Living Living Well with Hypermobility: Practical Support Options

If you're living with hypermobility, you've probably realised that no two people's experiences are exactly the same. While exercise and education remain the foundation of managing hypermobility, practical equipment can also make day-to-day activities more comfortable.

The right support won't be the same for everyone. Some people may only need one or two simple aids, while others may use different products depending on the activities they're doing or the symptoms they're experience. This guide highlights a range of practical support options that may complement your management plan and help you stay active, comfortable and confident.

Hand Supports & Strengthening

Our hands work hard every day, whether we're typing, writing, cooking or exercising. For people with hypermobility, these repetitive activities can place extra strain on joints that naturally move beyond their normal range. The following products may help improve comfort, reduce fatigue and support hand strength.

If your finger joints tend to bend backwards or feel unstable, Oval-8 Finger Splints may help limit hyperextension while still allowing normal movement for everyday tasks.

Compression gloves, such as iMAK Arthritis Gloves, provide gentle compression around the hands without restricting movement. Some people find they improve proprioception (your awareness of where your joints are), while also helping reduce hand fatigue during activities such as typing, cooking or gardening.

Strengthening the muscles that support your joints is an important part of managing hypermobility. Theraputty provides graded resistance for hand exercises, helping improve grip strength and finger strength over time. Different resistance levels allow exercises to be progressed gradually as your strength improves.

The Cando Digi-Extend helps strengthen the muscles that open your fingers, supporting balanced hand function and isolated finger strength.

The Rainbow Hand Exerciser is a portable resistance device designed to improve grip strength and hand endurance, making it a convenient option for home or travel.

Available in different resistance levels, the Cando Ball Hand Exerciser can help improve grip strength, dexterity and hand coordination through progressive exercises.

The Digi-Flex Thumb Exerciser allows you to strengthen individual fingers and the thumb or train your whole hand and forearm by compressing the unit together.

Variable-resistance hand trainers provide another way to build grip endurance and improve hand control as part of an appropriate strengthening program.

Gym & Exercise Support

Exercise remains one of the most effective ways to manage hypermobility, but sometimes the equipment itself can be uncomfortable.

Harbinger Pro Gloves provide additional grip and cushioning when lifting weights or using gym equipment, helping reduce pressure through the hands during exercise.

For exercises such as planks, push-ups and other weight-bearing activities, AQF Wrist Straps provide additional support for hypermobile wrists and may make these movements more comfortable.

Elbow Support

If your elbows become sore or feel unstable during everyday activities or exercise, additional compression may help.

The Thermoskin Dynamic Compression Elbow Sleeve provides gentle compression and support for hypermobile or painful elbows during daily activities and exercise.

Footwear & Foot Support

Your feet provide the foundation for almost every movement you make. Supportive footwear can improve comfort during everyday activities and exercise.

Archies Slides and Thongs feature built-in arch support designed to improve foot alignment and reduce foot pain while providing a more supportive alternative to standard thongs or slides.

Injinji Toe Socks are designed to reduce friction between the toes, helping minimise blisters while improving breathability, warmth and arch support.

Knee Stability

If your kneecap feels unstable or occasionally slips out of place, additional support may help improve comfort and confidence with movement.

Designed for patella instability or subluxation, the Thermoskin 4-Way Compression Knee Sleeve may improve comfort while also providing proprioceptive feedback during walking, exercise and everyday activities.

POTS & Dysautonomia

For some people, hypermobility affects more than the joints. Symptoms such as dizziness, light-headedness or difficulty standing for long periods may be related to autonomic dysfunction, including Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome (POTS).

Compression socks or stockings may help reduce symptoms of orthostatic intolerance by supporting circulation while standing. If you're experiencing these symptoms, speak with your healthcare team to determine whether compression garments are appropriate for you.

Pain Relief & Symptom Management

While strengthening remains the cornerstone of hypermobility management, simple pain relief products can sometimes make flare-ups easier to manage.

Heat packs, such as those available from Wheat Bags Australia, provide soothing warmth that may help reduce muscle tension and stiffness in areas such as the neck and lower back.

Sleep & Recovery

Getting comfortable at night can be challenging when joints feel unstable or sore. A few simple supports may help improve sleep quality.

An L-shaped body pillow provides full-body support during sleep, helping reduce pressure on joints and making it easier to find a comfortable sleeping position.

If heat makes sleeping uncomfortable, a Theramed Gel Pad helps draw heat away from the body to provide a cooler sleeping surface. It can be used under a pillowcase or placed beneath areas requiring cooling relief.

Finding What Works for You

Living well with hypermobility isn't about finding one product that solves everything. It's about finding the combination of supports that best matches your symptoms, goals and lifestyle.

Some people may benefit from finger splints or compression gloves, while others find supportive footwear, exercise equipment or compression garments more useful. The most effective supports are usually those used alongside an individualised exercise program and broader management plan.

If you're looking for personalised support to manage hypermobility, our team of Physiotherapists and Exercise Physiologists can help. We'll work with you to develop an individualised plan to improve your strength, confidence and ability to stay active.

This article is a companion resource to Physiotherapist Blanche Leung's talk Beyond Growing Pains: Managing Hypermobility Joint Syndrome. Watch the full recording and hear Blanche's complete insights by clicking here.