Do you have hypermobility or Ehlers-Danlos syndrome (EDS)? Are you searching for answers to your symptoms and a comprehensive plan to address them? At One2One Physical Therapy, we specialize in helping patients with hypermobility and EDS across the DMV make sense of their symptoms and take back control of their bodies.
What is hypermobility?
Joint hypermobility means your joints move beyond the typical range of motion. It happens when the connective tissues that hold your body together, such as ligaments, tendons and joint capsules, are looser or more elastic than usual. You might notice it in your fingers, toes, hips, shoulders, neck or even your ribs.
Plenty of people are hypermobile and never have a problem. For others, that extra laxity comes with pain, instability and symptoms throughout the body. When that happens, it may be diagnosed as hypermobility spectrum disorder (HSD) or hypermobile Ehlers-Danlos syndrome (hEDS).
What is Ehlers-Danlos syndrome?
Ehlers-Danlos syndrome is a group of inherited conditions that affect connective tissue, the “glue” found in your joints, skin, blood vessels, digestive tract and organs. Hypermobile EDS is the most common type. Because connective tissue is everywhere, EDS rarely affects just one part of the body.
Why hypermobility affects so much more than your joints
Many people with hypermobility or EDS live with a mix of symptoms that seem unrelated at first, such as:
- Chronic joint and muscle pain
- Frequent sprains, subluxations or dislocations
- Neck pain, headaches and jaw (TMJ) pain
- Rib, back and pelvic pain
- Fatigue that rest doesn’t fix
- Digestive problems such as bloating, reflux or constipation
- Dizziness or a racing heart when standing up
- Poor balance, clumsiness or feeling unsure where your body is in space
When joints are unstable, muscles often work overtime to hold you together. That constant guarding leads to tension, pain and exhaustion. Over time, your body develops compensations in posture, breathing and movement that can create new problems far from the original source.
Why so many patients go from clinic to clinic
If you have spent years searching for answers, you are not alone. Hypermobility-related conditions are often missed or misunderstood because the symptoms cross so many body systems. One specialist sees your shoulder, another your stomach, another your fatigue, and no one connects the pieces.
Standard treatment plans can also fall short. Stretching may feel good in the moment but can add to instability. Generic exercise programs may push too hard, too fast and trigger flares. Hypermobile bodies need a plan built around how they actually work.
Our whole-body approach
At One2One Physical Therapy, we look at the whole person, not just the joint that hurts. We start by listening to your full story, including your history, your symptoms and what you want to get back to. Then we assess how your entire body moves, breathes and stabilizes.
Your plan may include:
- Postural Restoration: This approach addresses the natural asymmetries in the body, along with breathing mechanics and the position of the rib cage and pelvis. It helps your body find stable, balanced positions so muscles can stop overworking.
- Neurosensory Integration: Joint laxity makes it difficult for you to know where your body is positioned in space and with respect to gravity. Enhancing your sensory awareness through auditory, visual and vestibular integration can provide the grounding you need to move with more freedom and stability.
- Gentle hands-on treatment: Manual therapy to restore myofascial, lymphatic, visceral, somatoemotional imbalances while always respecting your joints’ laxity.
- Nutritional therapy: Guidance on how nutrition can support your energy, underlying inflammation patterns and digestive health.
- Education and self-management: Tools for pacing, protecting your joints, managing flares and building activity back up gradually.
We also communicate with your physicians and other providers when needed, so your care works as a team rather than in pieces.
What to expect
With the right plan, many patients experience less pain, fewer injuries, more energy and more confidence in their bodies. Our goal is to make sure no stone is left unturned and to give you tools you can use for life.
Ready to get started?
Do you want to better understand your symptoms? Are you ready for a comprehensive plan and clear direction toward feeling better? Make an appointment with one of our One2One physical therapists. We look forward to meeting you, hearing your story and working with you to reach your goals.