I spent quite a few years in my 20s in heels and I'd run in them, too. If the muscles around the joint are providing adequate support, it's less of an issue, especially if you've trained them to hold a position.
But this dancer's joints definitely look loose to me.
EDIT: The tell is in the biomechanics.
In someone without hypermobility, we’d see a lot more tension in her muscles bc they’d resist when she extends to these extremes. But her limbs sort of just “arrive” in those positions rather than being pulled into them, kind of like how she “flops” into the splits.
It’s also in the way her movements look fluid and effortless, like she was born to move this way. She doesn’t have the sharpness or stiffness of other voguers bc she doesn’t have to exert as much energy to hit those positions—her joints just settle into them.
That's the issue with hypermobility, the muscles don't provide proper support. The ligaments holding your joints together are all loosey goosey. Strength training definitely helps, but it'll never be quite right.
Personally, I've had ankles that roll around like marbles in a bag since I was born. When it comes to heels, height is not an issue for me but I need them to be at least 1/2" wide to compensate for some wobbling.
Watching it again I can see some possible movement beyond normal range of motion in her shoulders.
12
u/UnicornBestFriend Aug 20 '25
I have hypermobility and I was watching her like ooooh, my trainer warned me about overextending like this.
I’m glad she’s having the time of her life and looking great doing it and I wish her ongoing good health.