Bendy Bodies with Dr. Linda Bluestein

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 a competition, and what can you do during the event to make sure you are at the top of your game and come out of it injury-free?We decided to approach this topic from a multi-disciplinary angle, so Jennifer, Dr. Bluestein, and resident Bendy Bodies nutrition expert, Kristin Koskinen, all sat down for a round table discussion on this important topic.We talk through a timeline of preparation before the big event, and ways to make sure you’re heading into your competition as healthy and prepared as possible. Nutrition, training, sleep, and more are discussed as we sketch out the ways to make the most of your preparation time.Kristin offers practical advice on ways to fuel healthily during the competition, often without access to refrigerators or even a true meal break.Dr. Bluestein shares ways to be prepared for any issues that might come up physically, and Jennifer reveals her top competition-day tips.Finally, we look at the importance of recovering after a competition. How we replenish our body’s nutrients, ways to approach constructive rest and gradual return to training, and more are shared as we offer ways to be the healthiest competitive artist you can be.Share this with parents of young artistic athletes, bookmark for yourself as a competitor, and pass it on to studio owners, coaches, physical therapists, and more!.....#CompetitionDay #PreparingForCompetitions #Nutrition #NutritionalTips #HealthyFoodAdvice #Nutrients #NutritionEducation #Sleep #SleepTips #SleepHealth #TrainingAdvice #TrainingDay --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/bendy-bodies/message Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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. Linda Bluestein spent years in the operating room as a top anesthesiologist. We asked her for advice on this often-overlooked aspect of dealing with symptomatic joint hypermobility.Dr. Bluestein discusses the possible medication reactions that often accompany connective tissue disorders and associated conditions. She talks about ways to prepare for the pre-operative assessment, and outlines what medical conditions should be shared in advance with the anesthesia team.Dr. Bluestein explains the different types of anesthesia and why that information is important, and shares her observations about people with joint hypermobility and their potential complications.Finally, Dr. Bluestein offers suggestions for how to share your concerns with the surgery team, from limb positioning to avoid  dislocations, cervical spine and jaw problems that may influence airway management and so much more.Whether you’re part of a surgical team or preparing to undergo your own surgery, you’ll find helpful advice here to prepare you for next steps......#Anesthesia #AnesthesiaLife Anesthesiologist #LocalAnesthetic #LocalAnesthesia  #hypermobilitytreatment #mobility #ehlersdanlos #spinalstabilization #butyoudontlooksick #hypermobilitypain #spooniesupport #hypermobilityrehabilitation #hypermobilityspectrum #bendy #invisibledisability #JenniferMilner  #hypermobilitysyndrome #hypermobilityhacks #HypermobilityMD #chronicconditionsFor an even deeper dive, read this peer-reviewed journal article co authored by Dr. Bluestein and Dr. Pradeep Chopra:Perioperative Care in Patients with Ehlers Danlos Syndromeshttps://www.scirp.org/journal/Paperabs.aspx?PaperID=97524 --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/bendy-bodies/message Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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 outside help?We asked these questions and more of Jo-Anne La Flèche, a clinical and dance psychologist with a Masters in Somatics.Jo-Anne defines the difference between stress and anxiety, and discusses factors that may contribute to anxiety, both within a person and in their external circumstances. She breaks down how a dance environment might foster anxiety and shares ways to self-manage that anxiety.Self-care practices are offered as ways to lower anxiety, as well as seeing the value in recognizing things you can’t control. Jo-Anne lists signs that may indicate a dancer should seek help in managing their mental health and suggests ways to find the right therapist for you.Finally, Jo-Anne shares her thoughts on why it’s important to have an identity outside of dance.For all artists or even anyone struggling with anxiety, this episode is not to be missed.Click to access informational papers written by Jo-Anne under the auspices of the Dance/USA Task Force on Dancer Health on anxiety and depression. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/bendy-bodies/message Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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 for optimum success? We posed this question to Kristin Koskinen, RDN and Bendy Bodies team member, in this episode.Kristin shares why dancers and other performing artists with hypermobility and/or a connective tissue disorder like the Ehlers-Danlos syndromes should care about immunity and nutrition in general. She explains how the foods we eat impact our immune system, and how investing efforts to fuel well now can have a big impact on our health down the road.Kristin walks us through her process for building a healthy, supportive diet for her clients, talking through her suggestions for planning wide varieties of foods, as well as efficient shortcuts when time is an issue.  She discusses the possible effects of sugar on the immune system, and how to deal with the emotional component of foods during the holidays.Kristen looks at the impact of alcohol on the immune system and talks about the microbiome’s role. She shares her expert view on nutritional supplements including probiotics, and offers lots of encouraging tips for managing busy seasons while striving for healthy nutrition.This episode breaks down what can be a stressful and complicated subject in encouraging and manageable ways for all bendy bodies......#JenniferMilner #HypermobilityMD #Bendy #BendyBuddy #Immunity #Bloating #DietitiansOfIG #Glucose #Gut #Supplement #ChronicDisease #ChronicIllness #InvisibleDisability #Infection #AlwaysOptimal #AutoImmune #NutritionForDancers #DanceNutrition #OptimalNutrition #NutrientDeficiencies --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/bendy-bodies/message Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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 needs as a professional dancer with Ballet West.Jazz chats with Bendy Bodies about navigating her dance career while addressing her body’s unique needs with hEDS. Jazz discusses her diagnosis and what led her to seek one, and shares how her diagnosis changed how she seeks treatment.Jazz speaks openly about her decision to reveal her hEDS publicly, documenting her latest injury and nearly year-long recovery process on social media. She shares her maintenance routine outside of dance, and the lessons she’s learned about her body and her hEDS during her rehabilitation. Finally, Jazz encourages other dancers on their own journeys, addressing the importance of finding people who will support and advocate for you.An inspiring story of cultivating your own resilience through injuries, this podcast is full of encouragement and motivation for everyone struggling to move forward in spite of obstacles......#BendyBuddy #Bendy #EhlersDanlos #Dancer #ZebraStrong  #ChronicIllness  #spoonie #Zebra  #Disease #ArtisticAthlete #Disability #EDS #JointStability#Bendy #hypermobile #HypermobilitySpectrum#BendyBallerina #BendyBallet #Ballet #Movement --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/bendy-bodies/message Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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? How can medical professionals accurately seek to diagnose and treat mast cell pain?For this conversation, we put Bendy Bodies founder, Linda Bluestein, MD, in the hot seat. With her many years as a practicing anesthesiologist and her long career treating people with hypermobility disorders, she’s been in a unique position to research, diagnose, and treat these complex conditions.Dr. Bluestein defines mast cell disorders and ways they may present. She explains why people with hypermobility should be aware of mast cell disorders, and reveals the prevalence of pain associated with mast cell issues.Dr. Bluestein shares her techniques for evaluating pain in a patient, and offers advice on treating pain in a patient with mast cell issues. She suggests ways to communicate with a medical professional about your own pain, and shares her wish list of ways she would address mast cell disorders on a large scale.With practical advice for both medical practitioners looking to improve patient care, and hypermobile people searching for ways to mitigate their own chronic pain, this episode is filled with tips and insight into a complex problem.Additional notes:  Excipients:  All medications have excipients (“inactive” ingredients in medications that may cause problems in susceptible people). Mast cell disorder testing:  Tryptase is just one mediator that is important to check (both at baseline and within four hours of a flare).  I provide lab slips to my patients that they can take in for testing as needed.  Tryptase levels can be helpful (especially if they are elevated) but a normal level does not rule out a mast cell problem. Pain sources:  People with EDS and comorbidities (like mast cell disorders) can have all the types of pain.  These include nociceptive (coming from actual or potential tissue damage), neuropathic (problem within the nervous system) and nociplastic (dysfunction of how pain signals are processed). .....#BendyBuddy #HypermobilityMD #JenniferMilner #MastCell #Disease #ChronicDisease #Hypermobile #Histamine #FoodIntolerance #ChronicPain #ButYouDontLookSick #MCAS #MastCellActivation #ComplexIllness #EhlersDanlos #DoctorsOfIG #ChronicIllnessSupport #LowHistamine #Histaminintoleranz #MastCellActivationSyndrome --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/bendy-bodies/message Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Physical therapists Aiko Callahan and Stephanie Greenspan discuss the creation of the Hypermobility Screening Tool for artists. They emphasize the importance of understanding the artist's needs, addressing joint stability, and screening for systemic issues. The speakers also highlight the significance of building a support team and providing comprehensive care for hypermobile individuals.

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 syndromes, Ehlers-Danlos syndromes, fibromyalgia, headaches, and chronic pain. She speaks with Bendy Bodies about temporomandibular disorder (TMD) and jaw pain sharing her wisdom on this topic.Dr. Russek describes the temporomandibular joint (TMJ) and why hypermobile people should be aware of this commonly misunderstood joint. She illuminates the link between TMD and proprioception, as well as how muscles outside the jaw can cause jaw problems.We learn strategies for mouth breathing, a possible contributor to TMD, hear practical actions for reducing jaw pain, and learn about the link between the jaw and issues such as headaches or tooth pain.Finally, Dr. Russek walks us through her steps for finding a healthy resting position, and talks through the Rocabado 6x6 exercise program for TMD.With practical pointers on addressing jaw pain and dysfunction, this episode is helpful for every bendy body with or without jaw pain.Visit this webpage for handouts and more information about Dr. Russek......#JawPain #TMD #BendyBuddy #PhysicalTherapy #PhysicalTherapist #Hypermobile #Hypermobility #JointPain #Temporomandibular #LockJaw #ToothPain #ChronicPain #TmjDisorder #HypermobilityMD #JenniferMilner #Bendy --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/bendy-bodies/message Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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 movement therapist who literally wrote the book on moving pain-free with hypermobility!Jeannie talks about steps people can take if they’re struggling to add movement into their everyday life. She shares why movement is crucial for people with hypermobility and how she works to improve joint stability in the body.Jeannie offers insight into how deconditioning can happen so quickly and discusses why alignment reeducation is so important. She discusses how to reprogram your posture and shares ways to improve proprioception.Jeannie describes her Integral Movement Method and how it can be incorporated into day-to-day life. And she shares information on her Zebra Club, the importance of having a supportive community around you, and her education courses for dance educators, trainers, and more.Finally, Jeannie stresses the importance of the nervous system being engaged in the movement education process, and reinforces the need to listen to your body and move accordingly.An episode for every Bendy Body, this discussion is full of practical tips and encouragement.To learn more about Jeannie, visit:  https://jeanniedibon.com/....#EhlersDanlos #ZebraStrong #Bendy #BendyBody #Spoonie #Movement #Hypermobile #PainAwarenessMonth #PainCounts #LifeWithPain #Hypermobility #Posture #JointPain #JointStability #MovementEducation #ZebraClub #DiBon  #JenniferMilner#HypermobilityMD #BendyBuddy --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/bendy-bodies/message Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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 hypermobility to its full advantage - the long, gorgeous, bendy lines and movement patterns - while still remaining healthy and not pressing the body beyond its limits?Dr. Crane discusses this tightrope walk with Bendy Bodies.She shares her own diagnosis journey as an artist and a medical professional. She discusses how she helps artistic athletes reconcile their connective tissue disorders with their need to push their bodies to the limits.  And she talks about training in a healthy way.Dr. Crane covers how she assists artists with their personal risk vs benefit analysis, and examines predictive variables she may see in people who might have a more successful career. She reflects on the sacrifices artists might need to make, and shares what it’s like to have the hard conversations with artists pushing themselves too much.Dr. Crane discusses the importance of finding a coach or healthcare provider who understands hypermobility, and how to find one. She breaks down current trends she sees in the medical world with hypermobility, and advocates for people to do what they love to do while taking care of their physical health.For anyone who works with hypermobile artistic athletes,or for any hypermobile artist who wonders how to find that safe boundary for themselves.#Podcast #Contortion #FlexibilityTraining #Bendy #CircusLife #CircusEveryDamnDay #CircusCircus #CircusInspiration #Aerial #Aerialist #AerialistOfIG#Ballet #BalletDancer #BalletLife #DancersLife #DanceLife #DancersWorld #ZebraStrong#BendyBack #BendyFeet #EhlersDanlosSyndrome #hEDS #Hypermobility #HypermobilitySpectrumDisorder#hEDS #EhlersDanlos #EhlersDanlosAthlete #EhlersDanlosSyndromeAwarenessMonth #BalletWhisperer #HypermobilityMD --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/bendy-bodies/message Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices