When people hear the word "hypermobility," they often think of flexibility. But hypermobility and flexibility are not the same.
Flexibility is the ability of muscles to stretch and lengthen. A flexible person within normal joint range of motion has well-trained, pliable muscles that allow for a greater range of motion.
Hypermobility is excessive joint movement due to loose or lax connective tissue. It affects the stability and function of the joints, not just muscle extensibility.
This means someone can be hypermobile without being flexible (because their muscles tighten up to compensate for joint instability) or flexible without being hypermobile (because they have trained their muscles to lengthen, but their connective tissue is stable).
For singers, understanding hypermobility isn’t just about addressing joint laxity—it’s about recognizing how the entire body adapts to instability and how those adaptations may impact breathing, movement, and vocal function.
Hypermobility Beyond Flexibility
Hypermobility affects connective tissue, which plays a role in nearly every system in the body. This means singers with hypermobility may experience:
- Breath and pressure management challenges – The ability to build and regulate intra-abdominal and subglottal pressure is key for breath support, but if connective tissue is too lax, singers may struggle with stability in their breathing system.
- Fatigue and energy fluctuations – Circulatory adaptations (like pooling blood in the lower extremities) can cause dizziness, low blood pressure, or excessive fatigue, making it harder to sustain energy for singing.
- Sensory and nervous system differences – Many hypermobile individuals also experience heightened sensory processing, anxiety, or difficulties with proprioception (knowing where their body is in space). This can affect coordination, tension levels, and even vocal ease.
- Jaw, ribcage, and joint instability – TMJ dysfunction, shifting ribs, and joint discomfort are common, which may lead to tension in the jaw, tongue, or neck as the body searches for stability.
The Optic Nerve, Visual Processing, and Hypermobility
Recent research suggests that hypermobility may even affect how the optic nerve transmits visual information. A 2024 study (Jahromi et al., Brain and Behavior) found that individuals with Generalized Joint Hypermobility (GJH) had a delayed P100 latency in their Visual Evoked Potentials (VEPs)—meaning their optic nerve was slower to process visual stimuli compared to non-hypermobile individuals.
This delay in visual processing could contribute to:
- Balance and postural instability – If visual input is processed more slowly, it may affect how the body orients itself in space.
- Increased light sensitivity or visual strain – The nervous system may have to work harder to process fast-moving visual information.
- Nervous system dysregulation – Since the visual system is closely tied to autonomic function, certain visual drills may trigger a fight-or-flight response instead of calming the system.
For singers and performers, this delay in visual processing could impact:
Following a conductor – A slower response time may make it harder to react quickly to visual cues.
Sight-reading music – The brain may take longer to process notes and translate them into vocal or instrumental execution.
Fast choreography or stage movement – If the body relies heavily on vision for balance, fast-paced changes in movement or lighting shifts on stage could feel disorienting.
Screen use and rehearsal settings – Reading music on a tablet or adjusting to bright stage lights may cause eye strain or fatigue more quickly.
The Role of Gaze Stabilization and Visual Drills
Given the delayed P100 response in hypermobile individuals, less is more when it comes to gaze stabilization exercises. A gradual approach is best to avoid overloading the nervous system.
- Peripheral vision training may be a safer starting point, as it can help with nervous system regulation without triggering a stress response.
- Be mindful of cervical positioning—many hypermobile individuals have cranial-cervical instability, so excessive head movements can increase visual strain and postural instability.
- Slowly integrating gaze stabilization drills allows the brain to adapt without overwhelming the system.
Unexpected Signs of Hypermobility
Many people don’t realize they might be hypermobile because the signs extend far beyond flexibility. Here are some less obvious indicators that may be worth exploring:
- Do you instinctively lean on objects when standing for more than a few minutes?
- Does standing feel more exhausting than walking?
- Do you feel dizzy when you stand up quickly?
- Have you ever noticed your ribs shifting or popping when taking a deep breath?
- Have you struggled with vocal fatigue or breath inconsistency despite training?
- Have you sprained your ankle(s) multiple times or feel like you “lose” strength quickly when you stop training?
Hypermobility doesn’t look the same for everyone, and for singers, these seemingly unrelated symptoms may be influencing their breath efficiency, postural control, and vocal performance.
What This Means for Singers
Because connective tissue affects stability and load management, singers with hypermobility often:
- Over-rely on certain muscles for breath support, leading to tension in the neck, tongue, or jaw.
- Struggle with breath consistency due to challenges in regulating intra-abdominal and subglottal pressure.
- Have difficulty with balance and movement coordination, affecting posture and performance endurance.
- Experience chronic tightness despite being hypermobile, as their body seeks ways to stabilize.
Instead of focusing solely on "fixing" breath support or releasing tension, it’s important to address the underlying stability and coordination strategies that the body is using.
Join Us for Hypermobility and the Voice
If any of this resonates with you, I invite you to join us for:
Anatomy Nerds: Hypermobility and the Voice
📅 Wednesday, March 26 | 6:30-8:00 PM ET via Zoom
With instructors Andrew Byrne and Christine Schneider
In this class, we’ll explore how hypermobility influences breath support, vocal efficiency, and movement—and practical ways to work with your body, not against it.
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