*taptap* is this thing on?

[alexseanchai]

So today the physician assistant at the rheumatologist told me I'm hypermobile and my chronic pain is in large part from overextended muscles and tendons because of my joints being hypermobile. Which, okay, that probably explains why I can't stretch without hitting owwww before actually hitting stretch? Also, maybe fibromyalgia, here go get blood work.

Consequently I'm looking at this Prevention.com article with some suspicion. "Start by positioning yourself until you feel a slight stretch in the muscle, then hold the stretch for a full minute for the most benefit." Yeah no the point of this exercise is to reduce my pain levels, thanks...

Does anyone have good resources on this sort of thing? Because I'm supposed to get into a low-impact exercise routine. But I know perfectly well that if it hurts worse, I won't.

Comments

[fred_mouse]

I can't find the article that I read while back, but I have a clear memory that it said that *held* stretches were Bad!Wrong for hypermobility, and that active stretching/warming up were much better, because it is harder to push past the existing limits (and that ligaments, once stretched, don't tighten up). They also have the advantage of making the muscles work.

The friend that diagnosed my kids gave them a long spiel about muscle tone being the important thing, and that gently building it was important (although maintaining it is better - she basically told them to keep skating/dancing as long as they could afford to, because of the benefits they are getting in terms of holding joints together).

[alexseanchai]

*nod nod* That makes sense.

If you remember enough later to track down the article, I'd love to see it.

[fred_mouse]

Not the one I remember, but this one certainly has the line.

The same site seems to have a bit on hypermobility, but entering the term into the search box gets nothing. I did find this one on hips and this one on knees while mooching around the site though. The squat described in the hip one is approximately the one I use to deal with the tight feeling in my thigh muscles.