What Is Joint Hypermobility?
Joint hypermobility, commonly called being “double-jointed,” occurs when the connective tissues that support the joints are more elastic than usual. You may notice this when elbows or finger joints hyperextend, or when the thumb can easily bend into the palm. Some individuals can even dislocate and relocate a shoulder joint simply by pushing into the end range of motion.
While increased flexibility can sometimes be beneficial. You may have excelled in dance, gymnastics, or yoga for example, this same laxity can create challenges for joint stability and body awareness, which over time may contribute to pain and fatigue. Perhaps you even had to give up those activities due to recurring injuries.
Reduced Proprioception: The Body’s Internal GPS
Proprioception is your body’s ability to sense its position and movement in space. It allows you to reach for a cup or walk without looking at your feet.
In individuals with hypermobility, the ligaments and joint capsules that provide this sensory feedback are often too lax. Because these structures are stretched beyond their optimal tension, they send less precise information to the brain about joint position and movement.
This reduced proprioceptive feedback can lead to:
- Overextension or “hanging” on joints during movement or posture
- Poor joint control and increased susceptibility to sprains or repetitive strain
- Fatigue and muscle overuse as the body compensates for instability
- Generalized clumsiness or a tendency to be “accident prone”
Over time, these compensations and micro-traumas create repetitive stress on muscles and connective tissues. This sets the stage for pain and dysfunction.
Myofascial Stiffness: A Paradox of Tightness and Flexibility
Although hypermobility is often associated with excessive flexibility, many people with hypermobility describe themselves as feeling stiff or tight. As an occupational therapist, I frequently meet clients who initially deny being hypermobile because they’ve always thought of themselves as “tight.”
This paradox of stiffness in a flexible body occurs because the muscles and fascia tighten to stabilize overly mobile joints. The body, sensing instability, increases muscle tone in an effort to protect against excessive movement.
When this tension becomes chronic, or when muscles are continually over-firing or overstretched, t can lead to the development of myofascial trigger points, which are localized areas of taut, hypersensitive muscle fibers. Trigger points can refer pain to other regions of the body and contribute to persistent pain cycles. Over time, these pain responses alter movement patterns even further, reinforcing the cycle of instability, muscle guarding, and discomfort.
Neural Tension and Muscle Imbalance
Joint laxity can also create neural tension or nerve impingement “pinch points” that develop where nerves travel through narrow spaces. These issues may arise from chronic pulling on the nerves due to the resting alignment of a lax joint.
Additionally, muscle imbalances often form when larger or more habitual muscle groups overpower smaller stabilizing muscles. This imbalance can increase strain, reduce coordination, and heighten pain sensitivity over time.
The Role of Occupational Therapy
Occupational therapy can help individuals with hypermobility break these cycles and restore more balanced, confident movement. A comprehensive approach may include:
- Proprioceptive training through graded balance, closed-chain, and weight-bearing exercises that enhance body awareness and joint control
- Targeted strengthening of stabilizing muscles to support alignment and reduce over-reliance on larger, global muscle groups
- Myofascial release and gentle manual techniques to address trigger points and improve soft tissue mobility
- Education on joint protection strategies, ergonomic awareness, and pacing techniques to reduce repetitive strain during daily activities
- Pain management strategies that emphasize self-regulation, gentle movement, and mindful awareness of posture and mechanics
Through individualized intervention, occupational therapy helps clients build stability, proprioception, and confidence, allowing for participation in meaningful daily activities with less pain and fatigue.
Supporting You in Moving with Confidence
If you experience chronic pain, muscle tension, numbness, tingling, or fatigue related to joint hypermobility, occupational therapy can help you regain control and comfort in your body.
At Katherine Jackson Occupational Therapy, PLLC, we specialize in evidence-based interventions that improve proprioception, reduce strain, and enhance daily function.
Reach out today to learn how a personalized occupational therapy program can help you move with greater stability, ease, and confidence.
Move freely. Feel grounded. Live fully.
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