Building Your Hypermobility Toolbox: Essential Items for Managing Day-to-Day Life

Day-to-day life with a hypermobile body can be full of unique challenges that many people don’t realize. Between the joint pain, fatigue, and an increased risk of injury, it can be hard to keep up on responsibilities, maintain relationships, and stay on top of your health. 

But what if there were supportive tools you could use to manage your condition and improve your quality of life? 

When it comes down to it, reducing your pain, preventing injury, and enhancing your comfort can make all the difference in managing hypermobility. Luckily, there are a variety of tools that can offer the support you need. 

From promoting better posture to alleviating joint pain, you can incorporate essential items into your daily routine to create your own hypermobility toolbox. 

In this article, we’ll explore various items that can make the biggest difference in the daily lives of those living with hypermobility. By making these items a normal part of your lifestyle, you can set up an environment that allows you to live more comfortably with hypermobility. 

Let’s go! 

How Can I Manage My Hypermobility? 

While there’s no treatment that will cure hypermobile joints, there are strategies you can implement to minimize further damage to your joints, reduce the daily challenges you face, and maintain your quality of life.

One of the easiest ways to do this is with tools that help support your body during daily activities like walking, working, and sleep. Let’s take a look at some of the most popular options in a hypermobility toolbox.

Sit-to-Stand Desks

Sitting for extended periods can result in pain and stiffness for anyone, but if you’re hypermobile, it’s even worse. Sit-to-stand desks are a versatile option that allow you to alternate between sitting and standing. This promotes regular movement, improving circulation and reducing stiffness and muscle fatigue, especially in places like your lower back, hips, and knees. 

Sit-to-stand desks are also great because of their adjustability. For example, you can set your desk to the exactly right height for you, making sure that you’re able to maintain the right ergonomics while sitting or standing. 

It’s easy to get into slouching and knee-locking habits when your desk or chair aren’t the right height for you, so a sit-to-stand desk helps people with hypermobility get the benefits of optimizing their posture and adjusting it frequently at the same time!

Stability Shoes 

What we put on our feet directly impacts our posture, joint stability, and balance. Because of this, footwear plays a major role in managing hypermobility. 

Wearing shoes with good ankle support can help prevent common injuries like ankle sprains and provide a stable foundation for everyday activities that might be difficult with hypermobility, like walking on uneven ground.

Stability shoes, or shoes with good ankle support, can give you the support you need to prevent too much joint movement and help reduce your risk of injury. The right footwear can also reduce stress on your knees, hips, and lower back by helping you align your body more easily. 

Here’s a few key things to look for in a good stability shoe: 

• Firm Heel Counters

This is an essential part of maintaining balance and helping prevent injury from rolling your ankle. It helps stabilize the back of your foot and prevents excessive movement. 

• Arch Support

Proper arch support spreads out your weight evenly across your foot, which reduces stress on your ankles. Some shoes come with built-in arch support, but you may prefer custom orthotics.

• Cushioning

Adequate cushioning is especially important for those with hypermobility. That’s because cushioning absorbs shock and reduces the impact on your joints.

Selecting the proper footwear can help you feel more comfortable and allow you to live a more active lifestyle with less pain and fear of injury. Just remember that this can take some trial and error to get right, and working with a hypermobility expert is the fastest way to find the right shoe fit for your needs.

Chair Support

Those with hypermobility tend to experience more strain on their bodies from prolonged sitting, so having a place to sit that provides the right support can make a world of difference in your day-to-day life.

For example, a chair with good lumbar support helps minimize pressure on your vertebrae by supporting the natural curve of your spine. The right chair for you should also promote a comfortable posture and help prevent things like slouching, which prevents additional stress on your muscles and joints while you sit.

Here are some key features to look out for when deciding which chair is right for you:  

• Adjustable height, which helps ensure your feet are flat on the floor with your knees at a 90 degree angle.

• Lumbar support, which can be built-in or an added on cushion to support the natural curve of your spine. 

• Comfortable seat cushions, which distribute your weight more evenly and reduce pressure points. 

• Adjustable armrests, which help support your shoulders and arms to reduce stress on your upper body. 

• A swivel base, which makes it easier to move and access different areas of your workspace without twisting or putting extra strain on your body. 

All in all, investing in a chair with the right support features can help you live more comfortably and better manage your hypermobility symptoms. 

Pillows for Support and Comfort

It’s common to think of pillows as just a bedtime comfort item, but they play a major role when it comes to supporting people with hypermobility. For example, the right pillow can alleviate neck and back pain, promote spinal health, and allow you to relax more easily while you sleep. 

Those with hypermobility benefit greatly from using pillows with the right amount of support because it prevents your body from working, resting, or sleeping in positions that put too much stress on your joints. 

For example, a pillow that maintains the natural alignment of your spine can help alleviate pressure and reduce pain in your back and neck while lying down. When you have the proper support, you can experience more restful sleep with less tossing and turning at night.

Types of Pillows for Hypermobility

Here are some examples of pillows that can make a big difference for those with hypermobility: 

• Cervical Pillows

Cervical pillows are designed to properly support the natural curve of your neck and limit hypermobility while you sleep. This helps promote your joint health and reduces neck pain. 

• Body Pillows

Body pillows are another great option because they provide support to your entire body, which helps align your spine and alleviate pressure on your hips and shoulders. They are also particularly helpful for side sleepers. 

• Wedge Pillows

Wedge pillows are versatile and can be used to elevate different areas of your body. For example, you can reduce pressure on your lower back by elevating your legs, or reduce pressure on your mid-back by elevating your upper body.

• Lumbar Support

This type of pillow provides support that targets your lower back and prevents unwanted slouching. These pillows are very beneficial when you need to sit for long periods, making them a great companion for your desk chair.

Keep in mind that pillows that are too soft won’t give you enough support, and those that are too firm can cause discomfort. Always make sure to position your pillows in a way that supports your spinal alignment and doesn’t make you more uncomfortable. You can also use multiple pillows to create a setup customized to your exact needs.

Similar to footwear, there are so many different pillows to choose from that it can be overwhelming. Working with a hypermobility expert who understands the way your body is likely to respond to different types of pillows is often the best starting point in finding the best option for you.

By learning about different ways to manage your hypermobility, you can build a comprehensive hypermobility toolbox that keeps your symptoms minimal, reduces risk of injury, and allows you to live an active and fulfilling lifestyle. 

Key Takeaways 

• Hypermobility can add challenges to everyday life, but building a hypermobility toolbox can help you manage your condition better. 

• Sit-to-stand desks are an excellent way to reduce pain and discomfort due to prolonged sitting or standing - the more adjustable the better! 

• The right shoes and orthotics can help you avoid injuries and promote better stability in the joints of your legs.

• Investing in chairs that are customizable to fit your needs can help you feel more comfortable when relaxing or working for long periods of time. 

• Pillows are great tools for keeping your spine in the right spot, and can be used to create a customized support system when you’re sitting or lying down.

Ready to work with an expert who can help you better understand your hypermobility, find the right tools for your lifestyle, and help you live a more active lifestyle with less pain? Our specialists at ActifyPT work with all kinds of hypermobility disorders, including Ehlers-Danlos, and are ready to help you reach your goals.

Click here to learn more and schedule a consultation today.