What Is Hypermobility?
Hypermobility means some of the joints in your child’s body stretch and move more than expected. They’re extra bendy or flexible. But it’s not just about being “double-jointed.” Hypermobility can impact motor coordination, digestion, energy levels, sleep, emotional regulation, and even writing.
If you’re wondering whether hypermobility is playing a role in your child’s challenges with fine motor skills, handwriting, or coordination, here are some key things to know.
Top 7 Insights to Know About Hypermobility
1. If your child has hypermobility in other areas (hips, knees, shoulders), they likely have it in their hands, fingers, or thumbs too which impacts writing.
Writing requires small, controlled hand movements. If finger joints are too bendy, your child may struggle to control the pencil, keep letters neat, or maintain endurance.
2. You can’t change the laxity of ligaments and tendons, but you can strengthen the muscles around the joint to protect and stabilise it.
Muscle strength holds the joint in a safer, more functional position.
3. Before strengthening muscles, we need to wake them up with sensory input.
When muscles are more alert and ready, they’re in a better place for strengthening. That’s why movement and sensory activities matter.
4. If your child presses too hard, has hand pain, wraps their thumb tightly around the pencil, or has an ‘awkward’ grasp, do consider hypermobility.
These are often ways the body compensates for joints that aren’t providing enough natural stability.
5. Hypermobility isn’t always about floppy joints.
The body may tense up to seek stability which can lead to stiffness, pain, or discomfort in other areas too.
6. Hypermobility co-occurs with many neurodivergent diagnoses.
It’s often seen alongside autism, ADHD, dyspraxia (DCD), and more so if your child has any of these, hypermobility may also be a factor.
7. It can also impact internal systems.
This includes gut motility and digestion, POTS (dizziness and elevated heart rate when standing), bowel and bladder control, sleep, emotional wellbeing, and more.
If any of this resonates, you’re not alone and you’re not imagining it. I help parents understand how hypermobility and sensory processing connect, and what you can do to support your child in daily life, learning, and motor skills like writing.
Want to explore if this might be affecting your child? You can learn more about how I support families through video-based assessments or 1:1 consultations.
-Munira
