Methods, systems, and devices for wireless communication are described. A wireless device may identify a configuration for uplink and downlink communications that defines subframe configuration options for each subframe of a frame. For example, the configuration may establish parameters for time division duplexing (TDD) operation between a base station and a user equipment (UE). The wireless device may determine a constraint for a subframe of the frame based on the configuration and determine an adaptive subframe configuration based on the constraint. The adaptive subframe configuration may include one or several downlink symbol periods and one or several uplink symbol periods. The wireless device may communicate during the subframe according to the adaptive subframe configuration rather than the original configuration. The adaptive subframe may be constrained by the identified uplink and downlink configuration, which may avoid disruption to UEs.