I've always had a problem with lax joints, and my daughter and one sister are the same.  When Lauren was born, the doctor was slightly concerned because her legs were "floppy".  But that got better as she got older and she was age-appropriate when she began walking.  

The specialist I saw for my knee asked about any other cartilage problems I've had and he thought it may be genetic (when I've had bad lupus storms I've torn my rib cartilage from coughing).  And I was mis-diagnosed and treated for Repetitive Strain Injury for twenty five years until it was found I actually have Hashimoto's, which mimic the same symptoms.  (A little hormone pill daily and I have no more RSI!)  My NT husband, however, has very long joints (he's tall and lean) and he can fold his entire hand back at the wrist almost completely, it's freaky-looking!  Also, his fingers bend w-a-a-y back, far futher than I can get mine to go.  
Alison

Question ? I was wondering what the benefits of doing Yoga would do for my hyper-extensive joints ? I've never really gotten into Yoga much, but have tried it on my own. I loved how good it makes you feel (When you actually did the positions right) and how my body seemed to breathe. any suggestions on beginners books ? I can't do Yoga in front of people, so I must do it on my own and won't take any classes.

[Sorry if I make any mistakes. English is not my native language]

I am not a doctor (I study Literature), but I believe that there might be a connection between autism and some connective tissue disorders such as Joint Hypermobility Syndrome, Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome or even Marfan Syndrome.

Accoding to all online tests am either Autistic or in the Broader Autism Phenotype. I've been self diagnosed with Asperger's Syndrome. I might try to get an official diagnosis in the future but I don't think that I need it right now.

I have lax joints and somewhat hyperextensible skin. Here are some pictures from people who have Joint Hypermobility Syndrome or Hypermobile Ehlers Danlos..

http://eve23ehlersdanlos.blogspot.gr/201...chive.html
http://www.dermis.net/bilder/CD041/550px/img0025.jpg
http://www.meddean.luc.edu/lumen/MedEd/m...n/eds1.jpg
http://www.mayoclinic.com/images/image_p...icskin.jpg
http://img.medscape.com/fullsize/migrate...6.fig4.gif
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2619/3835...6ffdf8.jpg
http://www.bernsteinmedical.com/images/laxity-2.jpg
http://images.rheumatology.org/image_dir...3-0048.jpg
http://bits-n-pieces-of-gold.weebly.com/...4_orig.jpg
http://openi.nlm.nih.gov/imgs/rescaled51...6-g011.png
http://bits-n-pieces-of-gold.weebly.com/...7_orig.jpg
http://dermimages.med.jhmi.edu/images/eds_9_010505.jpg

I can do all these with the exception of the last two, luckily for me.

I also have elongated arms and fingers but not that elongated as some individuals with Marfan Syndrome have: http://heart.bmj.com/content/88/1/97/F2.large.jpg

I also find interesting that Ehlers-Danlos and Autism share some comorbidities like Irritable Bowel Syndrome, Sensory Integration Disorder, Anxiety Disorders etc

Here is a study, first published in 7 June 2005 about the "psychosocial functioning in the Ehlers Danlos Syndrome"
http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.10...530206/pdf

This is interesting: "Over half of the adults (56%) had been in outpatient psychotherapy some time  during their lives, typically
for depression/anxiety and relationship difficulties; 22 (54%) reported a history of  at least one episode of significant depression,  19 (46%) had used  either antidepressant  or  anxiolytic medication.  Three  adults had been hospitalized for psychiatric difficulties; 2 of whom had attempted suicide. Five patients reported a history of  alcohol or illicit drug dependence and treatment. In all, 29 adults (71%) had received some psychiatric service (medication or therapy) at some point in their lives."

However, the same study says: "It should be noted that our  psychiatric observations do not suggest any clinical association with  autism, as has been suggested [Sieg, 1992; Tantam et al., 1990]"

Here are the two mentioned studies that suggested a possible link between Ehlers-Danlos or other connective tissue disorders with autism
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/1537777 (this one isn't online so I haven't read it)
http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/art...6709647250

I have to note that: 1) hypermobility of some joints doesn't mean necessarily that someone has a connective tissue disorder (I am not even sure for myself, even though I think I meet the basic criteria) 2) joint hypermobility is found mainly in females whereas autism has a higher prevalence in males.. (I am a male myself)

This post was last modified: 09-26-2012 04:48 AM by Apostolos.

My kneecap dislocated when 3 years ago and I had surgery July 6 the year before last because of it and the doctor told me it was because I have hyperflexible joints. I've had many episodes where one would dislocate and go right back. Both of them have done that... now when they do that I don't have any recovery time, though. I guess my body adapted to it.

Flexible joints are also found in Fragile X Syndrome or even Down Syndrome. Many individuals with Fragile X Syndrome are autistic.(Approximately 2-6 percent of children with autism are diagnosed with FXS) And a small percentage of those with Down Syndrome show autistic traits, but in these cases there's also some short of mental "retardation".

And I'm one of those people who have Fragile X  Syndrome and autism with flexible joints but mainly in the shoulders .... :/