Training with EDS: How Efficient Effort Supports Strength, Stability, and Long-Term Health
Living with EDS (Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome) presents unique challenges—but it doesn’t mean you can’t move well, build strength, or train with intention. At Efficient Effort, we work with individuals managing EDS to develop personalised training strategies that build resilience, improve function, and reduce flare-ups.
We don’t offer cookie-cutter programs. Instead, we assess, understand, and adapt—so your training supports your health, not works against it.
What is EDS?
EDS (Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome) is a group of connective tissue disorders that affect the structure and integrity of collagen. Collagen is found throughout the body—in skin, joints, ligaments, blood vessels, and more.
Common characteristics of EDS include:
Joint hypermobility or instability
Soft, stretchy, or fragile skin
Chronic joint pain or dislocations
Fatigue and proprioceptive challenges
Delayed healing or easy bruising
While EDS varies in severity and type, the most common form we see in movement coaching is Hypermobility-type EDS (hEDS).
The Challenges of EDS in Training and Movement
EDS doesn’t mean you can’t train—but it does mean you need a different approach. Common challenges include:
Joints that move too much and lack stability
Muscles working overtime to protect unstable joints
Difficulty coordinating movement under load
Increased injury risk with high-impact or uncontrolled movement
Postural fatigue and muscular compensation
When training isn't adapted to these needs, it can lead to more harm than good. That’s why we take structure, function, and symptoms into account before prescribing anything.
How Efficient Effort Supports Clients With EDS
We help clients with EDS move smarter, feel stronger, and train with clarity—by building structure and control from the ground up.
✅ 1. Individualised Assessment
We begin with a thorough postural, joint, and movement screen to identify:
Joint hypermobility (using tools like the Beighton Score)
Areas of muscular underuse or compensation
Postural deviations and functional control
Movement patterns that need support or modification
No two clients with EDS are the same. We don’t generalise—we personalise.
✅ 2. Stability Over Stretching
One of the biggest misconceptions with EDS is that more stretching will help. But when your joints are already hypermobile, excessive stretching can make things worse.
Instead, we focus on:
Joint stability training
Closed-chain movements that improve proprioception
Isometric holds to build strength without excessive joint glide
Low-impact mobility drills to maintain range with control
✅ 3. Strength Training with Structure
Yes—people with EDS can and should strength train. But it must be intentional. We use:
Controlled tempos and resistance
Modified range exercises to avoid joint overextension
Band-resisted and cable-based training to build joint awareness
Focused glute, core, and scapular strength to support posture and daily function
We build strength within your safe, functional range—and progress at your pace.
✅ 4. Breath, Posture, and Nervous System Support
EDS often affects posture and autonomic regulation (including issues like fatigue or POTS). We include:
Breathing mechanics and rib control
Postural stacking using the plumb line
Low-stimulation warm-ups and cool-downs
Strategies to manage fatigue, flare-ups, and nervous system regulation
Our aim isn’t to push harder. It’s to train smarter, so your energy is used efficiently.
Real Results from EDS-Aware Coaching
Clients we’ve worked with have experienced:
✔ Fewer joint subluxations and flare-ups
✔ Improved posture and muscular control
✔ Increased strength without pain
✔ Better balance and proprioception
✔ More confidence in daily movement and training
This is what sustainable progress looks like—when training meets physiology, and programming meets empathy.
Who Should Train with Efficient Effort?
You’ll benefit from our approach if:
You’ve been diagnosed with EDS or hEDS
You’ve been told to “just be careful” but never shown how
You want to build strength but don’t know where to start
You’re tired of programs that ignore your body’s needs
You want to train without fear—and with a coach who actually listens
We’re here to educate, adapt, and guide—not to fit you into someone else’s box.
Efficient Effort’s Philosophy on EDS
We don’t believe you’re fragile.
We believe you’re adaptable—with the right support.
That means:
🔹 No excessive stretching
🔹 No high-risk or high-impact movements
🔹 No fear-based coaching
🔹 No guesswork
We coach with intention, structure, and flexibility—so you can move through life stronger, more confidently, and more efficiently.
Book a Postural or Movement Assessment
📍 Unit 22/13 Baker St, Banksmeadow NSW
📩 info@efficienteffort.com