EmpowerHeal Physical Therapy
Pelvic Floor Therapy and EDS physical therapy serving Bethesda and Washington DC surrounding metropolitan areas
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Pelvic Floor Therapy and EDS physical therapy serving Bethesda and Washington DC surrounding metropolitan areas
As a practicing physical therapist for the last nine years, I have to admit, I knew hardly anything about physical therapy considerations for hypermobility syndrome up until a year ago. There is one particular patient that I used to treat for pelvic health physical therapy secondary to endometriosis. After an excision surgery and multiple PT appointments later, she was much better with pelvic floor dysfunction. However, she kept telling me about headaches, fatigue, dizziness and feeling bloated, hypermobile joints etc. To me, something wouldn’t add up and I didn’t know what.
This is when my patient through a lot of research of her own figured out she probably has Ehlers Danlos Syndrome (EDS). She got involved in a lot of self research over the internet and facebook groups for EDS. We found out months later that she had a confirmed diagnosis called Ehlers Danlos Syndrome and a subset of it called hypermobile EDS.
I needed to learn more. I researched for ways I could involve myself with learning more about EDS.
I came across Ehlers Danlos Society and the the learning opportunities it offered. I am trained in EDS and HSD Diagnosis, Pain and MSK Management, EDS and HSD Co-morbidities and Related Complications, EDS ECHO Finding Functional Foundations (FFF)™
Ehlers–Danlos syndromes (EDS) are a clinically and genetically heterogeneous group of thirteen heritable connective tissue disorders (HCTDs) characterized by joint hypermobility, skin hyperextensibility, and tissue fragility.Each type of EDS is associated with different symptoms and characteristics.
Even within the same type of EDS, people can experience very different symptoms from each other. There are also many other medical conditions that are often seen in people with EDS. These include dysautonomia, POTS, gastric issues like gastroparesis, constipation, headaches, migraines, pelvic floor dysfunctions, mast cell diseases etc.
Traditional physical therapy techniques often involve progressive strengthening , stretching, heat therapy etc. These traditional PT techniques can cause a flare up for people with EDs/hEDS. Stretching is not usually recommended due to exisiting hypermobility. Additonally, there are heat intolerances due to issues such as MCAS and POTS. Furthermore, strengthening should include activation of deep stabilizers through low-mid range movements.
People with EDS can improve their mobility and function, thereby, leading to better quality of life by working with a EDS competent provider.
Continuing my education on EDS has helped me significantly to expand my work and expertise to this very under-served population. Sadly, this is a group of people who take years to get diagnosed. Unfortunately, they are also often dismissed as just “being too much”.
I am committed to invest my resources to advocate for people with EDS, to broaden my knowledge about it and continue to help my patients who live with a lot of physical, mental and emotional challenges dealing with this under diagnosed diagnosis. This is a much needed specialization that I am proud to bring to EmpowerHeal Physical Therapy in Bethesda.