Ajax Harwood Clinic
Hypermobility: should I be tested?
Hypermobile Ehlers-Danlos syndrome (hEDS)
You may have heard the term hypermobile Ehlers-Danlos syndrome, or hEDS. It means your joints bend further than most people's. This can cause real pain, sprains, or joints that slip out of place. Being flexible alone does not mean you have hEDS. Doctors look for extra signs too, like soft skin, stretch marks, or hernias. There is no blood test or gene test for hEDS. Doctors diagnose it using a hands-on exam and your history. A few other, rarer types of Ehlers-Danlos syndrome do have a gene test. Your doctor will check for signs of those first, since some need urgent care. If your joint pain and flexibility are affecting your life, that is worth a proper assessment, not just being told you are bendy.
Tests you may hear about
Worth asking
Questions you could bring to your doctor:
- Do my flexibility and other signs mean I should be checked for hEDS?
- Is there a blood or gene test that can confirm hEDS?
- Could my joint pain and flexibility be something else, like fibromyalgia?
- Do my signs point to a rarer type of Ehlers-Danlos that needs genetic testing?
- What new symptoms should bring me back for reassessment?
Next steps
Curious what your doctor is weighing up? The clinical page we use for this is open to anyone — it is detailed and written for clinicians, and you are welcome to read it.
Open the clinician reference →Did a naturopath recommend specific tests? Look each one up — what it measures and whether it is usually needed.
Look up a lab test →Want more? Explore the full AHC health library.
Go to ask.ajaxharwoodclinic.com →This is health information and screening — not a diagnosis. Please discuss results with your doctor. In an emergency call 911.