Definition
Hypermobility refers to joints that move beyond the typical range of motion. Hypermobile Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome (hEDS) and Hypermobility Spectrum Disorders (HSD) are chronic connective tissue conditions that research has linked with autism.
Why It Matters
The autism-hypermobility connection is an area of growing research. A 2016 Swedish nationwide study found that people with Ehlers-Danlos syndrome were about 7.4 times as likely to have an autism diagnosis as matched comparison people. Hypermobility affects pain, fatigue, proprioception, and quality of life, and it can be missed in autistic people whose communication differences make pain harder to report.
Common Misconception
Being able to do splits or bend fingers back is not just a party trick in the context of hypermobility disorders. Chronic pain, fatigue, and joint instability are real and often disabling consequences.