Why Does My Body Hurt So Much When I Work Out With Hypermobility—and Can the Right Equipment Help?

if you have hypermobility, chances are you've asked yourself this question—maybe after a yoga class left your joints aching, or a strength workout triggered that familiar sharp pain in your wrists or shoulders. You’re not alone. For many people with Joint Hypermobility Spectrum Disorders (HSD) or Hypermobile Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome (hEDS), exercise isn’t just difficult—it can feel impossible.

But here's the: movement is essential. The trick is finding the right support to do it safely and without making things worse.

That’s where DEWI Bars come in.

What Is Hypermobility—and Why Does It Cause So Many Problems With Exercise?

Hypermobility means your joints move more than they should. While that might sound like a good thing (think flexibility), for many it leads to pain, instability, and even injury. Connective tissues like ligaments and tendons are more lax, which means your muscles have to work overtime to keep joints in place. Over time, this can cause:

• Joint pain (especially in the wrists, shoulders, knees, and elbows)

• Muscle fatigue

• Poor proprioception (your body’s sense of where it is in space)

• Frequent subluxations or dislocations

• Grip weakness

• Delayed recovery from workouts

Now layer on a standard workout environment—hard weights, slippery grips, unstable form—and it’s no surprise many people with hypermobility give up on exercise altogether.

What About Dancers—Especially in Ballet?

Ballet dancer

Ballet is one of the few spaces where hypermobility is often seen as an advantage. Extreme flexibility, deep turnout, high extensions—these are all praised on stage. But behind the scenes, many dancers are silently dealing with joint pain, instability, and chronic fatigue.

Hypermobile ballet dancers often push their bodies beyond safe limits without realizing it. That deep plié or hyperextended arabesque might look beautiful, but it can stress the knees, hips, and lower back far more than a stable joint can handle. Over time, this leads to:

• Persistent ankle sprains

• Patellofemoral pain (front knee pain)

• Shoulder instability (especially during partnering or port de bras)

• Early-onset joint wear

• Mental fatigue from managing constant discomfort

And because dancers are trained to tolerate pain, they often don't realize how much damage is accumulating until it sidelines them.

This is where something like the DEWI Bar becomes useful outside of a gym and directly in dance conditioning. The ergonomic grip and cushioned design allow dancers to build strength and proprioception safely—helping stabilize joints without sacrificing range of motion. It’s not about making dancers less flexible; it’s about making them stronger in every position they move through.

Whether you're in company class or rehabbing between rehearsals, using DEWI Bars in cross-training can help maintain the artistry without burning out your joints.

So What Makes DEWI Bars Different?

DEWI Bars were designed specifically with hypermobile bodies in mind. They’re not just a scaled-down barbell—they're a rethinking of what people with joint instability actually need in an exercise tool.

Here’s what sets them apart:

1. Ergonomic Shape for Better Joint Alignment

The compact, curved design allows for multiple grip options, so you’re not locked into painful positions. Instead of forcing your body to match a traditional bar, DEWI Bars adapt to you.

2. Double-Cushioned Padding Where It Counts

The soft, rounded surface cushions your hands, elbows, and shoulders—three of the most commonly painful areas in people with hypermobility. This helps reduce pressure and friction, making it easier to sustain movement without flaring symptoms.

3. Just Enough Weight—With Control

Traditional weights can destabilize joints if they’re too heavy or awkward. DEWI Bars are compact and appropriately weighted to give you proprioceptive feedback (the “where is my arm?” sense) without overwhelming your joints.

Why Proprioception Matters So Much for Hypermobile People

Proprioception is how your brain tracks your limbs. In hypermobility, that signal is fuzzy. You might overextend a joint without realizing it, or shift weight into unstable positions. DEWI Bars give subtle, controlled resistance that “wakes up” your your body’s feedback loops without overloading them—kind of like a gentle nudge that says, “hey, your elbow’s drifting.”

Common Exercise Frustrations DEWI Bars Help With

“My wrists collapse when I do push-ups.”DEWI Bars provide a neutral, cushioned grip that stabilizes the wrist and prevents hyperextension.

“I can’t hold dumbbells without pain.”The bar’s padding distributes pressure evenly, reducing strain on small joints like fingers and wrists.

“Shoulder workouts always leave me sore in a bad way.”DEWI Bars allow for modified, close-range movements that activate muscles without yanking on unstable joints.

The Bottom Line

If you live with hypermobility, exercise isn’t optional—it’s essential for managing pain, improving joint control, and maintaining long-term muscle strength. But the way you move matters. Using tools designed for your body can mean the difference between progress and pain.

DEWI Bars aren’t just another piece of gear—they’re a smarter, safer way to support movement when your joints need extra care.

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