Joint Hypermobility Syndrome: What My Fellow Yogis + Teachers Should Know

Last month, I read an article on Yoga International that BLEW MY MIND.

For a long time now, I've had a growing list of medical issues, aches and pains, + injuries that no doctor can explain. I've gone to a number of different types of Western and Eastern practitioners with no real answers or lasting relief. But when I read this article about Joint Hypermobility Syndrome, the fog lifted. I finally had an answer. 

I'll get to the syndrome in a moment, but first, I want to tell you why I think it's important for you to know this syndrome:

Many--or most--of my readers are yogis or yoga teachers (quite a few of you have been my students or colleagues at some point or another!) and most of you are women. As this article asserts, woman are more than three times more likely to have Joint Hypermobility Syndrome (JHS) than men, and as we have all seen + perhaps experienced personally, women who are ultra-flexible often find their way to yoga because they're "good at it" and because it feels good.

Just as the writer of this article states, I'm not a doctor and I would never try and diagnose anyone with any sort of syndrome. But, I think it's important to raise awareness about JHS because from my own experience and from observing my students over the years, I have a feeling that I am not the only yogi or yoga teacher who suffers from this condition--and I actually do [wholeheartedly] believe that it may run rampant among the yogi population. 

So, today's post is just about raising awareness so that we can all be better informed--and because I hope that for a handful of you out there, reading about JHS will give you the huge sense of relief and empowerment that it gave me.

Here are the basics of this condition (all taken from this article and this paper)...

Joint Hypermobility Syndrome (JHS), a condition characterized by joints that move beyond normal ranges of motion. Because people with JHS have unstable ligaments, circulatory problems, and excessive adrenaline production, JHS sufferers can experience the following symptoms: 

• Musculoskeletal and joint pain
• Chronic neck strain, lower back pain, spinal disc problems, increased tendency to have scoliosis
• Soft tissue injuries like strains, sprains, tendonitis, and dislocations 
• TMJ
• Migraines, headaches caused by TMJ and neck strain
• Circulatory problems like low blood pressure, light-headedness upon standing, cold hands and feet, heart palpitations, varicose veins, and in extreme cases, blood vessels can even rupture
• Digestive issues like acid reflux and IBS
• Fatigue and difficulty sleeping
• Anxiety, panic disorder, and depression
• Flat feet
• High-energy, always on-the-go lifestyle
• Easily hyperextend-able joints, especially thumbs, elbows, and knees

If you, too, read this list and thought either, A) I have the majority of these symptoms and until now, had no explanation for them, or B) I know someone who has a bunch of these symptoms, then I encourage you to read this paper written by Dr. Alan Pocinki, a DC-based doctor and JHS expert.

In this paper, Dr. Pocinki shares some diagnosis tools (so you can determine if you're a candidate for JHS or not) and goes into depth about the reasons for the above symptoms. {It's *very* eye-opening.} He also shares some do's and don'ts for people suffering from JHS and ways to decrease your symptoms if you, like me, suffer from a bunch of them. 

Unfortunately, there is currently no treatment for JHS, but here's what I want to emphasize for my fellow yogis: people with JHS should not be doing deep stretches.

Not to worry--they can still practice yoga, but they need to do so with great care, attention to alignment, and restraint. No matter how tempting it may be (or how good it may feel) to go into the deepest version of anjaneyasana, for someone with JHS, it will just de-stabalize the joint even further. 

Instead, people with JHS should focus on drawing the muscles in--hugging them in around the joints--backing off, and staying away from hyperextending. They should modify weight-bearing poses because heavy lifting isn't good for their joints, either. But stabilizing the muscles around the joint by strengthening them through light resistance? Very good for the body. 

I could go on and on about JHS, but I'll stop here. I think I've made my point and if your interest is piqued, you now have two great resources for becoming more informed. 

Moral of the story? Never stop learning, seeking, tweaking your practice, and listening to your body! And teachers, never stop encouraging your students to do the same. 

PS: Thank you SO much to Sarah for sharing this article on Facebook. Life-changing.