To stretch, or not to stretch, that is the question with my EDS

Sometimes when I’m lying down, I take stock of how my body feels. Many people do this as a technique to relax or relieve stress, but I’m not sure that works when, like me, you have Ehlers-Danlos syndrome (EDS). With EDS, doing a mental body scan makes you focus on points of pain or discomfort, which doesn’t exactly help to relieve stress.

On the other hand, it does allow me to get a sense of how I’m feeling and figure out the areas of my body that might need work or attention.

One thing I notice when I do this is that when I’m on my back, I’m much more comfortable when I cross my right leg over my left at the ankle. It isn’t comfortable when I do it the opposite way.

If I keep both of my legs flat, it stresses my right hip, because my hips feel crooked when they should feel flat and balanced. Lying flat should be a comfortable position, but it’s not for me. My best guess is that it’s related to muscle tension in my hips and lower back.

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Those of us with EDS deal with a lot of muscle tightness, which might seem counterintuitive to people who aren’t familiar with hypermobility disorders. I get it. I used to think the same way. But now I explain to folks that my muscles tighten because they’re trying to compensate for my joints and tendons and ligaments that are too loose.

I think that’s what’s happening when I’m lying down. While my body should be in a neutral position, the muscle tightness in my back and hips is likely twisting the angle of my hips, which in turn is probably stretching those tight muscles, which is uncomfortable. If I’m right about this, then crossing my ankles would feel like a neutral position to me because my muscles aren’t being stretched.

So what do I do with this information? Is it better for me to lie down in a comfortable position? Or would it make more sense to let my muscles stretch a little to how they should be, even if it’s uncomfortable?

I think this is useful information for when I get a massage, as it can help guide my massage therapist.

Managing EDS can be like trying to put together a puzzle with constantly changing pieces. Just when I think I’ve figured out patterns, something changes. Yet it can be helpful to know when something feels different, as it helps me to manage my symptoms more effectively.

Note: Ehlers-Danlos News is strictly a news and information website about the disease. It does not provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. This content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or another qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on this website. The opinions expressed in this column are not those of Ehlers-Danlos News or its parent company, Bionews, and are intended to spark discussion about issues pertaining to Ehlers-Danlos.