Managing Hypermobility and hEDS with Physiotherapy
Somerton has a particular specialism in hypermobility and hypermobile Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome (hEDS) — one of the areas patients travel to us for. This page supports our main hypermobility physiotherapy page with more detail on assessment and day-to-day management.
Somerton Physiotherapy is a chartered physiotherapy clinic (MISCP, CORU-registered) with clinics in Castleknock, Blanchardstown and Tallaght. Every assessment is led by a chartered physiotherapist, so you get a clear diagnosis and a treatment plan built around you.
This is supporting information for our main page, Physiotherapy for Hypermobility. Start there for an overview, and use this page for more on assessment and management.
What Is Joint Hypermobility (and hEDS)?
Joint hypermobility means some or many of your joints move beyond the normal range. For many people it causes no problems. For others it leads to pain, frequent sprains or dislocations, fatigue and a feeling of instability. Where hypermobility occurs alongside a wider set of features, it may be diagnosed as hypermobility spectrum disorder or hypermobile Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome (hEDS). Physiotherapy management is broadly similar across these it focuses on function, not labels.
How Physiotherapy Helps
- Graded strengthening — building muscle control around loose joints for stability and support
- Proprioception and control — retraining your sense of joint position so movement feels more secure
- Pacing and load management — doing the right amount to progress without repeated flare-ups
- Joint protection and technique — practical strategies for daily activities, work and sport
- Confidence — reducing the fear of movement that often builds up with an unstable, painful joint
At Somerton Physiotherapy, we are committed to providing professional, evidence-based physiotherapy care in Dublin. Our Chartered Physiotherapists follow high standards of clinical practice and ongoing professional development. For more information about physiotherapy standards and the profession in Ireland, visit the Irish Society of Chartered Physiotherapists.
What to Expect With Us
- Assessment — a thorough look at your joints, strength, control and goals
- Individualised programme — usually graded strengthening plus control and pacing work
- Careful progression — adjusting load to avoid flare-ups while still moving forward
- Education — you can use every day: protecting joints, managing energy and staying active
Frequently Asked Questions
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Can physiotherapy help hypermobility and EDS?
Yes it is a first-line management. It will not change the underlying collagen, but graded strengthening, control and pacing can reduce pain, improve stability and help you do more. The programme must be individualised and progressed carefully. -
Is exercise safe if my joints are unstable?
Yes, when it is graded correctly. A physiotherapist experienced in hypermobility starts at a level your joints tolerate and progresses gradually to build stability without provoking flare-ups. -
Do you see children as well as adults?
Yes Somerton treats children and adults with hypermobile joints. Book an assessment and we will match you to the right physiotherapist. -
How is a hypermobility programme different?
It emphasises control and stability over stretching, progresses more carefully to avoid flare-ups, and includes pacing and joint-protection strategies suited to hypermobile joints.
Book with a Chartered Physiotherapist
Somerton Physiotherapy is a chartered physiotherapy clinic (MISCP, CORU-registered) with clinics in Castleknock, Blanchardstown and Tallaght. Every assessment and class is led by a chartered physiotherapist, so you get a clear diagnosis and a treatment or exercise plan built around you. Book online or call the clinic we will match you to the right physiotherapist and, where relevant, the right class level.