Being able to easily bend your fingers or palm beyond a normal range of motion may be a sign of looming respiratory problems, experts warn.
Dr Taylor Goldberg, a Colorado-based chiropractor, warned hyper-flexibility could be a sign the body’s connective tissues are weakened or unstable.
The connective tissue, such as joints and tendons, are ‘the glue’ of the body that supports and gives structure to bones, muscles and organs.
It’s especially crucial for the lungs as it helps provide functional support – and, unlike other organs, connective tissue makes up about 25 percent of its weight.
Over time, the weakening of connective tissue in the lungs ‘can affect breathing mechanics and airway stability’ – leading to serious respiratory issues such as asthma and obstructive sleep apnea.
About one in four Americans suffer from some degree of hyper-flexibility – which can be gauged using the nine‑point Beighton Score point system.
The test awards one point for being able to perform a series of movements including bend the pinkie finger back 90°, touching the thumb to the forearm, hyper‑extending elbows or knees more than 10° and placing palms flat on the floor with straight knees.
In adults, a score of more than five out of nine indicates they are hyper-flexible while in a child, it would be at least six out of nine.
For a small number of these people, their flexibility is caused by a condition known as Ehlers-Danlos Syndromes (EDS)
The connective tissue is ‘the glue’ of the body and when weakened, allows a person to bend their fingers or palm beyond a normal range of motion
Dr Goldberg warned: ‘Anecdotally, many people with Ehlers-Danlos Syndromes (EDS) seem to have more difficulty recovering from respiratory illnesses.’
‘While we need more formal research, clinical experience suggests that people with EDS might have a harder time with respiratory illnesses compared to the general population,’ she further told Newsweek.
Connective tissues are essentially made of two proteins called collagen and elastin, both of which are responsible for providing strength and elasticity to the body.
However, EDS, a genetic condition, can affect the body’s ability to form protein molecules and in turn, impact collagen production as well as connective tissue strength.
The overall reduction of collagen in the body and subsequent tissue weakness can impair the lungs’ capacity to breathe in oxygen at optimal volume.
This can lead to shortness of breath, respiratory muscle weakness as well as upper and lower airway collapse.
People suffering from EDS usually have overly flexible joints, stretchy and fragile skin as well as tend to bruise easily.
They also have joint and muscle pain, constant fatigue, digestive issues, bladder control problems and find it hard to concentrate.
There is no clear treatment for the condition however, doctors usually suggest undergoing physical therapy and wearing braces to help the muscles.
Pictured: Dr Taylor Goldberg, a Colorado based chiropractor-turned-hypermobility coach
But Dr Goldberg also noted that EDS is a multi-systemic condition and can impact other systems rather than cause connective tissue weakness – suggesting that patients should get tested for both things.
EDS can be diagnosed through a physical exam of the skin and joints as well as an evaluation of the symptoms by a doctor.
Previously, experts have also noted that EDS patients also have ‘had trauma, medical gaslighting, trying to find help and not getting help, so stress, anxiety, tension all starts to impact someone’s breathing.’
While EDS can manifest neurologically in symptoms like headaches, fatigue and muscle weakness, it isn’t considered a neurological disease.
However according to a 2022 study, out of 389 people suffering EDS that were surveyed, nearly all had depression while a little over half have had ‘probable’ anxiety.
According to The Ehlers-Danlos Society, there are thirteen different types of Ehlers-Danlos syndromes.
