Hypermobility Clinics: Improved Patient Care
- Many patients spend years searching for answers to complex medical issues, frequently enough facing misdiagnosis or dismissal, according to genetic counselor Katharina Schwan.
- schwan estimates that these conditions affect approximately 1 in 500 to 1 in 900 people.
- Symptoms of HSD and hEDS include joint instability, chronic pain, fatigue, and gastrointestinal dysfunction.Schwan notes that these issues can severely impact a patient's quality of life, potentially leading...
Katharina Schwan spotlights the critical need for specialized hypermobility clinics to address the often-unrecognized challenges of connective tissue disorders like hEDS and HSD.These conditions,impacting potentially hundreds of thousands,frequently enough go undiagnosed,leading to fragmented care and diminished quality of life. Such clinics could dramatically improve patient outcomes by offering comprehensive, collaborative, and trauma-informed care. They would integrate genetic counseling, specialized therapies, and mental health support, providing integrated solutions to help patients. Furthermore, these centers promise to reduce unneeded emergency room visits and surgeries. According to News Directory 3, early recognition and targeted strategies are the keys to improved patient health. What innovative steps will the medical community take next? Discover what’s next …
Hypermobility Clinics Needed for Connective Tissue Disorders
Updated June 17, 2025
Many patients spend years searching for answers to complex medical issues, frequently enough facing misdiagnosis or dismissal, according to genetic counselor Katharina Schwan. She says that connective tissue disorders, such as hypermobile Ehlers-Danlos syndrome (hEDS) and Hypermobility Spectrum Disorder (HSD), are frequently overlooked.
schwan estimates that these conditions affect approximately 1 in 500 to 1 in 900 people. She argues that dedicated hypermobility clinics are essential to properly recognize and manage these disorders. The current healthcare system often fails to address the multisystem nature of HSD and hEDS, leading to fragmented and misdirected care, Schwan said.
Symptoms of HSD and hEDS include joint instability, chronic pain, fatigue, and gastrointestinal dysfunction.Schwan notes that these issues can severely impact a patient’s quality of life, potentially leading to disability and reliance on Medicaid. Early recognition and support are crucial to preventing such outcomes, she said.
A hypermobility clinic, Schwan suggests, should offer collaborative, trauma-informed care. This would include genetic counseling, specialized physical and occupational therapy, cardiology services, gastroenterology and autonomic specialists, pain management, and mental health support.
“It’s time to stop making these patients fight so hard for basic support,” Schwan said. “it’s time to build hypermobility clinics.”
Schwan emphasizes that such clinics would not only validate patients but also reduce emergency room visits and unneeded surgeries. She believes that early intervention can preserve function, autonomy, and hope for those affected.
From a public health and cost perspective, Schwan argues that coordinated, multidisciplinary care is more effective and less expensive than managing chronic illness through emergency care and disability benefits. While some institutions have piloted connective tissue clinics, broader recognition and support are needed, she said.
What’s next
Schwan urges clinicians, administrators, and policymakers to consider the need for hypermobility clinics. She also reminds patients that their suffering is valid and that they deserve comprehensive care.