WELCOME TO BENDY BODIES, WHERE YOU’LL FIND MEDICAL INSIGHTS & SCIENCE-BASED INFORMATION FOR EVERY BENDY BODY. LISTEN, LEARN, & SHARE!

Episodes

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...

Listen to the Episode
Dec. 15, 2022

58. Preparing for Surgery with Linda Bluestein, MD

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, ...

Listen to the Episode
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 ...

Listen to the Episode
Nov. 17, 2022

56. Optimizing Immunity with Kristin Koskinen, RDN

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...

Listen to the Episode
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...

Listen to the Episode
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...

Listen to the Episode
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...

Listen to the Episode
Sept. 22, 2022

52. Unlocking Jaw Pain with Leslie Russek, DPT, PhD

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...

Listen to the Episode
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...

Listen to the Episode
May 26, 2022

50. Pushing Limits with Jen Crane, DPT

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...

Listen to the Episode
May 12, 2022

49. Pioneering a Path with Bonnie Moore Southgate

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 ...

Listen to the Episode
April 28, 2022

48. Supporting the Foot and Ankle with Andrea Zujko, DPT

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...

Listen to the Episode
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...

Listen to the Episode
March 17, 2022

46. Fueling Against Fatigue with Kristin Koskinen, RDN

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...

Listen to the Episode
March 3, 2022

45. Understanding Fatigue with Alan Pocinki, MD

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...

Listen to the Episode
Feb. 17, 2022

44. Navigating Pregnancy with Shanda Dorff, MD

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...

Listen to the Episode
Feb. 3, 2022

43. Supporting Artistic Athletes with Selina Shah, MD

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 ...

Listen to the Episode
Jan. 20, 2022

42. Pursuing a Diagnosis with Linda Bluestein, MD

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...

Listen to the Episode
Jan. 6, 2022

41. Changing the Face of EDS with Camille Schrier, Miss America 2020

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....

Listen to the Episode
Dec. 16, 2021

40. Understanding Overstretching with Jennifer Milner, NCPT

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...

Listen to the Episode
Dec. 2, 2021

39. Rethinking Rhythmic Gymnastics with Vita Bachman

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...

Listen to the Episode
Nov. 18, 2021

38. Refusing Limits with Allysa Seely

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 ...

Listen to the Episode
Nov. 4, 2021

37. Advocating for Yourself with Aidan Leslie

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. ...

Listen to the Episode
Oct. 14, 2021

36. Needling for Pain with Mandy Blackmon, DPT

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...

Listen to the Episode