How Joint Hypermobility Links Neurodivergence and Chronic Pain (with Jessica Eccles, Ph.D.)

In this hour-long webinar with ADDitude, Jessica Eccles, Ph.D., discusses the links between joint hypermobility, chronic pain, inflammatory disorders, and anxiety. She details why these are more common in neurodivergent populations. This ADHD Experts webinar was originally broadcast on May 29, 2025. 8:00 conditions linked to hypermobility 10:00 POTS 14:00 ADHD is comorbid with many physical conditions 15:00 Her research - ND were 4x as likely to be hypermobile. hypermobility explained the link bet being ND and having physical health problems 16:00 hypermobility may explain why people with ADHD may have more physical health problems 18:00 "you have an inflammatory challenge, causing more symptoms. in these people, it was because of their immune response." 19:00 if you have ND, you are more likely to experience emotional regulation problems because you're disoriented in space 21:00 "by looking at brain/ body awareness opening up new avenues for possible interventions and treatments" 24:00 testimonials from audience members who relate 25:00 "bendy people have gut collagen where they should have bone collagen - gut moves in a different way." 28:00 creativity and hypermobility are connected because of ND characteristics 31:00 HM is 1 in 5 in the gen pop, but in ND HM is 70-80% 32:00 what can patients do to talk to doctors about this condition? 34:00 how can clinicians become more informed? 36:00 how do these characteristics change over time? 38:00 hormones impact hypermobility. ADHD Well Womens Podcast 39:00 will changes to diet / exercise help? core strength helps. 41:00 HM associated with poor healing 42:00 how does this affect treatment? ADHD is often used to treat POTS 43:00 compression garments can help with emotional dysregulation/ self harm 44:00 stimming may be an attempt to regulate a dysregulated nervous system 47:00 we often misattribute discomfort to anxiety 48:00 HM linked to sleep apnea 50:00 migraines and HM 52:00 fibromyalgia and HM - huge connection 55:00 Is there a genetic test for HM? HM and ADHD as genetic as height 58:00 ADHD and pain overlap Download the slides associated with this webinar here: https://www.additudemag.com/webinar/joint-hypermobility-adhd-autism-inflammation-pain/ Related Resources: 1. Free Download: Is It More Than Just ADHD? https://www.additudemag.com/download/adhd-comorbid-conditions/ 2. Read: How ADHD Can Intensify Physical Health Conditions https://www.additudemag.com/physical-health-conditions-adult-adhd-symptoms/ 3. Read: ADHD, Autism, and Neurodivergence Are Coming Into Focus https://www.additudemag.com/understanding-neurodiversity-adhd-and-autism-overlap/ 4. Read: ADHD and Anxiety: Symptoms, Connections & Coping Mechanisms https://www.additudemag.com/adhd-and-anxiety-symptoms-coping/ Subscribe to the ADDitude YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC_3d1NVczqxa-cQzFt2iVSw Visit the ADDitude web site: https://www.additudemag.com Follow ADDitude on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/additudemag/ Follow ADDitude on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/additudemag/ Follow ADDitude on Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/additudemag/