Managing Hypermobility with a Speech-Language Pathologist: A Whole Patient Approach

Hypermobility is more than just being “flexible.” For many people, it brings challenges such as chronic pain, joint instability, fatigue, or difficulties with everyday activities. What often goes unnoticed is how hypermobility can also influence breathing, speaking, and swallowing. That is where a speech-language pathologist can play an important role in treatment.

This blog looks at what hypermobility is, how it affects daily life, and how a whole-patient approach that includes speech-language therapy can make a meaningful difference.

What Is Hypermobility?

Hypermobility occurs when joints move beyond the typical range of motion. Some people may never notice problems, but others experience symptoms that interfere with their health and daily routine.

Common signs can include:

• Frequent sprains or dislocations
  
  

• Joint pain, especially after activity
  
  

• Stiffness following rest
  
  

• Muscle fatigue
  
  

• Skin sensitivity or fragility

In some cases, hypermobility is part of a larger condition, such as Hypermobility Spectrum Disorder (HSD) or Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome (EDS). Because these conditions can involve multiple systems in the body, treatment often requires collaboration across different healthcare specialties.

Why a Speech-Language Pathologist May Be Involved

When people think about hypermobility, they usually picture knees, shoulders, or elbows. But connective tissue differences can also affect the jaw, tongue, throat, and airway. That’s where a speech-language pathologist (SLP) comes in.

An SLP can support patients with hypermobility in several important ways:

• Breathing patterns: Hypermobility can impact muscles used for respiration. An SLP helps improve coordination between breathing and speaking.
  
  

• Swallowing: Some individuals have difficulty swallowing safely or comfortably. Therapy can reduce effort and improve efficiency.
  
  

• Speech clarity: Weakness or instability in oral muscles may affect articulation. SLPs provide exercises and strategies to strengthen function.
  
  

• Orofacial myofunctional therapy: This specialized approach addresses tongue placement, jaw posture, and swallowing mechanics to support long-term stability.
  
  

• Collaboration: SLPs work closely with physical therapists, physicians, and other specialists to ensure the treatment plan supports the patient as a whole.

A Whole-Patient Approach to Hypermobility

At clinics such as BreatheWorks, the focus is not only on isolated symptoms but on the person as a whole. This type of care involves:

1. Comprehensive assessment – Using tools like the Beighton Score and detailed history, clinicians determine whether hypermobility is benign or linked to a connective tissue disorder.
   
   

2. Targeted interventions – Physical therapy for joint stabilization, speech-language therapy for breathing or swallowing, and medical support for pain or fatigue.
   
   

3. Daily management strategies – Education on posture, safe exercise, nutrition, and pacing of activities to reduce strain.
   
   

4. Individualized care plans – No two patients are alike, so each plan is adapted to the individual’s needs, goals, and progress.
   

This integrated model allows patients to receive well-rounded care that improves not only joint health but also quality of life.

What to Expect from Speech-Language Therapy

If hypermobility is affecting functions like speech, swallowing, or breathing, the process with a speech pathologists often includes:

• Initial evaluation: The SLP asks about symptoms, observes oral muscle patterns, and checks how breathing and swallowing function.
  
  

• Therapy sessions: These may involve exercises, posture training, or new techniques for safer swallowing or clearer speech.
  
  

• Home practice: Patients are given manageable exercises to reinforce therapy between visits.
  
  

• Follow-up: Progress is monitored, and treatment is adjusted as needed. Some services can also be provided through telehealth.

For many patients, these steps lead to better control of symptoms, improved comfort, and a stronger sense of confidence in daily life.

Living Well with Hypermobility

Hypermobility may present ongoing challenges, but with the right support, many people find ways to manage symptoms effectively. The key is understanding that treatment should not focus only on the joints—it should include all the systems that may be involved.

Working with a speech-language pathologist as part of a broader care team helps address often-overlooked areas such as breathing, swallowing, and speech. Combined with medical care, physical therapy, and lifestyle adjustments, this whole-patient approach gives individuals the tools they need to live more comfortably and independently.

Final Thoughts

Hypermobility affects each person differently, which is why treatment must be tailored to the individual. A whole-patient approach ensures that care goes beyond pain management, addressing how connective tissue differences influence every part of life—including communication, swallowing, and breathing.

If you think hypermobility may be impacting these areas, consider seeking an assessment. The involvement of a speech language pathologist, alongside other professionals, can be an important step toward a healthier and more manageable future.