Hypermobile or Just Quirky?
If you're reading this, you've probably seen our viral reels about clusters of quirky things that could be related to hypermobility! Wondering what these things are, why we do them, and what we can do about it? We've got you covered.
Bumping into walls all of the time
The nervous system plays a huge role in stability. Proprioception is a term referring to the awareness of where we are holding our body in space. Too much joint movement, plus a little nervous system dysregulation can make us over/undershoot, leading to bumping into things. Extra stressed or menstrual cycle leading to more bumping into things? It’s not just you, it’s your nervous system!
Wet shirt when washing dishes
Standing for a long period of time can lead to fatigue in your stability muscles. We also may hang on our knees, hips, etc. to try to create stability which can become painful. Because of this, we may lean into counters. Sure, anyone may lean into something if they have to stand long enough or due to other reasons such as stature, height of sink, etc. But, if you have that wet spot on your shirt from washing a few dishes followed by feeling lightheaded and everything hurting? It may be time for stability training!
Neck feels like it’s going to fall off
Neck extension normal range is around 70 degrees. This is looking up toward the ceiling, but not having your head rest between your shoulder blades. Extra neck range of motion can lead to movement compensation, extra neck tension to compensate, or in some cases, neurological symptoms such as dizziness, facial numbness, suddenly falling over, and more. If you suspect your neck moves too much, you won’t want to miss our free neck proprioception training that was released on youtube today! Link can be found below.
Sleeping with one foot up
Your body is seeking both stability + safety, especially for adequate sleep. This position on its own may not mean a whole lot, but hiking your knee all the way up to your face tells me you have more range of motion than average. Does your back hurt when you don’t do that? Your body may be naturally looking for a stable position for your joints.
Toe holes in the tops of your shoes
I always got holes in the exact same spot of the mesh of my tennis shoes. It wasn’t until my physical therapy professor measured my big toe extension and said “you my dear, have a lot of big toe extension” that I made this connection. The big toe norm is around 60 degrees, many can reach 90, 120, or significantly more toe extension. We need the big toe to stabilize during walking and a variety of movements. Find Jenna’s current fav shoe below!
Wait…Am I Hypermobile?
If you experience all of these things and more from our social media videos, take a look at our new free workout series! They're designed to help build stability for these exact issues.
Jenna's Favorite Shoe
A wide toe box shoe can allow enough space for your hypermobile toes! Jenna recommends starting with the olympus and gradually decreasing the amount of support to build foot strength
Did you find something here that helped you on your own hypermobility journey? Join our mailing list to get tips like these delivered straight to your inbox every Wednesday!
Blog posts may contain affiliate links to products mentioned. Purchasing through these links helps support Jenna’s work - she may receive commission at no extra cost to you.
This blog is written based on personal experience and is not medical advice. Always ask your doctor for individual concerns and support.