Hypermobility is a condition in which the collagen fibers of those who have it differ from everyone else’s, which, among other things, gives them a much greater range of movement.
At first this condition might seem like an advantage, since they can adopt much more dramatic postures, bend much further than other people and take their limbs into extreme positions.
However, we need to understand what is happening in that person’s body when we do these things.
That greater “flexibility” does not come with greater mobility. Instead, it means less control over their joints and lower proprioception, since there is, so to speak, a certain communication lag between their joints and their brain.
For this reason, when the joints of a hypermobile person are subjected to forces, they are very likely to go beyond their dynamic range, so that the forces applied load onto other structures of the body and it is not the muscles that respond. This carries severe risks of injury.
Practicing shibari by tying a hypermobile person means being very aware of what this condition involves and keeping a close watch on both the ranges of movement and any compensations that may occur.
It will be harder to stabilize their joints. It will depend on the person, the position and the day.
If we are considering a suspension, hands-in-front positions (maede, 前手) are not a good option either, since they don’t guarantee good joint stabilization or good weight distribution.
It will be more efficient to build a good, simple gote (後手) that makes it possible to stabilize and provide good support.
And if we see that it isn’t possible to stabilize safely, it is best to drop that session and move on to other activities.
EN