Who gets an injury while sleeping?

This peach! 🍑

The hazards of sleeping

One day in my mid-20s, I woke up unable to move or find my right arm. It was alarming, especially for someone who isn’t a morning person. I had to use my other hand to locate it, starting at my right shoulder and slowly tracing the path of my arm.

It was pinned underneath my body. In my sleep, I had moved my hand behind my head and then it had slipped down my back until my elbow was actually touching my shoulder blade. This position cut off the circulation to my arm and it fell asleep.

This happened night after night. I’d fall asleep on my side but would wake up with my arm tucked behind my back. Unfortunately it led to a rotator cuff injury that still flares up on occasion.

So why am I talking about a random sleep-induced injury?

It’s a symptom of a major reason why I’m concerned about my physical health now and as I age: hypermobility.

The Human Gumby

I’ve always been limber, which years of ballet training only enhanced.

Growing up, I was so flexible that I literally could not stretch. My limbs would move until my bone structure reached it’s full range of motion and then simply stop without the slightest hint of a stretch. The splits were easy peasy—I had 180+ degree extension in all directions. There was actually a rumor floating around my ballet studio that I came out in the splits when I was born. 😂

30-year-old momo is still pretty flexible for an adult, even years after ballet.

30-year-old momo is still pretty flexible for an adult, even years after ballet.

While many people have to work on their flexibility to prevent injury, I have the opposite issue.

Flexibility is a good thing, right?

During my dance years, I suffered mostly ankle and hip injuries. Since adulthood, my shoulders and knees have given me the most grief. And it’s more than just a nuisance. There was a point in my 20s when carrying a 10-pound bag of groceries meant that I’d have severe knee pain and difficulty walking for the next few days. But that’s a story for another day.

If flexibility is on one side of a scale, strength is on the other. You need a balance of both to be healthy, though I clearly have an abundance of flexibility.

I’ve worked to reduce my overall flexibility. I didn’t stretch for years, and I still try to avoid hyperextending my joints (if you’re hyperextended, you know that keeping your arm or leg straight actually feels like you’re bending it).

Now I need to work on building muscle to support my joints—one of the main reasons why I want to get into strength training. This ties back to my 2019 resolution to address my fear of being unable to take care of myself. My biggest fear is that I’ll return to the part of my life when carrying groceries, driving, exercising, and other everyday activities caused debilitating knee issues. I don’t want to end up wheel chair-bound and dependent on someone for my day-to-day care.

My hope is that if I can build the proper muscle now, I can continue my active lifestyle for years to come.