What about hypermobility causes fatigue and muscle soreness?

[BigIce]

To the knowledgeable members of the board...Like many members here I have suffered from fatigue issues my whole life. I have the "invisible syndrome" as stated on the boards, where no urine, blood or neurological test test shows any irregularities yet I'm always had fatigue issues, and muscle soreness after even light workouts.

What is the actual scientific reason why having loose joints or being collagen depleted causes so many issues with fatigue and muscle pain?

[gila]

theory goes : in 'normals' joints are held in their place by the ligaments- in us due to ligaments being stretchier/longer the muscles have to take on part/or all of that job=they have to work more/harder=they get quicker/easier fatigued and sore
it's also thought that it's poss that apart from being more prone to noticable obvious injuries, we might be prone to 'plentiful micro injuries' (things like tiny tiny strains/tears etc that arent obvious) which then also cause soreness/pain and of course need repair/healing time

it's also thought poss that with time these 'plentiful micro injuries' may be/or be part of what leads to the malfunctioning of the pain signaling system=the chronic pain syndromes that so many of us suffer

I am not aware of any scientific studies that have been done to prove these 'theories'- but I heard them from prof g who has spent his life dealing with HMS/EDS-
so taking his decades of experience and my personal experience into account...
me thinks you'd better think twice/thrice if you really want to continue full contact boxing
xxg
ps : 'depleted collagen'- although the exact problem with our collagen isnt known as yet- thinking is that it's more likely a case of "faulty collagen" or "wrong ratio between collagen and other "building fibres/materials"

[garrysangel]

My rheumy told me that my muscles are having to work harder to hold my joints together so they get sore from it. Also my body has to work harder in general to function so that causes fatigue. There's probably more to it, but that's all I've figured out.

Amy in Austin, Texas

[rovingricey]

My understanding of the science (as a very lay person!) is just as the others have outlined above.

In addition, I saw a very sympathetic clinical podiatrist last week who said that having hypermobile foot and ankle joints means that every step for us is like several steps for a 'normal' person. Our bodies are having to work so hard just trying to keep us stable and this makes us tired.

Personally, after years of thinking I was going mad, I find these (admittedly grossly simplified) scientific explanations extremely comforting.

[Spireite]

But the big question is why doesn't it effect everyone who has hms? I don't suffer from fatigue - I have lots of energy. I go to the gym regularly and do some tough workouts, no problem. I do suffer from daily subluxations, particularly in my 'too extremely hypermobile' feet and ankles. I also go running in motion control trainers, but can't walk properly in sensible shoes with severe orthotics. So it isn't a pure case of muscles working a bit harder.

[pink]

This just goes to show how hms affects us all differently. I don't suffer frequent dislocations, just many sprains, aches 'heavy feeling' and tiredness / can't concentrate with fatigue kicking in frequently in the week.

[nemonie]

I get body fatigue but not brain fatigue - which is very annoying when trying to go to sleep. Everyone is different though, so some people may have low muscle tone and this could make the aforementioned need to hold-our-selves together cause much more fatigue than in someone with generally good muscle tone. Then there are nerve/muscle interactions which muck everything up even more

[rovingricey]

I suppose what we really need is research studies which contrast symptomatic hypermobiles with asymptomatic hypermobiles. Anyone know if this has been done already? Would be tricky to design such a study because of the amount of people who are hypermobile without realising it or at least, without realising until something goes wrong. Wouldn't be impossible though.

Not that there's much chance of this getting funding! (says a cynical ex-university researcher!)

[Rosie]

Hi all

Not to mention the compliction f hypermobile peeps who are asymptomatic for part of their lives until problems start devevloping e'g' at puberty, pregnancy, illness or trauma. There is definitely not enough research going on.

Rosie

[Jjude]

these theories all make sense! I was fine until I got ill a couple of years ago, now my body is working sooo hard to recover and function I am exhausted!

[jadebhms]

I always get very tender and sore thigh muscles and my physio therapist said that because the joints are so loose it makes the muscles b stretched tighter and makes them become sore. This makes the muscles work harder and causes fatigue. I get extremely tired al the time and i think thats because my whole body is hypermobile wher as some people only have a few joints like that so maybe thats why some people dont get as tired.

Jade x x