Muscle Overcompensation in EDS & HSD: Why Your Muscles May Always Feel Tired

Living with Ehlers-Danlos syndrome (EDS) or hypermobility spectrum disorder (HSD) means living in a body where connective tissue doesn’t do its job well enough—so your muscles are often forced to pick up the slack.

While most people have connective tissue that works together to provide structure and stability, in those with EDS or HSD, hypermobile joints and loose connective tissue can’t offer the same support. As a result, your muscles overcompensate—working overtime just to keep you upright, stable, and moving.

And that constant compensation? It takes a toll—one that’s often misunderstood.

Why Do Muscles Overcompensate in EDS & HSD?

In EDS and HSD, collagen—the protein that gives strength and flexibility to connective tissue—may be defective or weakened. That means the ligaments that are supposed to hold your joints in place don’t provide enough support.

So your muscles step in.

They try to stabilize loose joints, control unpredictable movement, and prevent injuries like subluxations and dislocations. But they’re doing far more than they were built for—constantly contracting, engaging, and trying to “brace” the body.

This can result in:

  • Chronic muscle tension

  • Spasms and cramps

  • Localized and widespread pain

  • Early fatigue, even from minor activity

  • Soreness that doesn’t match the effort

  • Tightness that doesn’t always respond to stretching

How Muscle Overcompensation Feels

People with EDS or HSD often describe symptoms like:

  • Deep muscle pain, especially around unstable joints

  • Muscles that feel “on” all the time, even at rest

  • Cramps or spasms with small movements

  • A burning or heavy feeling during normal activity

  • Physical exhaustion after tasks others consider basic

  • Sensitivity to touch due to overworked tissue

This pain can feel sharp and isolated in one area—or widespread and aching throughout the body. And because it doesn’t show up on standard scans or labs, it’s often misunderstood or dismissed.

The Downside of Stretching Alone

Many people with muscle tightness are told to stretch more—but in EDS and HSD, the issue isn’t inflexible muscles—it’s unstable joints. Overstretching can worsen joint instability and make muscles work even harder to compensate.

The goal isn’t just to loosen the body—it’s to support and stabilize it.

Supporting Your Muscles More Effectively

Understanding that your muscles are overworking to protect you—not failing you—can help shift the way you approach treatment. Consider these strategies:

  • Focus on Stability

    Consider working with a physical therapist (PT) who understands hypermobility, and incorporating slow, controlled strength training.

  • Prioritize Recovery

    Heat, magnesium, or gentle massage for tight areas can be helpful. Allow rest between physical tasks—even basic ones—is important. Embrace pacing, or activity broken into manageable chunks.

  • Mind-Body Support

    Nervous system regulation, such as breathwork, meditation, or somatics, can reduce muscle guarding. Slowly and safely facing fear of movement through small, guided steps can help you feel more confident and reduce that fear over time.

  • Consider Supportive Aids

    Bracing or taping under professional guidance can be beneficial. Compression garments for proprioception and muscle fatigue, and mobility aids when needed may reduce overcompensation.

If your muscles constantly ache, spasm, or feel tight—even when you haven’t done much—it’s not all in your head. It’s your body doing its best to hold itself together in a way it was never designed to.

By understanding muscle overcompensation in EDS and HSD, you can take steps to reduce the burden and work with your body—rather than fighting against it.

You deserve support, strategies that work, and relief that lasts.


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PMID: 28186390; PMID: 25632331; PMID: 37046863; PMID: 34576312

Disclaimer: This blog post is for informational purposes only and shall not be construed as behavioral health or medical advice. It is not intended or implied to supplement or replace treatment, advice, and/or diagnosis from your own qualified healthcare provider.

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