Hypermobility and Neurodivergence: The Hidden Connection That Changes Everything About Your Pain

If you are autistic or have ADHD and you also have joints that are unusually flexible, click easily, or cause persistent aching despite little obvious structural damage, you may be experiencing a combination that is far more common than most people realise.

A landmark 2022 study by Csecs and colleagues found that 40 percent or more of autistic adults have hypermobility, compared with around 20 percent of the general population. ADHD shows a similar pattern. This is not coincidence. The nervous system differences that characterise neurodivergence appear to be linked, at a biological level, to connective tissue differences that produce hypermobility.

What Hypermobility Actually Means

Hypermobility means that the connective tissues of the body (ligaments, tendons, and joint capsules) are more elastic than usual. This is a spectrum, ranging from benign joint hypermobility syndrome at the milder end through to hypermobile Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome (hEDS) at the more complex end.

Being flexible sounds like an advantage, and in some ways it is. Hypermobile people are often naturally excellent at dance, yoga, or gymnastics. But flexibility without stability creates problems. When joints move beyond their intended range, the surrounding muscles have to work much harder to compensate. This produces a paradox: hypermobile people often feel tighter and more uncomfortable than those with typical flexibility, because their muscles are chronically overworking.

Why the Neurodivergence Connection Matters

The Csecs et al. (2022) paper, published in Frontiers in Psychiatry, proposed that the genetic variations associated with neurodivergence may affect connective tissue development as well as neurological development. If you have ADHD or autism, it is worth considering whether hypermobility may also be a factor in your physical experience.

Hypermobility and neurodivergence together create a specific pattern of challenges. Proprioceptive differences mean joint instability is even harder to detect. Sensory sensitivity may make the pain of hypermobility feel more intense. Dysautonomia (dysfunction of the autonomic nervous system) is also more common in people with both hypermobility and neurodivergence, adding fatigue and dizziness to the picture.

How This Changes the Chiropractic Approach

Standard chiropractic techniques involve applying specific forces to joints to restore normal movement. For hypermobile patients, this requires careful adaptation. Joints that are already moving too far do not benefit from techniques that increase range further. The focus instead shifts to stabilisation: strengthening the muscles that support unstable joints, improving proprioceptive awareness, and working on nervous system tone.

At Clifton Chiro in Bristol, we use a full assessment to identify whether hypermobility is a factor before beginning treatment. For those where it is, we adapt our techniques accordingly. Network Spinal, which uses very light contacts and works with the nervous system's own rhythms, is particularly well-suited to hypermobile patients.

Getting the Right Support in Bristol

Diagnosis of hypermobility and neurodivergence often happens separately, and the connection between them is not always explained. At Clifton Chiro, we are familiar with this combination and work alongside GPs, physiotherapists, and occupational therapists to ensure our patients receive appropriate joined-up care. If you suspect hypermobility or have been diagnosed with it, please tell us at your first appointment.

References

Csecs JLL, et al. Joint hypermobility links neurodivergence to dysautonomia and pain. Front Psychiatry. 2022;12:786916.

Hakim A, Grahame R. Non-musculoskeletal symptoms in joint hypermobility syndrome. Rheumatology. 2004;43(9):1194-1195.

Cederlof M, et al. Etiological overlap between obsessive-compulsive disorder and autism spectrum disorders traits. JAMA Psychiatry. 2016;73(11):1193-1199.

Bulbena-Cabre A, et al. Joint hypermobility in autism spectrum disorders. Australas Psychiatry. 2021;29(6):688-692.

About the Author

Tim Scott is the Principal Chiropractor at Clifton Chiro, with over 26 years of experience in healthcare.

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