Are you or one of your loved ones hypermobile? If yes, keep reading to learn how osteopathy for hypermobility may be of help!

While being a bit more flexible might be great at the yoga studio, there is a level of mobility that can predispose to all manner of joint pain and health issues. Whether you have been diagnosed with a particular hypermobility condition, for example, Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome or Benign Joint Hypermobility Syndrome, or you have just noticed that your joints move beyond the normal range, you may also find you struggle to get good results with many common bodywork therapies. This is because your body doesn't respond in the same way as the majority of patients and a one size fits all model of treatment...just doesn't fit you!

At Enhance Osteopathy Heidelberg we work closely with our patients to understand their unique needs. We develop personalised treatment plans to address your specific, individual symptoms and concerns. This involves asking many questions about your hypermobility and your overall health so we can get to the heart of the complaint as it presents for you.

Don't put up with pain, book in today, and keep reading for more information!

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Osteopathy for hypermobility can really help. The good news is if you are suffering from persistent pain or injuries, and you are hypermobile, our Principal Osteopath, Dr Tiffany Rubach, has years of experience treating hypermobile patients. She is hypermobile herself so she has a unique insight into how treatment feels and responds from the patient's perspective.

As an osteopath she uses many indirect techniques, which are sadly not taught much, if at all, in university programs these days. Which is a shame, because although they are hard to get good at, they are the techniques that work best for hypermobile patients. You may not always need to be as loose as possible everywhere, in fact this can be a nightmare for some with hypermobility, instead you need balance in your tissues and sometimes even tightening through the ligaments and joint capsules.

You also need someone who understands the systemic implications if your hypermobility includes issues such as POTS (posteral orthostatic tachycardia syndrome) or other dysautotonia symptoms. Dr Tiffany has spent years honing her skills and now treats many hypermobile patients successfully. These patients have issues such as:

  • Joint stability
  • Muscle pain and stiffness
  • Headaches
  • Repeated sprains
  • Proprioceptions and balance issues
  • Cardiac and gut complaints

    • Conditons that present with hypermobility include:

    • Ehlers-Danlos syndrome: a genetic conditon that can affect skin, blood vessels and joints
    • Benign joint hypermobility syndrome: is a connective tissue disorder that causes hypermobility but without any other system wide disease.
    • Neurodiversity: up to 51% of people with Autism, ADHD and Tourette's Syndrome will also be hypermobile
    • Marfan syndrome: an inherited genetic disorder. People with Marfan’s have very long limbs and can have issues with their eyes, lungs and heart as well as their joints.
    • Down Syndrome: a genetic condition where a person has an extra copy of chromosome 21.
    Osteopathy for Hypermobility

    Hypermobility can also cause:

    • Headaches
    • Joint pain
    • Fatigue
    • Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome (POTS)
    • Repeated joint dislocations or subluxations
    • Anxiety
    • Allergic reactions due to mast cell activation
    • Gastrointestinal issues, e.g. pain after meals, reflux, altered bowel movements
    • Pelvic organ prolapse
    • Dysautotonia or dysregulation of your autonomic nervous system

    What Causes Hypermobility?

      Hypermobility is caused by genetic differences in connective tissues compositon. In particular collagen structure is different in people with hypermobility. This is the substance than gives your skin and ligaments their flexibility. In patients with hypermobility this collagen is more elastic than usual.

      While hypermobility mostly refers to being able to move your joints further than the normal joint range of motion, there can also be issues with other body systems such as your cardio-respiratory system or gut because connective tissue occurs all throughout your body.

      Problems arise when joints are not just hypermobile but are also unstable. This instability happens when the bones of a joint aren’t held in place securely. This can result in joint subluxations, dislocations, sprains, and other injuries. Both acute and chronic pain may result and your symptoms can interfere with daily life.

      There is a broad spectrum of hypermobile patients. You may just be more flexible than most or you may have a more complex syndrome such as EDS, Marfan syndrome, or Down syndrome. Hypermobility spectrum disorders occur when a patient has symptomatic joint hypermobility that cannot be explained by another condition.

    Osteopathy for Hypermobility
    Call Us Now! 03 9499 9456

    At Enhance Osteopathy Heidelberg, we provide osteopathy for hypermobility to clients in Heidelberg and the surrounding suburbs including Bulleen, Ivanhoe, Rosanna, Eaglemont, Templestowe, Preston, Viewbank, Thornbury, Northcote, Fairfield and more. If you’re looking for an osteopath for hypermobility, contact our friendly team today.

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