“Many hypermobile patients are injured by the very treatment meant to help them.”
And for some of us, the first person who finally connects the dots is not a physician.
It was my physical therapist who first told me I was hypermobile.
On today’s episode of @bendy_bodies, Dr. Dacre Knight of @UVAHealth discusses the critical and often underrecognized role physical therapists can play in identifying hypermobility and connective tissue disorders.
For many patients, PT is the first place someone says:
“Your symptoms actually make sense.”
But this is where it gets complicated.
Not all physical therapy is safe or appropriate for people with Ehlers-Danlos Syndromes (EDS), Hypermobility Spectrum Disorders (HSD), or related conditions.
When hypermobility is missed, overly aggressive stretching, strengthening, manipulation, or “push through it” rehab can worsen pain, instability, fatigue, and injury risk.
That is why provider education matters so much.
The right physical therapist can help patients build stability, improve proprioception, restore function, and sometimes avoid unnecessary procedures or surgery.
But the wrong approach can set patients back.
Has a physical therapist ever helped you better understand your body, your symptoms, or your diagnosis? Share your experience below.
#Hypermobility #EhlersDanlosSyndrome #PhysicalTherapy #ChronicPain #MedicalEducation
📌 Medical information shared for educational purposes only. Always discuss treatment decisions with your healthcare provider.
VD: Video clip from the Bendy Bodies podcast featuring Dr. Linda Bluestein and Dr. Dacre Knight discussing hypermobility, physical therapy, connective tissue disorders, and surgery.
