Member May 2026: Advancing Care for Hypermobility: Evidence-Based Treatment Breakthroughs in Physical Medicine Rehabilitation (On-Demand)-Session Recording

Video Transcription

Video Summary

The session was a Member May lecture on hypermobility disorders in physical medicine and rehabilitation, presented by Dr. Jennifer Hankinson. After housekeeping notes, Dr. Hankinson introduced her clinical interest in improving access and care for patients with hypermobility, especially hypermobile Ehlers-Danlos syndrome (hEDS) and hypermobility spectrum disorder (HSD).<br /><br />She explained that hypermobility exists on a spectrum, from asymptomatic joint laxity to severe disability. hEDS is a clinical diagnosis without a known genetic marker, while HSD includes symptomatic patients who do not meet full hEDS criteria. Diagnosis often relies on the Beighton score plus associated features such as recurrent subluxations, skin hyperextensibility, scarring, and dental issues. Many patients experience chronic widespread pain, fatigue, anxiety, depression, and kinesiophobia, and may go years before receiving an accurate diagnosis.<br /><br />A major theme was that treatment should shift from isolated-joint care to whole-body rehabilitation. The strongest evidence supports therapeutic exercise, emphasizing core stabilization, proprioception, closed-chain movements, posture, and gradual progression. She also discussed inspiratory muscle training, aquatic therapy, and the importance of finding knowledgeable physical therapists.<br /><br />Dr. Hankinson highlighted multidisciplinary care, including physiatry, PT, OT, pain psychology, and selective involvement of cardiology, GI, genetics, neurology, allergy, and pain management. She also reviewed prolotherapy as a promising adjunct for refractory ligamentous laxity, though evidence remains limited and it should not replace rehab.<br /><br />Key takeaways: think whole body, use exercise as medicine, coordinate multidisciplinary care, and address psychological as well as physical aspects of disease.

Keywords

hypermobility disorders

hypermobile Ehlers-Danlos syndrome

HSD

physical medicine and rehabilitation

Beighton score

joint laxity

therapeutic exercise

proprioception

multidisciplinary care

prolotherapy

whole-body rehabilitation