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Advocacy & Communication Episodes

Nov. 16, 2023

79. Gastrointestinal Problems in Hypermobile EDS: Learning to Treat a…

In this episode of the Bendy Bodies Podcast, gastrointestinal problems in EDS (Ehlers-Danlos Syndromes) is discussed with guest, Leonard Weinstock, MD. Dr. Leonard Weinstock discusses the connection between inflammation and restless leg syndrome, the prevalence of gastrointestinal symptoms in EDS p…

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Nov. 9, 2023

78. Uncovering Inequality in Healthcare with Brianna Cardenas, DMSC, …

In this episode, Dr. Linda Bluestein interviews Dr. Brianna Cardenas, a physician's assistant and certified athletic trainer, about inequality in EDS healthcare, the importance of diversity, and inclusion in healthcare. They discuss the impact of medical racism and the need for better care for marg…

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Oct. 19, 2023

76. Orofacial Pain with Robinson-Smith, DDS

Dr. Linda Bluestein interviews Dr. Julie Robinson-Smith about jaw pain and temporomandibular disorders (TMD). They discuss the difference between TMD and TMJ, the importance of understanding TMD for everyone, and the prevalence of jaw joint problems in the general population. They also explore how …

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Oct. 12, 2023

75. Cervical Instability: Thinking Beyond the Neck with Patty Stott, …

In this episode, YOUR guest is Patricia Stott, DPT , physical therapist with expertise in Ehlers-Danlos Syndromes and related conditions. Dr Stott and Dr Bluestein presented together on integrative approaches to pain managem...

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Oct. 5, 2023

74. Podcast Secrets and Sneak Peeks with Guest Host Kate Colbert

In this Bendy Bodies podcast episode, guest host Kate Colbert interviews Dr. Linda Bluestein about the evolution of her hypermobility EDS podcast (Ehlers-Danlos Syndromes). They discuss Dr. Bluestein's career trajectory, her transition from aspiring dancer to anesthesiologist to EDS expert, and he…

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Aug. 31, 2023

73. Understanding Lower Extremity Pain with Pradeep Chopra, MD

The lower extremities must bear the weight of our whole bodies. Problems in the hip may cause a chain reaction of aches, imbalances, or chronic issues that could manifest in the knee, ankle, or somewhere else along the kineti...

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July 20, 2023

71. Examining Head, Spine, and Chest Pain with Pradeep Chopra, MD

Connective tissue runs throughout your body, surrounding and connecting every system. This is what makes treating issues that arise from connective tissue disorders so difficult: when everything is connected, it’s hard to fin...

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June 8, 2023

69. Traveling with a Chronic Disorder with Dr. Linda Bluestein, Krist…

Travel comes with a lot of uncertainty: flights get canceled, hotel reservations are lost, luggage never turns up. But add the complications of traveling with a chronic disorder like Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome, and voyaging becom...

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May 25, 2023

68. Fostering Hope for Hypermobility with Cortney Gensemer, PhD, Vict…

Symptomatic joint hypermobility can be difficult to understand and can present in so many different ways. Recently, Victoria Daylor, Dr. Cortney Gensemer, Dr. Russell Norris, and Dr. Linda Bluestein published a CME two-part s...

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May 11, 2023

67. Destigmatizing Eating Disorders with Dr. Jennifer Gaudiani

Eating disorders are complicated and not uncommon in artistic athletes. Common comorbidities of symptomatic joint hypermobility (SJH), like mast cell activation disorder (MCAD) or gastroparesis, may contribute to disordered e...

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April 20, 2023

66. Codifying Upper Cervical Instability with Leslie Russek, DPT, PhD

Upper cervical instability (UCI) occurs quite commonly in the mild form and more rarely in the severe form in those with symptomatic generalized joint hypermobility (S-GJH). Both can be impactful and are frequently missed. ...

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April 6, 2023

65. Finding Balance with Jenelle Manzi

Thriving as a professional artist with Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome can be challenging. Finding a balance between pushing yourself physically and listening to your body when it needs rest is difficult when you are part of a compan...

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March 9, 2023

63. Shining Your Light with Gigi Robinson

Living with a chronic illness like Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome (EDS) can be demoralizing. You may not have access to the care you need, loved ones do not get it, and loneliness can be a reality for so many people. Gigi Robinson wa...

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Feb. 9, 2023

61. Getting Back Up Again with Keeya Steel

Life with multiple chronic illnesses is physically and mentally challenging. Feelings of exhaustion and emotional fatigue crowd in with physical symptoms and can be overwhelming in your daily life. How do you find balance? Ho...

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Jan. 12, 2023

59. Preparing for Competitions: A Round Table with Kristin Koskinen R…

For most artistic athletes, competition is a part of life. Whether you’re a dancer, skater, gymnast, or cheerleader chances are you’re competing at some point. Competitions can be grueling, multi-day events consisting of 14-h...

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Dec. 1, 2022

57. Alleviating Anxiety with Jo-Anne La Flèche

Dance and other performing arts are, by nature, stressful. Stress can easily develop into anxiety, which is exponentially more common in the hypermobile population than the general population. How can you distinguish between ...

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Nov. 3, 2022

55. Cultivating Resiliency with Jazz Bynum

As a young dancer, Jazz Bynum enjoyed the benefits of being “bendy”. Later, she experienced more than her fair share of injuries but it wasn’t clear how these could be connected. A diagnosis of hypermobile Ehlers-Danlos Syn...

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Oct. 20, 2022

54. Managing Mast Cell Pain with Linda Bluestein, MD

Mast cell disorders are prevalent in the hypermobile population, but can often go undiagnosed. Persistent pain can be initiated and perpetuated by mast cells, which have also been referred to as “gatekeepers of pain”. How c...

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Oct. 20, 2022

53. Creating a New Hypermobility Screening Tool with Aiko Callahan, D…

In this Bendy Bodies podcast episode, we discuss a new hypermobility screening tool with guests, Aiko Callahan, DPT, and Stephanie Greenspan, DPT. Hypermobility is far more prevalent in dancers, circus performers and other ae...

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Sept. 8, 2022

51. Moving Fearlessly with Jeannie DiBon

In this Bendy Bodies podcast episode, we discuss moving with EDS hypermobility & laxity with guest, Jeannie DiBon. Hypermobile athletes and artists are often excellent movers - until they hit “the wall”. Sometimes you hit a p...

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April 14, 2022

47. Exploring the Link between Joint Hypermobility and Neurodivergenc…

In this Bendy Bodies podcast episode, we discuss the relationship between hypermobility, autism ADHD and EDS (Ehlers-Danlos Syndromes) with guest, Jessica Eccles, MRCPsych, PhD. Evidence shows that neurodivergency occurs at a...

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May 13, 2021

33. Conquering the Wall: A Round Table Discussion

In this Bendy Bodies podcast episode, we discuss dance athletics and EDS (Ehlers-Danlos Syndromes) with guests, Marimba Gold-Watts, Mariana J. Plick, Kyle Thompson, and Cailey Brandon. Whether you have a connective tissue dis...

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April 22, 2021

32. Embracing Neurodivergency with Jessica Eccles, MD

In this Bendy Bodies podcast episode, we discuss the relationship between being neurodivergent hypermobility and EDS (Ehlers-Danlos Syndromes) with guest, Jessica Eccles, MRCPsych, PhD. Neurodivergency occurs at a much higher...

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May 15, 2020

9. Educating the Dance Community with Lisa Howell

Dancing with a hypermobile body brings its own set of challenges, from a general lack of stability to a slower recovery time. As a young pre-professional, a dancer might not understand why she must find conscious strength bef...

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