A medical publication from 2008 suggests that long-term damage to the spine, called scoliosis, is common in long-term contortion practitioners. A study of five practitioners using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) by Peoples et al. documented limbus vertebrae, intervertebral disc bulges, and disc degeneration.

What syndrome do contortionists have?

The secret to his extraordinary flexibility, Smith said, is a rare medical condition called Ehlers-Danlos syndrome (EDS). “It's a collagen disorder, and it makes me very, very flexible,” said Smith. The syndrome can cause extreme elasticity of the joints and skin. “Probably one in 1,000 people have it,” Dr.

Does contortion cause arthritis?

You need to ensure that when you are training contortion that you are always elongating and never crunching the bones, or joints. This can lead to damage and inflammation of the cartilage. Consequently leading to arthritis. Long holds can and will cause damage.