Wearable electronic devices that provide adaptive physical coupling between electrically coupled components are described. Adaptive physical coupling advantageously accommodates different user sizes, forms, and movements and enhances the overall ergonomics of a wearable electronic device. Adaptive physical coupling also introduces stresses and strains on electrical pathways between the electrically coupled components. Accordingly, the wearable electronic devices include strain mitigation systems that mitigate physical strains on the electrical pathways between electrically coupled components. An exemplary strain mitigation system includes a guide structure that is pivotally coupled to a first substantially rigid structure of the wearable electronic device and slideably coupled to a second substantially rigid structure of the wearable electronic device. The guide structure provides a surface/channel over/through which electrical pathways extend between electrically coupled components.