Hypermobility Physiotherapy in Saskatoon
If your joints slip, click, or give way, and you’ve been told you’re just flexible, that answer probably hasn’t gotten you very far.
At Vigour Physiotherapy, I work with hypermobile people in Saskatoon, including those with hypermobile Ehlers-Danlos syndrome (hEDS) or hypermobility spectrum disorder, to build joints that feel steady instead of unpredictable, by combining:
a thorough physiotherapy assessment
strength through your whole range, not just the easy middle of it
joint control and body-awareness work
honest load progression that plans around flare-ups
hands-on treatment when it helps settle symptoms
Flexibility isn’t the problem. Not having the strength and control to manage it is what we work on.
Direct billing available, 1-on-1 care, exercises sent to you after your visit
Hypermobility isn’t something to fix. It’s something to support, so your joints feel steady through the range you already have and you can train, work, and move without bracing for the next flare-up. Your first visit is a 60-minute one-on-one assessment and treatment at my clinic in City Park, Saskatoon.
When should you see a physiotherapist for hypermobility?
Book an assessment if any of this sounds like you:
your joints partly or fully dislocate, or feel like they’re about to
you get repeated sprains and strains from ordinary activity
you ache after an average day, not just a hard one
you’ve been told you’re flexible, but you feel weak or unstable
stretching helps for a few minutes, then everything aches again
you have an hEDS or HSD diagnosis and want a plan you can actually follow
you want to lift or train, but you’re not sure what’s safe for your joints
You don’t need a formal diagnosis to start. You need a plan that matches how your body actually behaves.
Types of hypermobility I work with
If any of the following sounds familiar, I can most likely help:
generalized hypermobility, where most of your joints move more than average
hypermobile Ehlers-Danlos syndrome (hEDS)
hypermobility spectrum disorder (HSD)
one or two unstable joints after an injury or repeated dislocations
shoulders, kneecaps, or fingers that slip under light load
hypermobility alongside long-standing pain, fatigue, or deconditioning
If you’re not sure which of these fits you, that’s fine. Sorting that out is part of the assessment.
Why hypermobility keeps causing problems
Moving more than average isn’t a flaw. Problems usually start when the tissues that should limit a joint don’t quite do it, and your muscles end up doing a job they were never set up for. That tends to show up as:
end-range resting (joints sit at the end of their range instead of the middle)
muscle overwork (holding positions other people hold passively)
patchy position sense (your body struggles to sense exactly where a joint is)
the flare cycle (flare, rest, lose fitness, flare again)
stretching for relief (feels good briefly, sets things back over time)
fatigue (builds through the week, so good days get paid for later)
For a lot of hypermobile people this isn’t only a joint story. Fatigue, broken sleep, dizziness on standing, and gut symptoms often travel with it, and they change what a sensible week of rehab looks like. I build your plan around that rather than ignoring it, and if something sits outside physiotherapy, I’ll say so and point you toward the right person.
What your first appointment looks like
In your assessment, I’ll:
Clarify your story (what started it, what makes it better/worse, what you’re trying to get back to)
Screen for red flags and decide if anything needs referral
Watch how your joints behave through range and under load, not just how far they go
Create a plan you understand:
what to do now
what to modify temporarily (and what you don’t need to avoid)
what we’re building toward over the next few weeks
You’ll leave with a clear next step, not just “come back and we’ll see.”
How I treat hypermobility (what you can expect)
Treatment is individualized, but typically includes:
education + reassurance (what’s normal, what’s not, and how to navigate flare-ups)
end-range strength (building support where your joints currently rely on slack)
joint control and position sense so your body knows where a joint is without looking
graded exposure to the stuff you care about (lifting, running, sport, work, life)
hands-on treatment when helpful (to calm symptoms and improve tolerance)
pacing and flare-up planning (so a bad week doesn’t undo a good month)
The long-term win is joints that feel predictable, and a body you trust under load.
Common presentations I see
People don’t fit neatly into boxes, but these are common patterns:
shoulders that slip or partly dislocate
kneecaps that track poorly or give way
back and hip pain in very flexible people
hands and wrists that ache with typing, gripping, or holding a phone
long-standing pain that hasn’t responded to stretching or rest
Whatever the pattern, the plan is usually the same: settle symptoms → build control → add load → get back to what you want to do.
Nick Allard, MPT: Your Hypermobility Physiotherapist
“I’m Nick Allard, a Saskatoon physiotherapist and the owner of Vigour Physiotherapy. Hypermobility is a focus of my practice. Most of my continuing education has gone into joint control and end-range strength: coursework through Functional Range Systems, training with the Postural Restoration Institute (PRI), and ongoing study in strength and mobility coaching. That’s the skill set hypermobile joints tend to need most. My approach is straightforward: work out which joints need support, build strength and control where it’s missing, and get you back to training, work, and life with more confidence. Read more about Nick here!”
Direct Billing to your insurance, 1-on-1 assessments and treatment, exercises sent to you following your visit, no waitlist
Hypermobility FAQs
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Yes. Physiotherapy can’t change how your connective tissue is built, but it can change how well you control it. Most of the work is building strength and joint control so your joints are supported through the range they already have.
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No. A diagnosis is useful context, but it isn’t required to start. If anything in your assessment suggests you should see a physician or be referred on, I’ll tell you and put it in writing.
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Not necessarily, but most hypermobile people get more out of strength and control work than out of passive stretching. Stretching often gives short-term relief and leaves the underlying problem in place. We’ll sort out which is which for you.
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Usually, yes. It’s more often a question of which positions, how much load, and how fast we progress. Hypermobile joints generally do better with strength training than without it.
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Yes, and it’s worth telling me about. Those symptoms affect how much you can do in a week and how quickly we progress, so I plan around them rather than working against them. Diagnosing or treating them sits outside physiotherapy, so if something needs a physician’s input, I’ll say so and help you get there.
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I direct bill most major insurers, along with SGI and WCB claims. You don’t need a doctor’s referral to book, though some insurance plans ask for one before they’ll reimburse you, so it’s worth checking your plan.
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Double-jointed is the everyday term for it. The joints are ordinary joints, they simply have more available movement than average. What matters clinically is how well you can control that movement.
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It depends on how long it’s been going on, how many joints are involved, and how consistent you can be between visits. Many people notice better control within a few weeks, with strength building over months. I’ll give you an honest estimate after your assessment.
Ready to get moving again?
If you’re tired of guessing which movements are safe and want a plan built around how your joints actually behave, book an assessment. We’ll work out what’s driving it and what to do next.
Last updated November 2026 · About Nick Allard, MPT →
This page is for general information and is not medical advice. If you have severe or worsening symptoms, a joint you cannot relocate, significant weakness or numbness, chest pain, fainting, or symptoms after major trauma, seek urgent medical care.
Conveniently Located in Saskatoon, SK
610 Queen Street #102
Saskatoon, SK
S7K 0M8
Directly across from City Hospital in the City Park neighbourhood