Hypermobile joints move beyond a typical range of motion, and that changes what effective chiropractic care should look like. Whether or not you have a formal Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome (EDS) diagnosis, joint hypermobility calls for a different approach than standard high-velocity adjustment.
Why Standard Adjustment Technique Is a Mismatch for Hypermobile Joints
Traditional chiropractic adjustment often relies on moving a joint quickly to its end range to produce a cavitation, the audible pop. In a hypermobile joint, that end range is already looser than typical, and pushing further into it does not necessarily produce a stabilizing effect the way it might in a joint with normal or restricted mobility. A neutral-position, low-force approach works differently: it identifies where a joint is actually restricted or compensating, and corrects that specific area without relying on end-range force.
What This Looks Like in Practice
Care with Open Source Technique (OST) uses light-force, neutral-position correction rather than high-velocity thrust. For hypermobile patients, that often means identifying which joints are compensating for instability elsewhere, and working to improve stability and control rather than chasing more motion in joints that already have plenty of it.
Conditions on the Hypermobility Spectrum
- Generalized joint hypermobility (with or without a formal diagnosis)
- Hypermobility Spectrum Disorder (HSD)
- Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome, hypermobile type (hEDS)
- Joint instability following an injury in someone who is already naturally flexible
Common Questions
- Is chiropractic care safe if my joints are hypermobile? Technique and force are adapted to your joints, and adjustment does not rely on pushing past a comfortable range.
- Will adjustments make my joints more unstable? The focus is on identifying and stabilizing areas of restriction and compensation, not adding more motion to joints that are already loose.
- I do not have a formal EDS diagnosis, just flexible joints. Does this still apply to me? Yes. Hypermobility exists on a spectrum, and a gentle, individualized approach applies whether or not there is a formal diagnosis.
Next Step
If you have hypermobile joints, an EDS diagnosis, or joints that just seem to move more than most, and you are looking for a chiropractor in Salt Lake City who understands why that changes the approach, book a free consultation. For a full look at the practice and additional EDS-specific resources, visit Gentle Chiropractic Salt Lake.
Or call or text 435-612-0411.