Double-jointed man, 57, holds two world records for twisting his feet backwards 180 degrees

A man with flexible legs holds two world records for twisting his feet backwards 180 degrees and walking on them.   

Moses Lanham, 57, from Michigan, has double cartilage and extra tissue in his knee joints, hips and ankles that allow him to contort his legs and walk with ease. 

The footage shows the the flexible contortionist, known as Mr Elastic, spinning his jelly-like legs so his feet face the opposite direction.

Moses Lanham (pictured) 57, from Michigan, holds two world records for twisting his feet backwards and walking on the furthest distance 

The flexible contortionist, known as Mr Elastic, can be seen spinning his jelly-like legs so his feet face the opposite direction

The flexible contortionist, known as Mr Elastic, can be seen spinning his jelly-like legs so his feet face the opposite direction

 He said: ‘I’m the only one that holds a world record for turning their feet around backwards and walking the farthest distance.

‘I also hold the world record for turning my feet around backwards 180 degrees.’       

The bizarre talent looks excruciatingly painful but Mr Lanham prefers to twist his feet around at the odd angle.

He said:  ‘A lot of people ask me if its painful for me to do this if it hurts or feels uncomfortable my answer to all three of them is not at all- it’s actually more comfortable.’

Mr Lanham can walk with ease with his legs facing the opposite way and finds it very comfortable

Mr Lanham can walk with ease with his legs facing the opposite way and finds it very comfortable

He likes to show people his strange trick and says only one person has ever 'thrown up' after seeing his legs twisted

He likes to show people his strange trick and says only one person has ever ‘thrown up’ after seeing his legs twisted

 The footage shows Mr Lanham walking at some speed with his feet pointing the other way as people watch and are shocked by the stunt. 

Cries of shock can be heard while people clap as they try in vain to twist their feet in the same position.

One man can be heard saying ‘I’m outta here. This is too much for me’

Mr Lanham discovered the strange trick in high school after falling from an 18ft climbing rope and landing at an angle on his feet 

Mr Lanham discovered the strange trick in high school after falling from an 18ft climbing rope and landing at an angle on his feet 

Mr Lanham's son (pictured right) Trey has inherited flexible joints, but can only turn his feet partially backwards

Mr Lanham’s son (pictured right) Trey has inherited flexible joints, but can only turn his feet partially backwards

Mr Lanham would wear his clothes backwards (pictured) to trick people, a stunt he loved performing in college

Mr Lanham would wear his clothes backwards (pictured) to trick people, a stunt he loved performing in college

 He said: ‘When I perform this in front of people I love the reaction I get a lot of people are just amazed. 

‘Others turn away from them cos it grosses them out. One time in my life time I’ve had a person throw up after I’ve turned my feet around.’

 What does being ‘double jointed’ mean?

 Double joints, known as hyper mobility, is where joints can stretch further than normal.

It can affect a single joint or multiple joints throughout the body.

Most cases are usually down to misaligned joints, abnormally-shaped ends of one or more bones at a joint, a collagen or other connective tissue defect or an inability to feel how stretched a joint is.

There is a risk with hyper mobility that some people may be more susceptible to health problems such as easily damaged joints and long term conditions such as osteoporosis.

It can also be symptomatic of serious medical conditions such as down syndrome.

Mr Lanham says people have often questioned the authenticity of his odd trick when they see a photo online.

He said: ‘They think the photo has been photo-shopped and that it’s not real.’

Mr Lanham discovered his strange quirk at 14 after a high school gym class accident.

Climbing a rope, he lost his grip and fell nearly 18ft before landing with his feet in an extremely awkward position.

it was thought that he had dislocated his knee but he had actually discovered a new-found ability.

And Mr Lanham has made the most of his talent ever since by amusing people.

In high school he was prone to walking backwards and at college he would wear his clothes backwards to match the direction of his feet.  

Mr Lanham’s son Trey has also inherited his double joints but has only partially inherited his father’s funny feet.

Trey can not turn them the full way round like his father, and also feels pain after staying in the position for a short time.

Doctors who have examined Mr Lanham say he was born with extra tissue and cartilage in his joints, making his hips, knees and ankles especially elastic. 

People born with the condition called hypermobility, more commonly known as ‘double jointed’, can often bend their joints to perform contortionist tricks.

His peculiar talent has also gained him national notoriety after he appeared on ‘Candid Camera’, ‘Ripley’s Believe It or Not!’, ‘America’s Funniest Home Videos’, ‘Jimmy Kimmel Live’ and the Discovery Channel’s ‘Medical Incredible’.  

 

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