Double jointed people - amazing abilities

R

Rose65

Well-known Member
Location
United Kingdom
Watching the gymnastics in the Olympics reminded me of double jointed people and contortionists. I wonder what makes some people so incredibly flexible? They must be born that way surely. Years ago i remember seeing such performances on TV and marvelling at the things they could do. It always makes me wince and feel a bit sick to be honest when they bend limbs to impossible positions!
Does a person with such abilities stay like that into old age or do they get as much or more arthritis?
 

There is a condition involving hypermobility. or being double jointed. that is considered normal. But there is another that is not.


Hypermobility vs. hypermobile Ehlers-Danlos syndrome (EDS)​

Ehlers-Danlos syndrome is a group of rare genetic disorders. Because EDS affects connective tissue, it is closely linked with hypermobility.

The most common type of EDS is hypermobile Ehlers-Danlos syndrome. Its most common symptom is — you guessed it — extremely flexible joints. Another sign is skin that is stretchy and doesn’t heal well.
Is There Any Downside to Being Double-Jointed?

 
Rose65 said:
Watching the gymnastics in the Olympics reminded me of double jointed people and contortionists. I wonder what makes some people so incredibly flexible? They must be born that way surely. Years ago i remember seeing such performances on TV and marvelling at the things they could do. It always makes me wince and feel a bit sick to be honest when they bend limbs to impossible positions!
Does a person with such abilities stay like that into old age or do they get as much or more arthritis?
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I have a rare connective tissue disorder that makes me double jointed. My body doesn't produce enough collagen and this is why it happens. There isn't much studying of it because few people have it. When specialists met me I was told you can swim and drive a car wearing a seat belt. That's all!!! I have dislocated one of my shoulders six times and the other three times. I once dislocated a shoulder putting on a seat belt.

Yes, it does make you arthritic and it is painful. There's probably a difference between me and people who are just flexible but there you go. I do much more than swim and drive a car by the way. 😊
 

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chic said:
I have a rare connective tissue disorder that makes me double jointed. My body doesn't produce enough collagen and this is why it happens. There isn't much studying of it because few people have it. When specialists met me I was told you can swim and drive a car wearing a seat belt. That's all!!! I have dislocated one of my shoulders six times and the other three times. I once dislocated a shoulder putting on a seat belt.

Yes, it does make you arthritic and it is painful. There's probably a difference between me and people who are just flexible but there you go. I do much more than swim and drive a car by the way. 😊
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Interesting. I never knew people have these kinds of joints.
 
chic said:
I have a rare connective tissue disorder that makes me double jointed. My body doesn't produce enough collagen and this is why it happens. There isn't much studying of it because few people have it. When specialists met me I was told you can swim and drive a car wearing a seat belt. That's all!!! I have dislocated one of my shoulders six times and the other three times. I once dislocated a shoulder putting on a seat belt.

Yes, it does make you arthritic and it is painful. There's probably a difference between me and people who are just flexible but there you go. I do much more than swim and drive a car by the way. 😊
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hollydolly said:
In my last job before I retired I worked with someone who has Ehlers-Danlos syndrome... she was always dislocating her arms...
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That's what I have. Sometimes the dislocated joints pop right back in and you can get on with your day like nothing happened and sometimes you're in serious pain for a week. Overall it's bad as you age because joints become stiffer and pain becomes accepted as an everyday occurrence. It's too bad a lot more is not known about it but it's fairly rare so there wouldn't be much money to be made from it.
 
chic said:
That's what I have. Sometimes the dislocated joints pop right back in and you can get on with your day like nothing happened and sometimes you're in serious pain for a week. Overall it's bad as you age because joints become stiffer and pain becomes accepted as an everyday occurrence. It's too bad a lot more is not known about it but it's fairly rare so there wouldn't be much money to be made from it.
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That's precisely how she is , Chic.. some days it just pops back in..others not.. and only her 20's as well

I'm sorry you have that , especially now as your joints and bones have aged..:(
 
hollydolly said:
That's precisely how she is , Chic.. some days it just pops back in..others not.. and only her 20's as well

I'm sorry you have that , especially now as your joints and bones have aged..:(
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That's why I started lifting weights and guess what? I dislocated the pinky finger on one hand. I rested it for a day and feel better now. I'm more afraid of becoming helpless from sarcopenia than these minor injuries. I was 20 the first time I dislocated a shoulder. I wasn't diagnosed with Ehlers Danlos syndrome until my thirties. You do learn to make adjustments and live just fine. I hope she finds a balance that works for her. Knowing when to push and when to rest is one of them.
 
chic said:
I have a rare connective tissue disorder that makes me double jointed. My body doesn't produce enough collagen and this is why it happens. There isn't much studying of it because few people have it. When specialists met me I was told you can swim and drive a car wearing a seat belt. That's all!!! I have dislocated one of my shoulders six times and the other three times. I once dislocated a shoulder putting on a seat belt.

Yes, it does make you arthritic and it is painful. There's probably a difference between me and people who are just flexible but there you go. I do much more than swim and drive a car by the way. 😊
Click to expand...
You were told you could swim and drive a car with a seatbelt? Thats not very optimistic.
That person probably would have been better off not saying anything. It’s a very pessimistic outlook. They probably didn’t know much about the condition at all.
 
Double jointed people have always amazed me. Sometimes what they can do with their bodies is kind of creepy to watch because it looks like their movements should be painful. 😲
 

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