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 before subconscious strength; why daily activities must be examined through the same placement…
PLEASE NOTE: This episode was recorded just weeks after the World Health Organization declared the spread of the SARS-CoV-2 virus a global pandemic, while we were all just beginning to understand the virus and the disease it causes (COVID-19). Ready for some cutting edge COVID-19 science? In this episode, learn…
In this episode, guest co-host Jennifer Milner interviews Bendy Bodies’ own host, Dr. Linda Bluestein! Hypermobility disorders can be frustratingly hard to diagnose or even define. From symptomatic joint laxity to connective tissue disorders like Ehlers-Danlos Syndromes (EDS) or Marfan Syndrome, the umbrella of hypermobility disorders covers a number of…
Your DNA holds many secrets. Why do drugs work on some people and not on others? Why are conditions expressed so differently in different family members? How might hypermobility disorders, dysautonomia (like POTS) and Mast Cell Activation Syndrome (MCAS) be related and how does coronavirus fit into all of this?…
Dancers train constantly to attain peak performance, working long hours to achieve physical and artistic perfection. Unfortunately, mental health is often sacrificed for that perfection. Terry Hyde, former dancer with the Royal Ballet and psychotherapist with patients all over the world, joins Linda and Jennifer to explore this often-neglected aspect…
Traits that can make a dancer so valuable in the dance world - drive, perfectionism, obsessing over details - also put them at higher risk for mental health disorders. And while physical health resources become ever more commonplace in the dance world, mental health resources remain woefully lacking, oftentimes uncomfortably…
While many dancers strive to fuel healthily, making the most out of your meals can be overwhelming. In today’s world especially, dancers need strong immune systems and healthy bodies ready for whatever challenge may come next. Registered dietician nutritionist Kristin Koskinen discusses nutritional needs for dancers and how to shape…
Hypermobility can affect every joint, but perhaps the most complicated one to understand and train is the hip. With a high prevalence of hip injuries in hypermobile dancers and athletes, proper diagnosis and treatment is critical. From hip dysplasia to labral tears, dance science and medicine’s understanding of the hip…
In this continuation of our discussion with Moira McCormack, we delve deeper into Moira’s work as a researcher and tireless advocate for dance science and medicine in the studio setting. Moira talks through the basic screening tests used at the start of each season to help define a dancer’s strength…
Moira’s tireless work with Royal Ballet and the Royal Ballet school have helped build the Royal Ballet into an oft-emulated model of treatment and intervention for ballet dancers. Join us as Moira describes how important a dancer’s early training is - movement patterns, alignment, biomechanics - to increase their career…
Dysautonomia expert Svetlana Blitshteyn, MD discusses dehydration and salt retention strategies for people with dysautonomia issues.
In this excerpt from our interview with Dr. Anne Maitland, she answers the basic question: what are mast cells? Be sure to catch the entire interview on our podcast, Bendy Bodies with the Hypermobility MD, available for streaming on your favorite platform! www.bendybodies.org www.hypermobilitymd.com www.jennifer-milner.com IG: @bendy_bodies
In this excerpt from our podcast episode, "Conquering the Wall: A Round Table Discussion", Kyle Thompson shares his struggle with anxiety and discusses the importance of supporting one's mental health. Want to hear the rest of this rich discussion? Be sure to listen to the entire episode at https://anchor.fm/bendy-bodies/episodes/33--Conquering-the-Wall-A-Round-Table-Discussion-e10pap5 Be…
Is a diagnosis necessary? If you suspect you have a hypermobility disorder such as hypermobile Ehlers-Danlos syndrome, hypermobility spectrum disorder or Marfan syndrome, you may wonder if it’s worth the cost and effort to seek a diagnosis. Finding a doctor, pursuing testing which may or may not definitively prove something,…
What support does a hypermobile artist need? Hint: a lot. For this episode, several members of Team Bendy Bodies sit down to discuss a whole-body (and mind) approach to caring for adolescent artists. Specialist Linda Bluestein MD, trainer and ballet coach Jennifer Milner, nutritionist Kristin Koskinen, and EDS Wellness ambassador…
Jessica Eccles MD, senior clinical academic psychiatrist at Brighton and Sussex Medical School in the UK and specialist in brain-body neuroscience, chats with Bendy Bodies about hypermobility and neurodivergency. The general definitions surrounding autism and other neurological conditions have changed a lot over the past few years; here Dr. Eccles…
Does having the label "hypermobile" make it easier, or harder, to get through your life? Jennifer looks at some of the reasons a label may be desired for someone with hypermobility - and why it may not! Have a topic you'd like addressed in a Bendy Bit? Send us your…
Kristin Koskinen, registered dietician nutritionist, explains her "Bendy Bento" meal design and ways you might tailor your intake to help your bendy body!
Jennifer Milner discusses the concept of "slow and low" when training hypermobile dancers and athletes!
Jennifer Milner talks about proprioception, what it is, and what we can do to try to improve it! Studies for further reading: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4493259/ Managing-Hypermobility-for-the-Dance-Teacher-FINAL.pdf
In this Bendy Bit, Dr. Linda Bluestein (the "Hypermobility MD") answers the following questions: What is joint hypermobility? What are hypermobility disorders? What are the types of joint hypermobility? What are Bendy Bits? They are short explorations of one aspect of hypermobility, perfect to answer a quick question or whet…
In this Bendy Bit, Jennifer Milner discusses the link between hypermobility and poor posture: why it happens, how you can work against it, and how one size doesn’t fit all for a “perfect” posture! Bendy Bits are short explorations of one aspect of hypermobility, perfect to answer a quick question…
In this clip, Ballet West Principal Dancer, Beckanne Sisk, discusses how injuries have impacted her with Jennifer Milner and Dr. Linda Bluestein for the podcast, Bendy Bodies with the Hypermobility MD. Catch the full Bendy Bodies Podcast episode, "Shaping a Healthy Career with Beckanne Sisk", on SoundCloud, Apple Podcasts, Google…
In this clip, Ballet West Principal Dancer, Beckanne Sisk, shares her stretching strategies with Jennifer Milner and Dr. Linda Bluestein for the podcast, Bendy Bodies with the Hypermobility MD. Catch the full Bendy Bodies Podcast episode, "Shaping a Healthy Career with Beckanne Sisk", on SoundCloud, Apple Podcasts, Google Play, and…