If You Notice Signs of Hypermobility in Someone You Care About

By Jennifer Richards, LMT 2026

Not everyone who is flexible is hypermobile, and not everyone with hypermobility has a medical condition. Many people live their entire lives without significant problems.

However, if someone you care about has unusually flexible joints and experiences things like frequent sprains, recurring joint pain, joints that “pop out,” chronic fatigue, dizziness when standing, digestive issues, easy bruising, or other unexplained symptoms, it may be worth encouraging them to learn more.

You don’t need to diagnose them. Simply sharing information can be enough.

You might say:

“I recently learned that hypermobility is different from flexibility. Some people with hypermobile joints also experience symptoms that can be treated or managed. If any of this sounds familiar, it might be worth mentioning to your healthcare provider.”

Ultimately, it’s their decision whether to pursue an evaluation. Respect their autonomy, avoid pressuring them, and remember that not every hypermobile person needs medical care.

Sometimes the greatest gift isn’t having all the answers—it’s helping someone ask the right questions.