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Hypermobility – Can a brace help me?
Hypermobility or hyperlaxity is the excessive mobility of your joints. For example, people with hypermobility can often stretch their knees or elbows or push their fingers all the way back . This condition is manifested by the fact that the ligaments and the capsule of the connective tissue surrounding the joints have higher elastic properties. When moving, these bands stretch instead of getting tight. This allows the joints to move further than the average person.
Braces and bandages are frequently used for hypermobility complaints. However, it is important to know exactly what these complaints mean. You can wear a brace preventively to prevent complaints. However, we recommend that you only do this during exercise or high-intensity activities
What is hypermobility?
If you are hypermobile, your ligaments and tendons are more flexible than the average person. Most commonly, hypermobility manifests itself around the fingers, knees, and spine. These joints can be stretched further than most people.
Hypermobility does not have to cause any complaints, but it is possible that you will get pain in the muscles or joints because the muscles have to work harder. If you develop muscle or joint complaints as a result, this is called hypermobility syndrome (HMS). Hypermobility is quite common and can’t hurt. Hypermobility is more common in women and people of Asian descent.
How do I know if I am hypermobile?
Do you suspect that you are hypermobile? You can test if you are hypermobile using the following checklist:
- Can you extend your pinkies 90 degrees or more?
- Can you push your thumbs against your forearm?
- Can you extend your elbows 10 degrees?
- Can you extend your knees 10 degrees?
- Are you able to bend over and put your hands flat on the floor without bending your knees?
- How many check marks are in your checklist? If you can stretch four or more joints, you have hypermobile joints.
What helps against hypermobility?
People with hypermobility are likely to excel at sports such as gymnastics or ballet. Their bodies are less suitable for strength sports such as sprinting, weightlifting and bodybuilding.
Hypermobility has to do with your build. Someone who is hyper mobile will always remain so. It is sometimes said that prevention is better than cure. You can take a number of measures to prevent injuries or complaints due to your hypermobility. In this way you should in all cases avoid overloading your muscles. In addition, sports where you have to make a lot of fast movements and deliver a lot of power are not suitable for you.
We recommend that you always wear a brace if you experience complaints from your hypermobility. A brace supports your ligaments, reducing the risk of injury.
View our hypermobility braces here.
