Hypermobility
More Than Just "Double-Jointed": Understanding Hypermobility from an FDN Perspective
Perhaps you were the kid who could bend your thumbs back to your wrist, or easily put your foot behind your head. Maybe you're admired for your yoga flexibility, or you're a dancer who achieves impressive ranges of motion. While being "double-jointed" might seem like a party trick or an athletic advantage, for many, it's a sign of hypermobility – a condition where joints move beyond their normal range of motion.
But here's the catch: for a significant number of people, hypermobility isn't just about flexibility. It's often accompanied by a constellation of seemingly unrelated symptoms, from chronic pain and fatigue to digestive issues and anxiety. If this sounds familiar, you've likely found that conventional approaches primarily focus on physical therapy for pain management, often missing the bigger picture.
As a Functional Diagnostic Nutrition® Practitioner (FDN), I want to broaden your understanding. We view hypermobility not just as a musculoskeletal trait, but as a potential indicator of systemic imbalances within the body. Your flexible joints might be the most obvious symptom, but they often signal that deeper physiological processes need support. Our role is to be health detectives, uncovering why your connective tissue is more lax and what underlying dysfunctions are contributing to your overall symptom picture.
What is Hypermobility?
Hypermobility occurs when the connective tissues that support your joints – primarily ligaments and tendons – are unusually stretchy or lax. While some people are hypermobile without symptoms, for others, this laxity leads to:
Joint instability: Joints moving out of place or "subluxing" easily.
Chronic pain: From overuse of stabilizing muscles or wear and tear on joints.
Increased risk of injury: Sprains, strains, and dislocations.
Proprioception issues: Difficulty sensing where your body is in space, leading to clumsiness.
Beyond the joints, hypermobility can be part of a broader Heritable Disorder of Connective Tissue (HDCT) like Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome (EDS) or Hypermobility Spectrum Disorder (HSD). These conditions affect not just ligaments, but also other collagen-rich tissues found throughout the body – in your gut, skin, blood vessels, and nervous system. This explains why symptoms extend far beyond joint pain.
The FDN Lens: Hypermobility as a Systemic Clue
In conventional care, a hypermobility diagnosis often leads to symptom management – pain relievers, physical therapy to strengthen muscles around unstable joints, and sometimes surgery. While these are important, they rarely address the systemic factors contributing to connective tissue laxity or the co-occurring symptoms.
As FDNs, we believe the body is an interconnected system. When you're dealing with hypermobility and its associated symptoms, we ask: "Why is the connective tissue lax, and what underlying physiological stressors are contributing to this and other symptoms?" We look for the root causes, knowing that truly supporting the body requires a holistic approach.
Here are the primary areas we investigate when working with clients who are hypermobile:
The Key Root Causes of Hypermobility-Related Symptoms
1. Chronic Inflammation
Connective tissue is constantly being broken down and rebuilt. If your body is in a chronic state of inflammation, this process can be disrupted, leading to weaker tissue.
Gut Dysfunction: Leaky gut, dysbiosis, and undiagnosed infections can trigger systemic inflammation that impacts all body tissues, including collagen.
Food Sensitivities: Ongoing exposure to foods your body reacts to can drive chronic inflammation.
Environmental Toxins: Mold, heavy metals, and other toxins can create an inflammatory burden.
2. Nutrient Deficiencies
Building strong, resilient connective tissue requires a complex array of building blocks and cofactors.
Vitamin C: Absolutely vital for collagen synthesis.
Copper & Zinc: Key for enzymes involved in cross-linking collagen fibers.
Magnesium: Important for muscle function, nerve transmission, and can contribute to overall tissue integrity.
Protein/Amino Acids: The raw materials for collagen.
Manganese, Silica, B Vitamins: All play roles in connective tissue health.
3. Mast Cell Activation Syndrome (MCAS)
A significant percentage of hypermobile individuals (especially those with EDS/HSD) also have MCAS. Mast cells are immune cells that, when overactive, release an array of inflammatory mediators (including histamine) throughout the body. This can cause:
Widespread inflammation.
Fatigue, brain fog, anxiety.
Digestive issues (IBS-like symptoms).
Skin rashes, flushing.
Orthostatic intolerance (POTS).
This connection explains why traditional antihistamines might offer some relief for a subset of symptoms.
4. Autonomic Nervous System Dysregulation (Dysautonomia/POTS)
Many hypermobile individuals experience symptoms of dysautonomia, where the autonomic nervous system (which controls involuntary bodily functions like heart rate, blood pressure, digestion) doesn't regulate properly. Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome (POTS) is common.
Impact on Blood Flow & Digestion: Can cause dizziness, rapid heart rate upon standing, and severe digestive issues.
Chronic Stress Response: Often rooted in chronic underlying stressors and inflammation.
5. Mitochondrial Dysfunction & Energy Production
Mitochondria are the "powerhouses" of your cells. When they're not functioning optimally, it can lead to profound fatigue, brain fog, and muscle weakness often seen in hypermobility.
Chronic inflammation, toxin exposure, and nutrient deficiencies can all impair mitochondrial function.
6. Chronic Stress & Adrenal Dysfunction
Constant physical and emotional stress can deplete nutrient reserves, impact gut health, drive inflammation, and disrupt nervous system balance, all of which exacerbate symptoms in hypermobile individuals.
The FDN Approach: Strengthening from Within
At FDN, we don't just "manage" hypermobility. We empower you to understand and address the fundamental reasons why your body is struggling, supporting your system to build greater resilience and reduce your overall symptom burden. Our systematic approach involves:
Comprehensive Lab Testing: We utilize a range of functional lab tests that go beyond standard blood work to uncover hidden stressors and dysfunctions. This might include:
Gut Health Analysis: To identify dysbiosis, pathogens, inflammation, and leaky gut.
Nutrient Deficiency Testing: To pinpoint critical missing building blocks for connective tissue.
Inflammatory Markers: To assess systemic inflammation.
Adrenal & Hormone Panels: To evaluate stress response and other hormonal interactions.
Toxin Assessments: If suspected (e.g., mold, heavy metals).
Personalized Protocols: Based on your unique lab results and detailed health history, we develop a customized protocol that addresses your specific imbalances. This often includes:
Targeted Diet: Focusing on anti-inflammatory, nutrient-dense foods to support gut healing and provide raw materials for tissue repair.
Strategic Supplementation: Using specific nutrients, herbs, and compounds to support collagen synthesis, reduce inflammation, heal the gut, and optimize mitochondrial function.
Lifestyle Interventions: Empowering you with practices for stress management, nervous system regulation, sleep optimization, and appropriate low-impact movement to build stability without overstretching.
D.R.E.S.S. for Health Success®: Our proprietary framework emphasizes Diet, Rest, Exercise, Stress Reduction, and Supplementation. We guide you through these pillars to create sustainable habits that support lasting resilience, reduce pain, and improve your quality of life.
Hypermobility doesn't have to define your health struggles. By taking a holistic, investigative approach, an FDN can help you uncover the true causes of your systemic symptoms and guide you on a path to greater stability, reduced pain, and vibrant health. Are you ready to strengthen your foundation from the inside out?
Disclaimer: The information in this blog post is for educational purposes only and is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. Always consult with a qualified healthcare professional before making any changes to your diet or health regimen.
