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 find the root cause of something. We’re in the midst of our summer series with Dr. Pradeep Chopra,…
Abdominal pain is an extremely common finding in people with connective tissue disorders, like Ehlers-Danlos Syndromes (EDS). Similar to other issues patients face with EDS or Hypermobility Spectrum Disorders (HSD), getting answers can be challenging. Often, people go from specialist to specialist, trying to get help. Gastroenterologists, allergists, nutritionists, and…
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 eating, which can spiral into an eating disorder. For years, eating disorders have been stigmatized and dismissed by many in the…
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 becomes even more complicated. How can you plan for contingencies, guard yourself against flares, and still have…
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. An international team of physical / physiotherapy clinicians and a S-GJH expert rheumatologist recently published expert…
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 company. How do you push yourself to the edge of your limits, but not over…
Dance injuries can be career ending especially for those with joint hypermobility. Competition dance or precision performance can introduce a whole new set of challenges, whether it’s dancing as part of a team, competitive cheer, or synchronized swimming. Controlling hypermobility and matching lines requires strength, specific coaching, and proprioceptive awareness…
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 was diagnosed with EDS at 11 years old, and one…
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 series titled “Hope for Hypermobility - An Integrative Approach to Treating Symptomatic Joint Hypermobility”. We were able…
Headaches and migraines are common in many chronic illnesses, and people with hypermobility often struggle with chronic head pain for a variety of reasons. But what is the difference between migraine and other types of headache? How do you get properly evaluated? What are the best treatments? Bendy Bodies spoke…
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, how can you, your surgeon and anesthesia care team be as prepared as possible for those hypermobile “quirks”? Bendy Bodies founder Dr.…
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-hour days, multiple performances, and little access to fresh whole foods. So how do you prepare for…
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? How do you find a way forward and regain joy in your life? We posed these…
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 stress and anxiety? What can you do to manage your anxiety? When is it time to seek…
Chiropractic care has been around for over 100 years, but many people don’t quite know what it entails. Artistic athletes may be told to add regular chiropractic visits to their regimen to help relieve pain without really understanding why. How does a method best known for joint manipulation work for…
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 seem like an uphill battle. How can we naturally strengthen our immune system, supporting its function…
It's YOUR time to access information that #BendyBodies need, crave, and deserve. Medical insights, science-based information, inspiring stories, empathy and support, hypermobility hacks, and news you can use. In this episode, where we close out Season 3 of the podcast and kick off Season 4, YOUR guest (and host!) is…
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 Syndrome (hEDS) gave Jazz the information necessary to build the resiliency and strength she…
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 can someone who suspects mast cell issues go about seeking relief for mast cell-related pain?…
Hypermobility is far more prevalent in dancers, circus performers and other aesthetic athletes. While some hypermobile artistic athletes have asymptomatic joint hypermobility, others have symptoms due to an underlying hypermobility or connective tissue disorder. How can a physical therapist or physician assess the bendy artist, beyond tools like the Beighton…
Jaw pain affects a relatively large percentage of the general population, but is even more problematic for those on the hypermobility spectrum. It’s not often something we think of addressing, however, until it’s clamoring for our attention. Leslie Russek, DPT, PhD is a practicing orthopedic physical therapist specializing in hypermobility…
Hypermobile athletes and artists are often excellent movers - until they hit “the wall”. Sometimes you hit a point where even basic movements become a struggle. How can you continue moving without increasing your pain? Bendy Bodies discusses this important topic during pain awareness month with Jeannie Di Bon, a…
As a physical therapist for circus artists and dancers, Dr. Jen Crane regularly treats artistic athletes with hypermobility. As a circus artist and former dancer who is also diagnosed with hypermobile Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome (hEDS), Jen Crane intimately understands the struggles of these athletes. How does a hypermobile artist use that…
