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The advantages of being hypermobile include being excessively flexible, looking younger than you are, giving birth quickly, and having great resilience.
It’s so easy to write post after post about the downsides of being hypermobile, such as unwanted weight gain, chronic pain, frequent subluxations and dislocations, and a whole lot more. But being hypermobile isn’t always as bad as it’s made out to be as you’ll find out below.
1. Hypermobility increases your flexibility
One of the advantages of being hypermobile is that you’re naturally more flexible. Now, this flexibility doesn’t necessarily come with pain, like we often think it does.
There are lots of professional hypermobile people whose flexibility make them great at gymnastics, dancing, music, and more.
In fact, Dr Howard Bird, professor of rheumatology at Leeds University says that a lot of sportsmen and women are better at their sport because of their natural hypermobility.
2. Your skin ages slower
Everyone I know with hypermobility doesn’t look their age. I’m in my mid-30s and don’t have a single wrinkle or fine line on my face. I’d love to say that this was the result of an extensive moisturizing routine, but it really isn’t. I occasionally moisturize, but often forget or can’t be bothered.
The reason people with hypermobility retain a youthful appearance is because our skin is naturally velvety and smooth. So, while we may feel on the inside that our joints are decades older than they are, at least our skin doesn’t show it!
Take extra care of your skin by following a daily cleansing and moisturizing routine and you’re likely to stay looking younger than your years for a long time to come.
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3. You can educate others on hypermobility
EDS, HSD, and all other forms of hypermobility are vastly misunderstood. Many medical professionals are unaware of these conditions altogether or think that if you haven’t got EDS than your hypermobility isn’t serious.
I came across this problem just last week. I was talking to a paediatrician about my child’s potential autism spectrum disorder (ASD). He had no idea what hypermobility spectrum disorder (HSD) was or that HSD and ASD are closely linked.
I was shocked by this as 63% of children aged between 2 and 4 years are hypermobile. This increases to 73% in children aged 5 years and older. I feel that paediatricians who are diagnosing ASD in children should know that hypermobility (in any form) greatly increases the likelihood of children having autism. So, I made sure that the paediatrician knew this.
If you’re anything like me than you’re somewhat of an expert in hypermobility. This means you can advocate for yourself and your loved ones when needed. You can also educate others in general as it’s a common misconception that hypermobility is nothing more than being a bit more bendy than normal.
4. It’s easier to scratch your back
A big advantage of being hypermobile is there’s no need to buy a back scratcher! The extra flexibility in your arms means you can scratch your own back – even when the itch is in a hard-to-reach place.
Not only that, but you can also apply your own sunscreen, which is crucial to prevent your hypermobile skin from getting burned by the sun.
Plus, if you’re woman, there’s no need to get your partner or a friend to zip up your dress or do up that pesky button at the back of your blouse as, with hypermobile arms, you can do it yourself.
5. You can get into hard to reach places
Being extra bendy means you can squeeze into tight places or stretch more than most people to get items that are out of reach.
The best example I’ve got of this is when my car doors locked with my keys inside it. Thankfully, I had the trunk of the car open at the time, so I was able to crawl into there and stretch as far as I could to open the back door. Now, I’m not sure I would have been able to do that if I wasn’t hypermobile!
6. You give birth faster
Research by Kneopp et al states ‘This research suggests that joint hypermobility syndrome may facilitate an easier vaginal birth.’
According to Cleveland Clinic the average labor time is between 12 and 24 hours. But I know of people with hypermobility who have given birth in just a couple of hours. My entire labor with my child was just 4 hours.
While giving birth faster than average is one of the advantages of being hypermobile, there are risks associated with birth too. Our fragile skin means we’re more likely to experience tears during labor. Of course, as hypermobility is a genetic condition, there’s an increased risk that your child will be hypermobile too.
7. We have great resilience
Hypermobility undoubtedly makes us resilient. We’re used to doctors dismissing our symptoms, for example. After all, it takes an average of 10 years to be diagnosed with hypermobility.
We also know that we have to just get on with things. Even though pushing ourselves too much can make us tired, we don’t want to waste our lives succumbing to our hypermobility. So, we pick ourselves up (and sometimes dose ourselves up) and get on with things.
This is what I had to do when I visited Disneyland. Disneyland involves hours of walking and lots of standing, but there was no way I was going to let my hypermobility stop me from having fun at Disney!
Check out this post on how to successfully visit Disneyland with hypermobility.
another benefit- when going to bed with your arms full of a) cat b) glasses of water you can turn off the lights and open open doors with your feet. It’s the best.
Also better balance- serves throughout life- when we get old we will be less likely to fall and break bones if have advanced proprioception.
Oh and took me along time to figure it out, early days, but pilates- what a godsend! Do reformer pilates- hypermobile people need a physical reference point other than your own body flopping around in space.
Thank you for site Amy. so reassuring to know other people have similar challenges. I couldn’t figure out for years why everyone else found jeans comfortable. Finally figured out i was a bit more strectchy.