ALPIMS • Laxity & Connective Tissue
What feels closest right now?
Achy, unstable, tired—or needing a little more support?
Choose one description below for a small starting point. You do not need to know whether hypermobility is involved before asking for help with a difficulty.
Start with what would make today more manageable.
Some people have extra joint movement without symptoms. Others experience pain, instability or difficulties with everyday activities. Those difficulties deserve attention.
Seek urgent medical care for a suspected dislocation, a visibly misshapen joint, severe pain after injury, or new numbness, weakness or a cold or pale limb. Do not force a joint back into place yourself.
Read about dislocationsA small check-in
Open whichever fits. More than one can be relevant.
A joint feels loose, wobbly or unreliable Giving way • slipping sensations • uncertainty with movement
Pause the movement that feels unsafe. Find a comfortable, supported position.
Avoid repeatedly testing how far the joint can move.
A little more support
Repeated instability or slipping sensations are worth discussing with a GP or physiotherapist.
An individual plan may include movement control, gradual strengthening or selected supports. Braces and taping need advice about fit and use.
A joint that feels unstable does not automatically mean you have HSD or EDS. Assessment looks at the wider history and possible causes.
My joints or muscles are sore Aching • discomfort after activity • pain while holding a position
Reduce the demand on the painful area: support an arm, change position or shorten the task.
Choose a comfortable range rather than pushing into a stretch.
When pain needs more attention
Pain can have several causes. New, persistent or worsening pain deserves assessment.
Seek prompt advice for a hot, swollen joint, particularly if you also feel unwell or have a fever.
For familiar pain, follow your agreed plan. A clinician can help you balance comfort, movement and rehabilitation.
My body gets tired holding a position Sitting • standing • keeping my head up • holding my arms out
Add support where it feels helpful: a backrest, supported feet or a place to rest your arms.
Change position before discomfort builds, if you can do so comfortably.
Make the task fit your capacity
You might sit for a task, bring objects closer or divide an activity into shorter parts.
Persistent fatigue needs its own assessment. It should not automatically be attributed to hypermobility.
If activity causes a delayed, prolonged worsening of symptoms, tell your clinician. A rehabilitation plan needs to account for that pattern.
My hands or feet need more support Writing • gripping • opening containers • standing or walking
Reduce force or repetition. Use two hands, a larger handle or a lighter object where useful.
For sore feet, consider whether your footwear feels comfortable and supportive.
Tools and individual advice
An occupational therapist can help adapt tasks. A hand therapist or podiatrist may assess specific hand or foot concerns.
Splints, orthoses and specialist footwear are individual choices. Seek advice rather than assuming everyone needs the same equipment.
Support should make a meaningful activity easier, with room for your comfort and preferences.
I feel awkward, unsteady or unsure where my body is Balance • coordination • judging movement • frequent bumps
Slow the task down and use a stable support. Clear the immediate space if possible.
Choose a familiar movement rather than challenging your balance while you feel unsteady.
What to discuss
Tell a clinician about falls, repeated injuries or coordination difficulties. These can have several explanations.
A physiotherapist may help with movement awareness, balance and control at a level that fits you.
Sudden new difficulty walking, weakness or other neurological changes need urgent assessment.
I also feel dizzy or faint when upright Standing symptoms • racing heart • needing to lie down
If you feel faint, sit or lie down safely. Ask for help if needed.
Use your agreed care plan if this is a familiar, assessed pattern.
This needs its own attention
Some people with hypermobility also have orthostatic intolerance, including POTS. Being hypermobile does not establish that diagnosis.
Tell your GP if symptoms repeatedly worsen upright and improve lying down.
Seek urgent help for fainting or palpitations accompanied by chest pain or severe breathlessness. In Australia, call 000 for an emergency.
I am not sure—or several things fit You can ask for help without having a diagnosis
Identify the activity that is hardest today. What would make it easier or safer?
A shorter task, a supported position, a helpful tool or another person may be enough for this moment.
Preparing for an appointment
Bring one or two examples:
- Which joint or activity is affected?
- Is the main difficulty pain, instability or fatigue?
- Have there been injuries, falls or dislocations?
You do not need to demonstrate extreme flexibility or repeatedly test painful joints.
What does “Laxity” mean in ALPIMS? Joint movement, connective tissue and support needs
The Laxity domain draws attention to extra joint movement, joint stability and possible connective-tissue concerns.
Hypermobility is a feature—not automatically a disorder.
Hypermobility spectrum disorders (HSD) and Ehlers-Danlos syndromes (EDS) require clinical assessment. Symptoms and support needs vary considerably.
Pain, fatigue, sensory differences and autonomic symptoms may overlap with this domain. Each concern still deserves consideration rather than being explained by one label.
Could one support help across several domains? Less strain • more comfort • easier participation
A supported sitting position might reduce joint strain and make an activity more manageable. A lighter tool might reduce hand discomfort and effort.
Clearer instructions and a quieter setting may make a movement plan easier to follow.
Choose supports for their practical benefit. Helping several difficulties does not mean those difficulties all have the same cause.
Explore supports across domains →What is one next step?
Support a position, adapt a task, or ask for assessment of a recurring difficulty.
A helpful plan should fit your body, your capacity and the activities that matter to you.
Resources & further reading
ALPIMS is an organising framework, not a medical diagnosis. This check-in provides general information and optional support ideas. It is not a diagnostic questionnaire or an individual exercise plan. Seek advice for new, persistent or changing symptoms, and follow your agreed care plan.