Hypermobility Syndrome
Hypermobility is often known as “double jointedness”. It can overlap with Ehlers Danlos Syndrome (EDS) and sometimes Fibromyalgia. Finding a team who understands the many interrelated symptoms can be challenging. That’s why discovering HealthWell’s experienced professionals is both validating and a relief!
The first question people ask is “how can I be hypermobile when I always feel so tight?” It is because the joints are really what is hypermobile. Muscles respond by trying to stabilize hypermobile joints. Also, muscles are at the mercy of the nervous system. For example, if the nervous system is on overdrive due to stress or pain, that too can contribute to muscles feeling tight.
Hypermobility is considered “familial” which means that it runs in families. Because it is 5x more prevalent in women than in men, it’s usually your mother who carries the gene.
Is it a good thing or a bad thing? Yes and yes. The good thing is that you are likely to live to be a more mobile older person! And, in instances where surgery is required, you may have an easier time restoring your range of motion afterwards. The worst part of hypermobility is how few people in the medical field, physical therapists as well as physicians, know how to diagnose it, or to help you manage it.
At HealthWell, you will learn self-management strategies and tools to keep you healthy. We teach you about posture, how your digestion influences the way you feel and how to improve digestion through manual therapy. We help you establish an exercise and stabilization program that is appropriate for your condition, including Pilates and Feldenkrais. We focus on breathing which in turn can help control anxiety. We look at your feet and make recommendations about footwear and support. We may not be the experts in every part of the care that you need, yet we can share referrals when necessary to a variety of specialists who understand the condition.
Learning to live with hypermobility or EDS is essential, and HealthWell is a crown jewel in terms of support, knowledge, and breadth.
HealthWell can assist you before or after you’ve seen a medical doctor. If you have a doctor’s prescription, please bring that with you on your first appointment. If you don’t have a physician and need a referral to someone who can best address your issue, feel free to make an appointment with us and we can refer you to a physician. Be sure to arrive 15 minutes earlier on your first appointment, print and bring your completed patient forms, your insurance information, and wear comfortable, loose clothing.
We are committed to getting optimum results for every patient.
Our San Francisco Physical Therapy clinic is open for in-clinic care and ongoing Telehealth appointments.
Our premier location and easy access reduces your stress. Our office location is the round high-rise building, on the southeast corner, across from St. Mary’s Cathedral at the intersection of Gough at Geary Blvd. Our convenient San Francisco location offers FREE parking in our parking lot, and non-metered street parking also available. Several San Francisco Muni Lines are available to reach us.
To schedule an in-clinic appointment, call us at 415.921.1211 or request an appointment at info@healthwellpt.com. Our goal is to provide the safest space possible for our patients and staff.
Click here to learn about our safety procedures.
Ready to start feeling better without leaving home? Telehealth is a live video conferencing option that allows face-to-face interaction between patients and their Physical Therapist over a smart phone or a computer with a webcam. This service is currently covered by most insurance plans. We will call your insurance for you to see if it’s approved. To schedule a Telehealth/video Rehab appointment, call us at 415.921.1211 or request a visit at info@healthwellpt.com