The Hypermobility Syndromes Association is here to support everyone with symptomatic hypermobility – whatever the cause, however mildly or severely they may be affected, and whether or not they are diagnosed.
With a holistic, practical, solution-focused approach to living well with a hypermobility syndrome, our expert patients, volunteers, and medical advisory board provide management-focused patient support groups, and educational programs, information, and advice to hypermobile people and their wider support network, including health and social care professionals. Due to the help of its fantastic team of volunteers, the HMSA manages to punch above its weight and deliver a huge amount with very little, reaching tens of thousands of people each year.
What is hypermobility?
A hypermobile joint can bend beyond the typical range of movement. Many people are hypermobile (around 1 in 10) – and hypermobility is more common in women and children, and people of Afro-Caribbean and Asian descent. It is common in gymnasts, athletes, dancers and musicians. Many hypermobile people have no significant symptoms (‘asymptomatic hypermobility’).
For a smaller number of people hypermobility is accompanied by symptoms (symptomatic hypermobility).
Symptomatic hypermobility can be due to:
A. Specific heritable disorders of connective tissue, like Ehlers-Danlos syndromes, Marfan syndrome, Stickler syndrome, osteogenesis imperfecta and others.
B. Joint shape, looser ligaments, or poor muscle tone (without a connective tissue disorder)
C. Other conditions (like Down’s syndrome, Cerebral Palsy etc)
D. Injury or repeated stretching/training (for example in yoga enthusiasts and gymnasts)