What Is Hypermobility and Why Does It Affect Your Feet?
Hypermobility is more common than most people realise — and it can be a bit of a chameleon in the clinic. One day it presents as “just flat feet or wobbly ankles,” the next it’s chronic foot pain, recurrent sprains, and a level of fatigue that never quite resolves. At its core, hypermobility is a connective tissue condition where joints move beyond their normal range, often because the collagen providing structure and support isn’t functioning as it should.
In the feet and lower limbs, this typically means instability, overpronation, and muscles that are working overtime just to keep you moving forward. Left unmanaged, that constant compensatory effort can lead to a cycle of pain, injury, and reduced function.
What Does Hypermobility Look Like in the Clinic?
We recently saw a patient — an exercise physiologist — who came in complaining of persistent foot pain and a feeling of “walking on jelly.” She’d experienced multiple minor injuries over the years and never felt truly stable on her feet.
Her assessment at ProFeet included a full lower limb work-up: range of motion testing (which was, unsurprisingly, generous), muscle strength testing, and a detailed gait analysis. Watching her walk, the picture became clear — significant laxity, poor load transfer, and muscles constantly trying to compensate for joints that weren’t providing adequate support.
This is exactly where seeing a podiatrist makes a real difference.
How We Approach Hypermobility at ProFeet Podiatry
There’s no one-size-fits-all answer with hypermobility, which is why we take a thorough, individualised approach. Here’s what we typically draw on:
Exercise Prescription and Rehabilitation
This is the cornerstone. The evidence consistently points to strengthening and neuromuscular control programs as the most effective way to manage hypermobility symptoms long-term. It’s not about stretching — hypermobile patients already have plenty of that. It’s about building stability: targeting intrinsic foot muscles, ankle stabilisers, and proximal control through the glutes and hips. Done well, this can genuinely be life-changing.
Our patient had this base covered through her own professional background, and it was helping — but she knew there was more progress to be made. This is where the breadth of podiatric care comes in.
Custom Foot Orthotics
Orthotics can provide the external support and improved alignment that hypermobile feet struggle to achieve on their own. They reduce the load on overworked soft tissues, improve movement efficiency, and can make day-to-day activity significantly more comfortable. They’re not a standalone cure, but as part of a broader plan, they’re a powerful tool.
Shockwave Therapy
When pain becomes persistent — particularly in structures like the plantar fascia or tendons under constant strain — shockwave therapy can be a game changer. It works by stimulating the body’s natural healing response and modulating pain pathways, helping to break the cycle of chronic discomfort that so many hypermobile patients experience.
Foot Mobilisation Techniques (FMT)
Foot mobilisation is another key part of our toolkit. With hypermobile patients, it’s less about loosening things up and more about improving joint mechanics, refining movement patterns, and helping the foot function more efficiently as a whole.
Bringing It All Together
For our patient, the real turning point was combining these approaches. Her existing exercise program laid the foundation, while orthotics and hands-on treatment helped support her day-to-day function. Over time, she began to feel more stable, more confident on her feet, and — most importantly — in control of her symptoms.
Hypermobility can be complex, but with the right team and the right plan, meaningful improvement is absolutely achievable.
At ProFeet Podiatry Gold Coast, we take the time to understand what’s driving your symptoms and build a management strategy that fits your life.
Think hypermobility might be affecting your feet or lower limbs? Book in with our team and let’s take a proper look.
Archer Platt
