The Bendy Disease: How To Protect Your Joints

Some strategies for patients with hypermobility that can help protect their joints.

Have you ever wondered why some people are so flexible? How some people can pop their joints in and out of place? Why some people experience more injuries than others? One possible explanation for all of these questions is that these people might have Ehlers Danlos Syndrome or Hypermobility Spectrum Disorder. These two conditions are known as connective tissue disorders due to issues with collagen, which can be thought of as the “glue” that holds our bodies together. Defective collagen can lead to many challenges, but this blog post will focus on how it impacts the joints. 

EDS patients are often referred to as "zebras" because medical students are taught, "When you hear the sound of hoofbeats think horses not zebras." However, EDS/hypermobile patients often experience unusual issues that do not align with textbooks.

EDS and HSD patients often struggle with joint dislocations and subluxations (partial dislocations) due to the laxity (stretchiness) of the surrounding tissue. Tendons are ligaments are essential in order to keep a joint within its normal range of motion (how far a joint moves). When the tendons and ligaments stretch too far, it can allow the joint to come out of place. One might assume that the muscles surrounding joints are also flexible, however, this is often not the case. In many EDS/HSD patients, the muscles overcompensate by tightening and locking up in an attempt to stabilize the joints. This can be very painful and cause other issues. Instead of stiff muscles, the goal is strong muscles. By strengthening the muscles surrounding loose joints, it will keep the joint within the ideal range of motion, prevent excess strain on tendons and ligaments, and prevent the joint from dislocating. 

Many patients with EDS/HSD also struggle with proprioception, which can be thought of as an awareness of one’s joints. This makes it even more likely for someone to push their joints past the normal range of motion and partially or fully dislocate the joint that is accidentally being overstretched. Kinesio taping can help patients become more aware of the placement of their joints. The slight tension of the tape provides subtle feedback to the brain of the position of the joint. It is not a drastic change, but just enough so that many patients find it helpful. 

Another method often used to protect joints is bracing. Bracing is very effective at immobilizing the joint and prevent it from moving out of place, but it is not a good long term option. You have most likely heard the term “use it or lose it,” and this can apply to the concept of bracing. The longer a joint is immobilized, the weaker the surrounding muscles become, and the longer the recovery will be once you are out of the brace. Although the risks of wearing a brace should be taken seriously, there are certain situations in which short term or long term bracing is more beneficial than harmful. 

We recommend you talk to your doctor or physical therapist before trying any kind of taping or bracing and make a plan towards becoming independent from those things as soon as possible. Laura Hudak has many years of experience treating EDS and HSD patients with a wide variety of additional health issues. If you would like to schedule an evaluation with her and talk about the possibility of incorporating some of these interventions into your physical therapy plan, simply use the Jane app to schedule an appointment: https://prevailphysio.janeapp.com/