Introduction: When Flexibility Becomes a Burden
Hypermobility can seem like a gift—until it becomes a source of pain, fatigue, and dysfunction. For patients with generalized joint hypermobility or a diagnosis of hypermobile Ehlers-Danlos syndrome (hEDS), loose connective tissue affects far more than just the joints.
At BreatheWorks, we often see how hypermobility silently compromises posture, breathing, chewing, swallowing, and speech. Without appropriate intervention, many patients suffer from symptoms that appear unrelated—until they’re connected through a postural and airway-aware lens.
What Is Hypermobility—and How Does It Affect Function?
Hypermobility occurs when joints move beyond the normal range of motion due to lax connective tissue. In patients with hEDS or related disorders, this tissue fragility also affects the skin, blood vessels, gastrointestinal tract, and oropharyngeal system.
Common signs include:
- Slouched posture despite effort to sit up
- Chronic neck and back pain
- TMJ dysfunction or clicking jaw
- Frequent subluxations or joint injuries
- Fatigue, dizziness, and autonomic instability (e.g., POTS)
- Chewing and swallowing fatigue
- Voice changes or breathy speech
- Shortness of breath with no cardiopulmonary cause
These symptoms often worsen with age, stress, illness, or poor environmental support (e.g., prolonged screen time, poor seating).
The Posture-Hypermobility Loop
Patients with hypermobility often adopt compensatory postures to create the illusion of stability. This leads to:
- Forward head posture to compensate for cervical instability
- Over-recruitment of superficial muscles in the neck and shoulders
- Rib flaring and poor diaphragm engagement
- Pelvic tilt and compromised spinal alignment
- Mouth breathing and poor tongue posture as compensations for fatigue
These adaptations create secondary dysfunctions—airway restriction, TMJ pain, voice strain, and inefficient breathing—which many clinicians miss if they don’t specialize in functional airway or posture therapy.
How This Affects Speech, Swallowing, and Breathing
At BreatheWorks, we frequently see patients with hypermobility who have been referred for:
- Voice instability (breathiness, reduced projection)
- Dysphagia (difficulty swallowing or chewing fatigue)
- Speech articulation difficulties, especially with rapid rate or longer utterances
- Mouth breathing or habitual sighing
- Poor breath support in speech and voice
- Sleep disturbances, often related to airway collapse
These symptoms are rarely standalone—they’re mechanical outcomes of muscle fatigue, poor coordination, and postural compensation.
Special Considerations for Pediatric Patients
Children with hypermobility are often misdiagnosed with:
- Low tone
- Behavioral challenges (due to fatigue or sensory issues)
- ADHD (due to poor focus from poor sleep or discomfort)
- Speech delay, when the issue may be motor planning or coordination
Our pediatric team is trained to recognize when these children need not just therapy—but a different therapeutic lens that honors their unique physiology.
How BreatheWorks Supports Hypermobile Patients
We treat hypermobility through an interdisciplinary, body-wide lens—focusing not just on symptoms, but on sustainable solutions:
- Postural therapy to support spinal stability and reduce muscular overuse
- Myofunctional therapy for tongue posture, lip seal, and nasal breathing
- Breathing retraining to restore diaphragm activation and reduce overbreathing
- TMJ treatment for joint stability and muscular rebalancing
- Speech therapy for voice function, articulation, and swallowing coordination
Coordination with PTs, OTs, PCPs, ENTs, and genetic specialists
Whether you’re looking for speech therapy near you for a child with fatigue and unclear speech—or an adult experiencing daily pain from hypermobility—BreatheWorks delivers integrative, individualized care.
Real-World Example: “I Just Thought I Was Tired”
A 16-year-old patient was referred for speech fatigue and slurred articulation after long school days. She also reported headaches, chewing fatigue, and needing to “rest her voice” after class. On evaluation, she had hypermobile joints, TMJ instability, and poor postural endurance.
Therapy focused on postural retraining, diaphragmatic breathing, and myofunctional therapy, with education on ergonomic modifications. Within weeks, she reported clearer speech, less jaw pain, and improved classroom engagement.
Key Takeaways
- Hypermobility and hEDS affect more than joints—they influence posture, breathing, chewing, and speech
- Poor posture is often a compensation for instability—not a lack of effort
- Targeted therapy can improve quality of life, communication, and function
- BreatheWorks specializes in treating hypermobile patients with respect, knowledge, and collaboration
