There are many varying conditions of hypermobility, including Ehlers-Danlos syndrome. While symptoms can affect many of the body’s systems, hypermobile joints are a common issue. Overly stretchy collagen in the body’s connective tissues makes the joints unusually flexible. They can feel unstable and be prone to repeated injury. We develop strategies to keep functioning but this can be bad news for the ligaments and tendons around the joints, weakening them over time.
By practising the Technique you improve proprioception and update your mind’s body schema – the unconscious, internal maps that your body uses to guide movement and posture. This helps you prevent misuse and overuse, such as overstretching when doing exercises or chronically tightening muscles around joints in an attempt to produce stability. You may find a more constructive way of being in touch with your body, so that you can look after yourself better.
Hypermobility Syndromes Association Journal (Spring 2015)
“Patients with hypermobility found Alexander Technique particularly helpful; some even life changing … an individual programme combining specialist physiotherapy usually followed by Alexander Technique lessons often worked really well, allowing patients to self-manage their symptoms more easily.”
Dr. Philip Bull