Hypermobility Syndrome

March 30, 2010 - 12:18pm | 2 posts

simon341

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14 years 4 days ago

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05/24/2009 - 11:03am

Hypermobility Syndrome

Esther and Maya, Do you have any experience working directly with hypermobile clients. My doctor has told me that I suffer from benign hypermobility syndrome or mild Ehlers Danlos, which leads to hyperelasticity in my connective tissues due to collagen problems. He says this has probably led to a lot of problems in my back and feet because of the lack of stability. Would any of the eight steps be modified in this case to provide for added stability or would stretching and traction still be advised for the back? -Simon

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April 2, 2010 - 12:22pm | 1 post

Maya

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09/16/2008 - 4:29pm

Hi Simon, Nope, none of the 8 Steps would be problematic for you. Keeping the back stretched out and long is fine - what is problematic is stretching or using traction for the back and then using that extra flexibility to distort the spine - i.e., round from the spine from bending. However, we never encourage such distortions. We encourage lengthening only along the axis of the spine, to ensure adequate space for the discs and nerves. If you are hypermobile in the back, you may not feel the stretch so much in your muscles in the lengthening techniques, but they are still useful for ensuring enough disc space. Hiphinging will be a very important technique for you - it will ensure that your back muscles work to prevent rounding forward. And for your feet - Glidewalking in chapter 8 of 8 Steps and the foot exercises on page 211-212 will probably be very helpful. Maya