organ in the body—can explain why hypermobile people experience such varied and systematic symptoms.
They struggle to sense where they are in space because the fascia contains a massive amount of the sensory cells responsible for this function. This instability may not be consciously felt but often appears as clumsiness, anxiety, indecision, or even insomnia.
People with hypermobility are also more prone to injuries and chronic pain. Fascia is essentially the “synapse” between nerves and muscle fibers. When it’s unhealthy, movement becomes unstable and uncoordinated.
Additionally, hypermobility sometimes correlates with digestive, circulatory, and respiratory issues. Scoliosis—whether idiopathic or functional—also appears more frequently in people with hypermobile connective tissue.
Are there exercises hypermobile people should avoid?
Because hypermobile people typically don’t experience the same tension feedback in their joints, they may crave the feeling of a secure “end range.” Activities like yoga or any practice that emphasizes extreme stretching can be irresistibly appealing.
In my experience, I’ve seen professional dancers sustain repeated injuries doing yoga, yet remain injury-free while performing on Broadway. This underscores how the desire to find a satisfying body-brain connection can sometimes lead to harmful over-stretching.
If you are hypermobile, I would advise you to be cautious about doing yoga. Don’t hold a pose in your end range of movement for more than 10 seconds. Opt for a practice that does not encourage staying in poses, but moves through them.
What are the best exercises for people with hypermobility?
My recommendation for all people with hypermobility would be to develop a consistent Rev6 practice. It is a potent exercise system for managing this condition because all the exercises are designed to remodel the fascia.
It encourages the lengthening and the rebound of the fascia, which in turn stimulates fasciacytes. These specialized cells are responsible for producing hyaluronic acid, the lubricant that facilitates smooth movement of the fascia.
Rev6 exercises also improve the tone and tension of the fascia, helping eliminate the craving for tension feedback among hypermobile people.
I created a 30-minute sequence you can practice to manage your hypermobility. Make sure to do it everyday, if you can, for best results. Good luck!
