(单词翻译:单击)
You know those people that can like flip their elbows backwards or touch their thumb to their forearm or whatever.
你身边有手肘能往后翻或是拇指能摸到手腕的那种人吗？
Body parts shouldn’t move like that!
我们的关节本不该那么活动的！
These people are often referred to as being “double-jointed” but that’s actually a misnomer.
这些人经常被说成是有“双关节”的人，事实上，这么说是不恰当的。
They don’t really have twice as many joints as the rest of us.
因为这些人的关节并没有比我们多出一倍来。
This trait is formally called joint hypermobility.
这种特征正式的说法是“关节过度活动”。
And it gives people's bones an extended range of motion without any immediate pain or discomfort.
有这种特征的人的关节活动幅度更大，却并没有疼痛或不适之感。
To understand how hypermobility works, we’ve gotta start with the structure of joints.
要了解这种过度活动问题是怎么产生的，我们得先从关节的结构开始说起。
Joints themselves are the points in the body where two bones meet.
关节原本是身体里两块骨骼交汇的点。
Again you can’t have two joints in the same spot.
重申一遍，同一个位置是不可能有两个关节的。
It just doesn’t make sense at all.
这种情况根本就说不通。
Most joints are wrapped in ligaments, which connect bones to other bones.
大多数关节都是包裹在韧带里的，韧带的作用就是把骨骼与其他骨骼连接起来。
These ligaments contain collagen, the main structural protein of connective tissue throughout the body!
这些韧带由胶原蛋白构成，胶原蛋白又是全身结缔组织的主要结构性蛋白！
But, some people’s collagen has a different structure than most.
但是，有的人的胶原蛋白有着和大多数人不一样的结构。
These structural variations result in weakened, less stable (and therefore more flexible) ligaments.
这种结构上的变异就会导致韧带变弱，变得不稳定(因此也更灵活)。
I.E.- joint hypermobility.
换句话说，就是会导致关节过度活动。
While many see this condition as a cool party trick or an advantage for gymnasts or dancers,
很多人都把这个当成帮他们在派对上出风头的把戏或是当成练体操或舞蹈的先天优势，
it can have some pretty crappy long-term side effects.
问题是，这种特征也能给人们带来经年累月且非常严重的副作用。
Joint hypermobility has been linked to increased risks for chronic joint pain, asthma, irritable bowel syndrome,
据信，关节活动过度与罹患慢性关节疼痛、哮喘、肠易激综合征等疾病风险增加有关，
but also surprisingly things like anxiety and exaggerated fight-or-flight responses, which can be debilitating.
令人惊讶的是，这种特征还被认为与焦虑和严重的，可能会让人变得很虚弱的战斗或逃跑反应有关。
It has to do with blood flow -- I can’t get into it all now, but it’s interesting.
后者与血液流动有关——我一时半会儿也给大家讲不清楚，不过这个问题还是很有意思的。
Joint hypermobility affects about 20% of the population and is thought to be genetic.
这种特征出现的几率大约为20%，还被认为跟遗传有关。
However, people can grow out of the condition as their connective tissues fully develop.
然而，随着结缔组织逐渐发育充分，有的人的这种特征后来就没有了。
And those who don’t grow out of it can do exercises to improve muscle strength and stability.
不过，那些没能摆脱这一问题的人也可以通过做运动来改善肌肉的力量和稳定性。
So if you can bend your knees backwards or other weird things,
所以，如果你的膝盖能向后弯，或者有其他什么奇怪的特征，
add a bit of trivia to your party sideshow, and tell your friend that you’re not double-jointed,
能在派对上借此出出风头，那么请告诉你的朋友，你并不是有两副关节，
you’ve just got hyperflexible ligaments and strange collagen.
你只不过是韧带比较柔韧，胶原蛋白比较不一样而已。
No big.
没什么大不了的。
Our bodies do a ton of weird things, like get goosebumps when we’re cold or scared.
我们的身体总会出现各种奇奇怪怪的情况，比如冷或者害怕的时候就会起鸡皮疙瘩。
But why does this happen?
那为什么会出现这种情况呢？
Find out from Tara in this video here.
答案就在Tara的这期视频里，快去看看吧。
Are you hyperflexible?
你的关节灵活吗？
What’s your favorite party trick?
你有什么派对把戏吗？
Our associate producer likes to flip her elbow upside-down, it’s disgusting.
我们的副制片就喜欢把她的手肘翻来翻去地玩儿，好恶心喔。
Tell us in the comments, subscribe if you haven’t already and thanks for watching Seeker.
快来评论里讲出你的故事呀，还没有订阅的同学得订阅我们的频道，感谢大家的收看。
