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...
Hypermobility disorders can lead to health complications that may require surgery. Joint hypermobility and associated conditions can present complications for surgery, anesthesia, and more. If you’re anticipating surgery, ...
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 ...
As the weather changes and schedules become busier, staying healthy can feel like a huge challenge. Artistic athletes may struggle to keep their bodies at optimal performance level, and fighting off infectious illnesses may s...
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...
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...
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...
In this Bendy Bodies podcast episode, we discuss jaw pain in EDS (Ehlers-Danlos Syndromes) and hypermobility with guest, Leslie Russek, DPT, PhD. Jaw pain affects a relatively large percentage of the general population, but i...
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...
In this Bendy Bodies podcast episode, we discuss circus athletes with EDS (Ehlers-Danlos Syndromes) and hypermobility with guest, Jen Crane, DPT. As a physical therapist for circus artists and dancers, Dr. Jen Crane regularly...
In this Bendy Bodies podcast episode, we talk with Bonnie Moore Southgate., a professional ballerina with EDS (Ehlers-Danlos Syndromes) and hypermobility. As an elite ballet dancer, Bonnie Moore Southgate danced as a soloist ...
In this Bendy Bodies podcast episode, we discuss foot pain in EDS (Ehlers-Danlos Syndromes) and hypermobility with guest, Andrea Zujko, DPT, with a focus on dancers. Hypermobility can help the artist create aesthetically plea...
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...
In this Bendy Bodies podcast episode, we discuss fatigue food and EDS (Ehlers-Danlos Syndromes) with guest, Kristin Koskinen RDN, with a special focus on dancers. People with hypermobility often struggle with fatigue. They w...
Fatigue is common in people with chronic disease. Pain, fatigue, and depression can feed into each other and become a vicious cycle that’s difficult to break. Combating fatigue can be particularly difficult for those with ben...
Pregnancy can be a time of new physical challenges, and hypermobility may make the season even more complex. Hormones can change tissue elasticity and the body may struggle to adapt. Dr. Shanda Dorff began working with connec...
Artistic athletes like dancers, gymnasts, and skaters require highly skilled medical care in order to maintain peak health while operating at an elite level. Understanding the unique demands placed on their bodies is crucial ...
Hypermobility disorders can be difficult to diagnose, with no one clear path forward. Without an obvious road to walk, people with chronic pain who suspect hypermobility disorders may feel defeated and overwhelmed, struggling...
People struggling with a chronic illness often feel overwhelmed at the idea of pursuing a passion. Health issues may seem insurmountable when trying to go after your dream, and you may feel hopeless and alone on your journey....
What is overstretching, and why should we talk about it? As the artistic world seems to demand ever more extreme ranges of motion from its dancers and athletes, many people turn to overstretching as a way to stay competitive...
Artistic athletes often push their flexibility to the limit, both for competitive and aesthetic reasons. Nowhere are limits tested more than in rhythmic gymnastics where hypermobility tends to be the norm. Vita Bachman, for...
Chronic illness can make your life feel filled with insurmountable obstacles. Pursuing your dreams, even in the face of health issues, may feel hopeless. But moving forward, even in small increments, you can accomplish great ...
Navigating medical care can be a daunting task at the best of times, but when you have a chronic disorder that is largely an invisible illness, you may find yourself bewildered and frustrated trying to get the care you need. ...
What exactly is dry needling? How is it different from acupuncture? What sort of issues might it be used for? Dry needling can be a vital part of an artistic athlete’s healthcare, but sometimes can be misunderstood. Mandy Bla...