Chiropractic Care for Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome/Hypermobility

How Chiropractic Care Can Help When You Have Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome

Being diagnosed with Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome (EDS) can feel overwhelming but it can give a sense of relief. Suddenly, some of the aches, pains, and unusual things you've experienced with your body may start to make more sense. But having a diagnosis doesn't necessarily make it obvious what to do next.

If you're newly diagnosed or have been living with EDS for years, you may be wondering how to manage discomfort, improve stability, and stay active without constantly aggravating something.

Chiropractic care is something people with EDS may have overlooked or may even have been told to avoid. But chiropractic care doesn't have to mean forceful adjustments or treating a hypermobile body the same way you would treat someone who is stiff or restricted. For someone with EDS, the approach matters.

What Is Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome?

Ehlers-Danlos syndromes are a group of inherited connective tissue disorders. Depending on the type of EDS, they can affect the joints, skin, blood vessels, and other tissues throughout the body. Hypermobile EDS (hEDS), is the type I most commonly see in practice, which is associated with joint hypermobility, joint instability, and musculoskeletal pain.

Everyone's experience with EDS is different. Some people deal with frequent joint or muscle pain, while others struggle more with instability, fatigue, recurring injuries, and/or feeling like certain joints just don't move or support them the way they should.

Chiropractic Care and EDS

EDS changes the way I approach chiropractic care. A joint that feels painful or restricted doesn't necessarily need more movement, especially in someone whose joints are already hypermobile. The first step is figuring out what is actually happening in that area and choosing the type of care I deliver accordingly.

When I work with someone with EDS or hypermobility, I adapt treatment to the individual. Care may include gentle instrument-assisted adjustments, soft tissue techniques, rehabilitation exercises, and strategies to improve stability and control. Sometimes that also means recognizing when an area doesn't need to be adjusted at all.

My background in physical rehabilitation has a strong influence on how I approach EDS. The goal isn't to make already-mobile joints move more. It's to determine where treatment may be helpful while also supporting stability, function, and the activities that matter to you.

Rib and Mid-Back Pain

Rib and mid-back pain are two of the most common complaints I hear from people with EDS and hypermobility. Patients will often describe a rib as feeling like it's “out,” stuck, shifted, or just not moving normally. Whatever words you use to describe it, the discomfort can be significant and can sometimes make everyday movements or even taking a deep breath uncomfortable.

When evaluating this type of pain, I look at how the ribs and mid-back are moving, areas of tenderness or muscle tension, and whether there are mobility issues - not enough or too much movement that may be contributing to what you're feeling. My treatment is then adapted to what I find rather than assuming that every painful area simply needs to be adjusted.

Helping You Stay Active

EDS doesn't mean you have to give up the activities you enjoy, I have worked with one person who continued to play goalie on her ice hockey team. Staying active and building strength can be especially important when you're dealing with hypermobility. Figuring out how to do that when certain movements repeatedly cause pain or instability can be frustrating.

Part of my approach is to help you understand how your body moves and finding ways to work with it rather than simply avoiding everything that causes a problem. I want to help you continue to do what you love, that may mean modifying an activity, improving strength or control in a particular area, or finding a different way to accomplish the same thing.

Your goals maybe getting back to the gym, gardening, hiking, working comfortably, or simply getting through your day with fewer limitations, your care should support the things that matter to you.

Chiropractic Care That Adapts to You

Living with EDS can mean spending a lot of time trying to explain symptoms that don't always fit neatly into a box. I wish I had kept track of the number of patients who have told me I was the first person who really listened to them.

If you have EDS or hypermobility, I want to understand what you're experiencing, what has and hasn't worked for you in the past, and what you want to be able to do. From there, we can determine whether chiropractic care may be appropriate and what approach makes sense for you.

If you're in the Albuquerque area and wondering whether my approach to chiropractic care might be a good fit for you, reach out to schedule a consultation here.