Think Your Body is Just Tight?
Why It Might Actually Be Caused By Hypermobility & Over Stretching
When people think of hypermobility, they usually picture someone who can fold themselves in half or casually drop into the splits. But the reality is very different, and I see that for a lot of my clients. In fact, a lot of the people I see with hypermobility don’t feel flexible at all. They feel the opposite—tight, tense, tired and achy.
I see it all the time: someone comes in saying, “My shoulders are always so tight. I just need more stretching.” But when I check how their joints move, it turns out they’re actually hypermobile. What’s really happening is that their muscles are working overtime to stabilize joints that move further than average. That extra workload leaves them feeling stiff and fatigued, even though the underlying issue is too much mobility, not too little.
Everyday Signs of Hypermobility
Hypermobility often flies under the radar because it doesn’t always look extreme. Instead, it shows up in subtle, everyday ways, like:
Feeling both flexible and tight (you can touch your toes, but your hamstrings never feel loose).
Fatiguing quickly during workouts or when standing for long periods.
“Random” aches, kinks, or soreness after something simple, like walking or light exercise, or for no known reason at all.
Joints that pop or crack a lot just to find relief.
Knees or elbows that lock backward when you stand.
Dropping things, feeling clumsy, or struggling with balance.
The sense that no matter how much you stretch, it never feels like enough.
So many people dismiss these signs because they don’t think of themselves as “super flexible” or “double-jointed.” But I see clients every week whose tightness is actually their body trying to hold things together.
Why More Stretching Isn’t Always the Answer
Here’s the tricky part: when your body feels tight, the natural instinct is to stretch. But with hypermobility, that tightness is often your muscles acting like stabilizers. If you keep pulling on them, you take away the little support your joints do have—and it can actually make things worse.
What usually helps more is:
Strengthening the muscles around your joints.
Focusing on form and control instead of chasing range of motion.
Using massage therapy to calm tension without destabilizing your joints.
How Massage Can Help
Massage is more than just a way to relax—it can be a game-changer for hypermobile bodies. Here’s why:
Releases overworked muscles that are stuck in “stability mode.”
Eases pain and fatigue by improving circulation and calming the nervous system.
Helps you connect with your body, building awareness of how your joints and muscles move together.
Supports balance and stability when paired with strengthening work.
I love helping clients with hypermobility because once we address what’s really going on, things click. They realize they don’t need to push harder or stretch more—they need the right kind of support.
The Bottom Line
Hypermobility doesn’t always look like being a human pretzel. For many people, it feels like unrelenting tightness, the occasional kink in the neck, joints that go pop, or fatigue that sets in way too fast. If that sounds familiar, you’re not alone—I see it all the time.
Massage therapy can help your body release unnecessary tension while supporting the stability it craves. At reBell Wellness, I tailor each session to your unique needs so you can feel more grounded, comfortable, and strong.
Book your massage today and give your body the support it’s been asking for.
