Are you a manual therapist with joint mobility issues? Then this episode of “I Have a Client Who . . .” is for you. And if you have a client with joint mobility issues, you’ll want to tune in too.

My colleague Natalie Pendergrass recently reached out to me to share her experiences with being diagnosed with Ehlers-Danlos syndrome (EDS).

EDS is a genetic disorder involving the formation of abnormal collagen. It occurs in 13 different identified subtypes, starting with hypermobility of joints and covering a wide spectrum of variations in connective tissue problems.

Natalie shares what it’s like to receive massage as a person with EDS, but also the special challenges of being a massage provider with EDS. She developed practices that allow her to do demanding work while protecting her joints.

Natalie also recently started some contact points for people with EDS so MTs can get more of this important information.

Check them out:

https://www.instagram.com/eds_biker_therapist/

https://www.facebook.com/sacredspiritbodyworks

Sponsors: 

Books of Discovery: www.booksofdiscovery.com  

Host Bio:        

Ruth Werner is a former massage therapist, a writer, and an NCBTMB-approved continuing education provider. She wrote A Massage Therapist’s Guide to Pathology, now in its seventh edition, which is used in massage schools worldwide. Werner is also a long-time Massage & Bodywork columnist, most notably of the Pathology Perspectives column. Werner is also ABMP’s partner on Pocket Pathology, a web-based app and quick reference program that puts key information for nearly 200 common pathologies at your fingertips. Werner’s books are available at www.booksofdiscovery.com. And more information about her is available at www.ruthwerner.com.   

Recent Articles by Ruth:       

“Working with Invisible Pain,” Massage & Bodywork magazine, November/December 2022, page 36, http://www.massageandbodyworkdigital.com/i/1481961-november-december-2022/38

“Unpacking the Long Haul,” Massage & Bodywork magazine, January/February 2022, page 35, www.massageandbodyworkdigital.com/i/1439667-january-february-2022/36.

“Chemotherapy-Induced Peripheral Neuropathy and Massage Therapy,” Massage & Bodywork magazine, September/October 2021, page 33, http://www.massageandbodyworkdigital.com/i/1402696-september-october-2021/34. 

“Pharmacology Basics for Massage Therapists,” Massage & Bodywork magazine, July/August 2021, page 32, www.massageandbodyworkdigital.com/i/1384577-july-august-2021/34.   

Resources: 

Pocket Pathology: https://www.abmp.com/abmp-pocket-pathology-app

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