Hypermobility Disorders
Physical Therapy for Hypermobility in Chicago
Some people are naturally more flexible than others. For many, that flexibility causes no problems at all. For others, joints that move beyond the typical range can lead to pain, instability, frequent injuries, and fatigue that affect daily life. At Dynamic Physical Therapy, we work with patients across the hypermobility spectrum to build strength, stability, and confidence in their bodies.
Understanding Hypermobility
Joint hypermobility means a joint can move further than expected. When hypermobility is widespread and comes with symptoms like pain or instability, it may be diagnosed as a hypermobility spectrum disorder (HSD) or hypermobile Ehlers-Danlos syndrome (hEDS).
Ehlers-Danlos syndromes are a group of inherited connective tissue disorders that affect collagen, the protein that gives structure and support to skin, joints, ligaments, and other tissues. The hypermobile type, hEDS, is the most common. Because connective tissue is found throughout the body, people with hEDS or HSD often experience symptoms that go beyond the joints.
Common Signs and Symptoms
- Joints that feel loose, unstable, or "give way"
- Frequent sprains, strains, or partial dislocations (subluxations)
- Chronic or widespread joint and muscle pain
- Fatigue and reduced endurance
- Poor balance or a sense of not knowing where the body is in space
- Clicking, popping, or shifting sensations in the joints
- Pain or instability in the neck, back, hips, knees, shoulders, or ankles
- Pelvic floor symptoms, including bladder issues or pelvic pain
- Symptoms that flare with activity, illness, or stress
Many people with hypermobility spend years being told they are simply "flexible" before getting answers. If these symptoms sound familiar, you are not alone, and physical therapy can help.
How Physical Therapy Helps
When joints have extra movement, the muscles around them have to work harder to provide stability. Physical therapy focuses on building that support so your body can move with more control and less pain. Treatment may include:
- Stability and strength training to support loose joints, starting with low load exercises and progressing gradually
- Motor control and proprioception work to improve balance, coordination, and awareness of joint position
- Postural training to reduce strain on the spine and joints throughout the day
- Gentle manual therapy to ease pain and muscle guarding without overstretching tissues
- Activity pacing and load management to help you stay active while reducing flares
- Joint protection strategies for daily tasks, work, exercise, and sport
- Pelvic floor physical therapy for bladder, bowel, pelvic pain, or pregnancy and postpartum concerns related to connective tissue laxity
For people with hypermobility, more stretching is usually not the answer. Our focus is on building strength and control, not adding more range of motion.
Who We Help
We work with teens and adults with diagnosed hEDS or HSD, as well as people who suspect hypermobility may be behind their recurring injuries or pain. Hypermobility is especially common among dancers, gymnasts, yogis, and other athletes whose sports reward flexibility, and our team has extensive experience helping them train and perform safely.
What to Expect at Dynamic Physical Therapy
Hypermobility looks different in every person, and a one size fits all program rarely works. At Dynamic, every session is one-on-one with your physical therapist. Your first visit includes a thorough evaluation of your joint mobility, strength, balance, posture, and movement patterns, along with a conversation about your history, goals, and what a flare looks like for you. From there, we build a plan that respects your body's limits while steadily building your capacity.
We progress at a pace that works for you, and we coordinate with your physicians and other providers when needed. Physical therapists do not diagnose Ehlers-Danlos syndrome, but if your symptoms suggest a connective tissue disorder, we can help guide you toward the right specialist for further evaluation.
Take the Next Step
If you are living with hypermobility, frequent injuries, or pain that never seems fully explained, we're here to help. Contact Dynamic Physical Therapy Chicago River North to schedule your evaluation.
Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome (EDS)
Ehlers-Danlos syndromes are a group of inherited connective tissue disorders that affect collagen, the protein that gives strength and structure to skin, joints, ligaments, blood vessels, and other tissues. There are 13 recognized types of EDS, and hypermobile Ehlers-Danlos syndrome (hEDS) is by far the most common.
Unlike most other types, hEDS does not yet have a genetic test. It is diagnosed clinically by a physician using specific criteria that look at joint hypermobility, family history, and other signs such as soft or stretchy skin, easy bruising, and recurring joint instability. Because connective tissue is found throughout the body, people with hEDS often experience symptoms that reach well beyond the joints, including chronic fatigue, digestive issues, dizziness or lightheadedness when standing (often associated with POTS), and pelvic floor dysfunction.
For people with EDS, physical therapy is one of the most important parts of long term care. Ligaments that are more lax provide less natural support, so the muscles must take on more of the work of stabilizing the joints. A careful, gradual strengthening program can reduce subluxations and pain, improve endurance, and help patients stay active with more confidence. Progress often comes in small steps, and flares are part of the process, so we adjust your plan as your body responds rather than pushing through on a fixed timeline.
How We Treat Hypermobility at Dynamic Physical Therapy Chicago
1. What the evaluation includes. Naming the Beighton score (the standard hypermobility screen) shows patients you know this population.
Your evaluation includes a Beighton score, a standard screening tool for generalized joint hypermobility, along with a full assessment of joint stability, strength, balance, and how you move through daily tasks and exercise.
2. Specific joint problems. People search by symptom, so listing these helps them find you: recurring shoulder subluxations, kneecap instability, repeated ankle sprains, SI joint and low back pain, neck pain and headaches, jaw pain and TMJ dysfunction (link to your TMJ page), and hip clicking or instability.
3. POTS and exercise. Many people with hEDS also have POTS and struggle to exercise without getting dizzy.
For patients who also experience POTS or dizziness when standing, we can begin with reclined or seated exercise, such as rowing, recumbent biking, and floor based strength work, and gradually progress toward upright activity as tolerance improves.
4. Bracing, taping, and supports. A line on kinesiology taping, compression garments, or bracing for flares or higher demand activities, used as a support rather than a long term crutch.
5. Pelvic floor and pregnancy. Hypermobility is linked with prolapse, incontinence, and pelvic pain, and pregnancy can increase joint laxity further. A short paragraph pointing to Sarah and your pelvic floor page would connect the two.
6. Dancers and flexible athletes. A sentence linking to your Dance Medicine page, mentioning Luis by name.
7. A flare plan. Patients with EDS value knowing they won't be pushed through flares.
You'll leave with a home program and a clear plan for what to do during a flare, so you can stay active without losing ground.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is exercise safe if I have EDS or hypermobility?
Yes. Exercise is one of the most effective ways to manage hypermobility, as long as it is the right kind and progressed at the right pace. Strengthening the muscles around your joints helps make up for lax ligaments, reducing pain and instability over time. We start where you are and build gradually.
Should I stretch if I'm hypermobile?
Usually not in the traditional sense. Many hypermobile people stretch because their muscles feel tight, but that tightness is often the body's way of protecting unstable joints. Stretching further can make instability worse. We focus on strength, control, and gentle mobility instead.
Do I need a diagnosis before starting physical therapy?
No. You don't need a formal diagnosis of hEDS or HSD to benefit from physical therapy. If your joints are painful, unstable, or frequently injured, we can evaluate you and start treatment. If your symptoms suggest a connective tissue disorder, we can help point you toward a physician for further evaluation.
What happens if I have a flare during treatment?
Flares are a normal part of living with hypermobility, not a sign of failure. We'll adjust your program as needed and help you build a plan to manage flares on your own, so you can keep moving forward without starting over.
How long will I need physical therapy?
Every patient is different. Many people notice improvements in pain and stability within the first several weeks, while building lasting strength and endurance takes longer. Our goal is to give you the tools and confidence to manage your body independently.
Can physical therapy help with POTS symptoms?
Physical therapy can't cure POTS, but a gradual, structured exercise program that starts in reclined positions can improve exercise tolerance and reduce symptoms over time for many patients. We coordinate with your physician to make sure your program is safe.
Take the Next Step
If you are living with hypermobility, frequent injuries, or pain that never seems fully explained, we're here to help. Contact Dynamic Physical Therapy Chicago River North to schedule your one-on-one evaluation.
Meet Your Hypermobility Specialist
Sarah Kemmerer, PT, DPT, OCS, leads hypermobility care at Dynamic Physical Therapy. Sarah completed an orthopedic residency and is a board certified Orthopaedic Clinical Specialist, giving her advanced training in joint stability, movement analysis, and progressive strengthening, the foundation of effective hypermobility care. She works with patients with hEDS, HSD, and generalized joint hypermobility to reduce pain, prevent recurring injuries, and build lasting strength and control. Sarah takes the time to understand how hypermobility shows up in each person's body, and she builds a program that progresses at the right pace, adjusts for flares, and helps patients get back to the activities that matter to them.