Living with Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome? Here's Why Proprioception Might Be the Missing Link

Dr. Lynn
Jul 15
3 min read

Owl Chiropractic takes motion X-rays so we can tailor your care plan to your specific needs.

If you’ve been diagnosed with Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome (EDS)—or suspect you might have it—you’ve probably spent more time researching your own body than your doctors have.

Many EDS patients go years being told their symptoms are “just anxiety,” “growing pains,” or that they’re simply “too flexible.” Meanwhile, the joint pain, dislocations, fatigue, and frustration keep stacking up.

At OWL Chiropractic, we want you to know: we see you, we hear you, and we believe you.

What Is Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome?

EDS is a group of genetic connective tissue disorders that affect how your body produces or processes collagen. Since collagen is the structural protein that holds your body together, EDS can impact the joints, skin, blood vessels, and even internal organs. Depending on the type, symptoms can range from mildly annoying to life-threatening.

There are 13 subtypes of EDS recognized by the medical community. The most common include:

Hypermobile EDS (hEDS): The most prevalent form. Joints that bend too far, frequent subluxations or dislocations, chronic pain, fatigue, and often, a whole bunch of misdiagnoses. No specific genetic marker has been found for hEDS (yet), which makes it even harder for patients to be taken seriously.
Classical EDS (cEDS): Involves stretchy, fragile skin and joint hypermobility. This type does have a known genetic cause.
Vascular EDS (vEDS): Rare but serious. Affects blood vessels and internal organs, with risk of rupture. Requires careful medical monitoring.

Other subtypes affect everything from your gums to your spine. But the common thread is collagen that doesn’t behave the way it should—which means your body has to work overtime just to do the basics.

Why Proprioception Breaks Down in EDS

Proprioception is your internal GPS—it’s how your brain knows where your body parts are in space. This system relies on mechanoreceptors in the ligaments, tendons, and muscles to send real-time updates to your brain.

But in EDS, where those tissues are too stretchy or unstable, the messages get muddy. Your brain might think your elbow is here when it’s actually there. This mismatch leads to:

Joint instability and frequent dislocations
Trouble with coordination and balance
Muscle fatigue from overcompensating
Increased injury risk and chronic pain

This isn’t clumsiness. It’s neuromuscular confusion—and it’s exhausting.

The Brain-Body Signal Breakdown (and Why It Matters So Much)

At OWL Chiropractic, we don’t just work on bones—we work on communication. Specifically, the constant feedback loop between your brain and your body. This is the proprioceptive system, and we interact with it every single day.

When joints—especially spinal joints—are misaligned, they don’t just move poorly. They send distorted or weakened signals to the brain. That’s like trying to navigate with bad Wi-Fi: the info’s delayed, scrambled, or missing entirely. And for someone with EDS, whose joints already struggle with stability and coordination, that disruption is a big deal.

Here’s a stat that should stop you in your tracks: By the time you actually feel pain, up to 60% of the nerve function in that area may already be compromised. That means your brain might only be communicating with your body at 40% capacity.

Can you imagine trying to drive a car with only 40% of your dashboard working? That’s what it’s like living with a misaligned spine and disrupted proprioception.

And let’s not forget: Your nervous system controls everything. Muscles, organs, digestion, balance, energy, even your sense of safety in space. If that system isn’t functioning properly, nothing else is, either.

For EDS patients, this isn’t just about pain. It’s about reclaiming clarity, coordination, and confidence—so your body can stop feeling like it’s working against you.

proper alignment and function to help your brain and body speak the same language again. Gentle, precise chiropractic adjustments can reduce joint stress and improve proprioceptive signaling.

How Chiropractic Care Can Help

At OWL Chiropractic, we focus on restoring proper alignment and function to help your brain and body speak the same language again. Gentle, precise chiropractic adjustments can reduce joint stress and improve proprioceptive signaling.

We also use digital motion X-ray (DMX) to see how your joints move in real time, which is especially useful in hypermobile patients. That way, we’re not guessing what’s happening—we’re watching it unfold.

We’re not here to “crack” your spine and send you on your way. We’re here to: