What in the World - How does it feel to live in a bendy body?

Download How does it feel to live in a bendy body?

Can being ultra-flexible be a sign of a health condition? Hypermobility Spectrum Disorders (HSD) cause joint hypermobility - which is when your joints have greater than normal range of motion. It means you might be able to bend your body in ways others can’t, but it can come with lots of health issues including digestive problems, joint pain and fatigue. It can take years to be diagnosed with HSD.

We hear from Ana Simmons about how hypermobility affects her everyday life. And, BBC reporter Ella Kipling, who also has HSD, tells us why it’s so hard to get a diagnosis.

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Presenter: Hannah Gelbart
Producers: Mollie Perella and Benita Barden
Video Journalist: Baldeep Chahal
Editor: Verity Wilde

Published on Thursday, 17th September 2026.

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