Bendy Bodies with Dr. Linda Bluestein

As an elite ballet dancer, Bonnie Moore Southgate danced as a soloist first with American Ballet Theatre, then with the Royal Ballet. Struggling with injuries and pain for years, Bonnie retired from dance and eventually was diagnosed with Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome. Her journey to find treatments and pain relief led to her second career as a neurokinetic therapist, massage therapist, and Pilates trainer.Bonnie specializes in working with hypermobility as well as elite athletes, and she sat down to share her dance experience with Bendy Bodies.Bonnie shares her amazing story of dancing through a brilliant career, starting with winning the Prix de Lausanne, being invited to work with Mikhail Baryshnikov at ABT, and working her way to soloist at the Royal Ballet.  She is open about her injuries throughout her career, and how they shaped the choices she made during rehearsals and performance opportunities.Bonnie discusses how her EDS manifested itself while she was still a young dancer, her reasons for seeking an EDS diagnosis and how it shaped her choices. She shares her first steps into Pilates and injury rehabilitation when dance medicine was still in its infancy, and why she trained as a Pilates instructor before becoming a sports and corrective exercise specialist.  She also discusses her experience with cranial sacral therapy.Finally, Bonnie looks at how far dance medicine has come in supporting dancer health and career longevity, and shares what she wants teachers and choreographers to know about working with dancers with EDS or hypermobility disorders.#ehlersdanlos #balletwhisperer #hypermobiledancers #zebrastrong #podcast #hypermobilitymd #dancer #hsd #bendy #ballet #balletdancer #keepmoving #hyperextension #hypermobility #dance #jennifermilner #dancelife #arabesque #balletteacher #ballerina #technique #pointe #pointework #balletlife --- 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 can help the artist create aesthetically pleasing lines with one of the most obvious locations involving the foot.And while many artists envy the banana feet that sometimes accompany excessive ranges of motion, having hypermobile feet and ankles can just as often bring complications.Andrea Zujko, a physical therapist who works regularly with dancers from New York City Ballet and from all over the world, takes the opportunity to chat with Bendy Bodies about some of the common difficulties that flexible feet may face.Andrea discusses ankle sprains, and why they may need more recovery time than you might think. She explains the importance of an ankle bone called the talus and shares wisdom on maintaining its healthy range of motion.Andrea looks at stress fractures and how they can occur in artistic athletes, and explains the importance of evaluating the entire body when addressing foot and ankle problems. We discuss bunions in bendy feet, and Andrea shares secrets for working with bunions.Finally, Andrea discusses common tendon issues seen in hypermobile artists, the importance of strength conditioning, and techniques for controlled stretching.Proving that a small area can have a big effect on the rest of the body, this discussion is one to be listened to several times over.#ankle #Ballet #DancerFeet #BalletFeet #BalletDancer #HypermobileFeet #DanceTraining #DancersOfInsta #BalletTeacher #DanceInjuries #BalletLife #hypermobility #hypermobiledisorders #hypermobilitymd #BendyBodies #bendybodiespodcast #hypermobilitydisorders #bodiesinmotion #JenniferMilner --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/bendy-bodies/message Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Evidence shows that neurodivergency occurs at a higher rate amongst people with hypermobility disorders.  And we know that anxiety is also prevalent in the hypermobile population. When we look at neurodivergency, hypermobility, anxiety, and dysautonomia, we see hints of lines drawn between them.  Might science soon be able to connect the dots?Jessica Eccles, senior clinical academic psychiatrist at Brighton and Sussex Medical School, and specialist in brain-body neuroscience, returns to speak with Bendy Bodies about neurodivergency, hypermobility, and possible links with anxiety and the autonomic nervous system.In February 2022, Dr. Eccles published the peer reviewed journal article,  "Joint hypermobility links neurodivergence to dysautonomia and pain".  She discusses the fascinating results of her research, and explains why neurodivergency, dysautonomia, and pain appear to be connected via joint hypermobility.Dr. Eccles shares her findings of higher levels of musculoskeletal symptoms in the study’s neurodivergent population vs the comparison group, and wonders if this may be a potential reason why people with neurodivergency experience more health symptoms.She explains the importance of raising awareness of the link between joint hypermobility and neurodivergency in the medical community, and discusses how anxiety is linked to joint hypermobility and possibly autonomic nervous system dysfunction.Dr. Eccles shares her work on the ADAPT program, a program aimed at reducing anxiety with a combined brain-body approach in hypermobile people. Still in its early stages, the program (Altering Dynamics of Autonomic Processing Therapy) has fascinating implications.Finally, Dr. Eccles reveals her current research projects and shares her hopes for future research.An incredible, accessible discussion by one of the top researchers in this field, this is an episode not to be missed.#neurodivergency #BendyBrain #dysautonomia #AutonomicNervousSystem #anxiety #ActuallyAutistic #adhd #ADHDAwareness #ASD #AutisticPride #DisabilityInclusion #RedInstead #AutismAcceptance #AutismAwareness #neurodivergent #AutisticAdults #neurodiversity #autistic #autism #BendyBodies #BendyBodiesPodcast #JenniferMilner #ZebraStrong #hypermobility #HypermobilityDisorders --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/bendy-bodies/message Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

People with hypermobility often struggle with fatigue.  They want more energy, and know that exercise and adequate sleep can help. But what is the role of nutrition in combating fatigue?Bendy Bodies team member, Kristin Koskinen, RDN, chats with us on how what we eat can influence how we feel. She explores the role nutrition can play in fatigue, and how executive function may contribute to nutritional deficits.Kristin discusses how to “control what you can control”, and reveals tips on how to get the most out of every mealtime. She looks at the role of sugar as both a necessary fuel and a possible contributor to fatigue, and explores the possible consequences of restrictive or fad diets on energy levels.Kristin highlights the importance of zinc, B vitamins, and folic acid in supporting a body’s energy levels. She offers ways to figure out what foods might be contributing to fatigue, and shares what role vitamins and supplements may play in fatigue.Kristin breaks down the difference between stimulants and fuel, and how caffeine may actually end up working against you. Finally, Kristin gives guidance on how to find a nutrition specialist to help you on your own food journey.For anyone struggling with fatigue, this episode is packed with great advice......#DanceNutrition #NutritionForDancers #dietitian #FoodRules #NutritionCoach #RDN #DietitianApproved #DietitiansOfInstagram#AntiinflammatoryDiet #ChronicFatigue #ChronicIllness #hypermobility #NourishYourBody#KristinKoskinenRDN #HypermobilityMD #JenniferMilner --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/bendy-bodies/message Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Fatigue is common in people with chronic disease. Pain, fatigue, and depression can feed into each other and become a vicious cycle that’s difficult to break. Combating fatigue can be particularly difficult for those with bendy bodies and comorbidities.Alan Pocinki, MD, specialist in hypermobility and related autonomic and sleep disorders, speaks with Bendy Bodies on this complicated subject.Dr. Pocinki shares his “eureka” moment in linking the chronic fatigue syndrome population with the hypermobile population. He defines fatigue and how it’s different from sleepiness, and describes the underlying causes of fatigue in hypermobility spectrum disorders, outlining the way an overactive sympathetic nervous system can mimic a panic attack.Dr. Pocinki explains how autonomic dysfunction can be both the cause and effect of fatigue, and the role of sleep continuity. He discusses the concept of budgeting your energy and explores the role of anxiety in hypermobility spectrum disorders. Dr. Pocinki describes his approach to treating patients with fatigue, reveals the role hormones may play in fatigue, and shares his hopes for future research in fatigue and hypermobility.You will not want to miss this episode if you are struggling with fatigue or are a medical professional looking to better serve your hypermobile population......#fatigue #ButYouDontLookSick #ChronicIllness #Hypermobility #EhlersDanlosSyndromes #EhlersDanlos #SleepDisorder #dysautonomia #AutonomicDysfunction #anxiety#BendyBodies #BendyBodiesPodcast #JenniferMilner #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

Pregnancy can be a time of new physical challenges, and hypermobility may make the season even more complex. Hormones can change tissue elasticity and the body may struggle to adapt.Dr. Shanda Dorff began working with connective tissue disorders in 2008 and has helped countless women through pregnancies and beyond. She imparts her hard-learned wisdom to Bendy Bodies on this complicated subject.Dr. Dorff shares important considerations for someone with connective tissue disorders to consider in a pregnancy, and discusses higher-risk issues with various types of Ehlers-Danlos syndromes. She lists things to watch for during pregnancy, and gives advice on how to prepare for possible complications during a delivery.Dr. Dorff offers things to do - and avoid - during the post-partum weeks, as well as exercise considerations for hypermobile athletes during and after pregnancy.Finally, she reveals possible considerations for breastfeeding when hypermobile, and suggests ways to find specialists to help someone navigate a “bendy” pregnancy.For any bendy body considering pregnancy, as well as all healthcare providers, this episode shares decades of hard-won expertise with our listeners.Resources:https://hiddenstripes.com/ (Disjointed Book)https://www.complexcaresmn.com/ (Dr. Dorff's clinic)https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32148151/ (Drs. Dorff and Afrin article, Mast cell activation syndrome in pregnancy, delivery, postpartum and lactation: a narrative review)https://www.scirp.org/html/2-1920604_97524.htm#%23%23 (Drs. Chopra and Bluestein article Perioperative Care in Patients with Ehlers Danlos Syndromes).....#pregnancy #pregnant #podcast #EhlersDanlossyndromes #EhlersDanlos #BendyBodies #BendyBodiesPodcast#highriskpregnancy #zebrastrong #heds #hypermobile #connectivetissuedisorder #JenniferMilner #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

Artistic athletes like dancers, gymnasts, and skaters require highly skilled medical care in order to maintain peak health while operating at an elite level. Understanding the unique demands placed on their bodies is crucial for their physicians. And when the artist is competing as part of a team - say, as an Olympic skater or gymnast, or as a company dancer - the artist doesn’t always have the luxury of choosing their team doctor. Selina Shah, MD, has herself been a competitive swimmer and gymnast, as well as a professional salsa and Bollywood dancer. She’s served as team physician for both Team USA figure skating and artistic swimming, and sits down to talk with us about maintaining your health in a team setting. Dr. Shah looks at why hypermobility can be a tremendous asset in some athletic fields, and hugely problematic in others. She explores the process of natural selection for artistic athletes and the secret to success at the elite level. Looking at injuries that are common in hypermobile artistic athletes, Dr. Shah explains why it’s never too soon to address an issue. She discusses misconceptions about stubborn tendon problems in bendy bodies as well as what procedures to consider and which ones to avoid. Dr. Shah shares ways for hypermobile athletes to communicate with a team doctor and trainer about their specific needs, and how to advocate for yourself in a team setting.Finally, she opens up about what research she’d like to see for hypermobile artistic athletes in the future. To learn more about Dr. Shah, visit her website https://selinashah.com/. . . . . . #podcast #iceskating #gymnast #BendyBodies #artisticswimming #OlympicAthlete #hypermobileathlete #rhythmicgymnastics #bendy #HypermobilityMD #JenniferMilner #BodiesinMotion #BendyBodiesPodcast #HypermobilityDisorders #Hypermobility #HypermobilitySpectrum --- 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 be difficult to diagnose, with no one clear path forward. Without an obvious road to walk, people with chronic pain who suspect hypermobility disorders may feel defeated and overwhelmed, struggling to find the help they need.In this episode, Bendy Bodies founder Linda Bluestein, MD opens up about her own journey getting an EDS diagnosis and starting her work as a hypermobility specialist.Dr. Bluestein breaks down the different types of connective tissue disorders and how they might be diagnosed. She discusses reasons medical professionals might encourage someone to seek a diagnosis, and theorizes on why they might discourage it.She gives advice on where to start this journey, and discusses the importance of having even just one medical professional in your corner. As well, she suggests types of specialists who might have knowledge of connective tissue disorders, and outlines steps people can take to prepare for a doctor’s visit.Dr. Bluestein offers compassionate advice to people who hear “no” a lot, and cautions against confirmation bias. She busts some harmful myths around connective tissue diagnoses and reveals some of the pitfalls a person might encounter in their pursuit of a diagnosis.Full of advice from a medical expert in hypermobility, this is an episode for anyone feeling defeated or looking to confirm a diagnosis.#ButYouDontLookSick #ChronicPain #bendybodies #BendyBodiesPodcast #ehlersdanlossyndrome #ConnectiveTissue #ZebraStrong #collagen #diagnosis #physiciansofinstagram #EhlersDanlos #hypermobility  #hypermobilitymd #bodiesinmotion --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/bendy-bodies/message Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

People struggling with a chronic illness often feel overwhelmed at the idea of pursuing a passion. Health issues may seem insurmountable when trying to go after your dream, and you may feel hopeless and alone on your journey.Camille Schrier, Miss America 2020, was diagnosed with Classical Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome at age 11, at the same time she was discovering her love of nature and science. For her, a diagnosis helped her understand all the “crazy” things happening to her body and gave her comfort.Camille walks us through her diagnostic odyssey, explaining the signs of EDS she saw in herself and the twists and turns that came up along the way. She shares her journey to the Miss America title, and her concerns about serving as Miss America with a chronic illness.Camille discusses the importance of advocating for yourself and having providers who listen. She speaks honestly about her struggles with an eating disorder, her journey through mental health issues, and her fights with misdiagnoses.Sharing how her own struggles have made her more compassionate towards others, Camille describes how she is using her platform to spread her Social Impact Initiative, “Mind Your Meds - Drug Safety and Abuse Prevention From Pediatrics to Geriatrics.”You won't want to miss this inspiring interview. Learn more at https://www.camilleschrier.com/. .....#dysautonomia #ehlersdanlossyndrome #hypermobility #invisibleillness #hypermobilitymd #balletwhisperer #zebra #ehlersdanlos #zebrastrong #spoonie #chronicillness #chronicpain #camilleshrier #missamerica #JenniferMilnerIf you are able to share the resized image, it is much appreciated! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What is overstretching, and why should we talk about it?As the artistic world seems to demand ever more extreme ranges of motion from its dancers and athletes, many people turn to overstretching  as a way to stay competitive, forcing an artificial hypermobility in some joints.Dr. Linda Bluestein interviews Bendy Bodies’ own Jennifer Milner, NCPT, on the subject of overstretching and forced hypermobility. Jennifer discusses why a joint might be hypermobile, and what issues she sees in the hypermobile population versus the non-hypermobile population.Jennifer explores overstretching, how it affects the body, and some issues that may arise because of it. She explains the difference between dynamic and static stretching, and when each type may be appropriate.Jennifer looks at the practice of overstretching in dance studios and shares alternatives to overstretching for achieving flexibility in a healthy way.Finally, Jennifer offers suggestions on how to find resources to help you increase your flexibility safely, both online and in person, and confides what she wishes every dancer knew about flexibility.Whether you are an artist, a parent, a studio owner, or a health practitioner, this is an episode you won’t want to miss. Full of helpful advice and practical tips!#flexibility #flexible #ballet #ballerina #stretching #stretch #pointe #splits #pointeshoes #bendy #balletdancer #gymnast #gymnastics #instadance #instaballet #backbend #worldwideballet #dancer #contortion #poledance #oversplits #overstretching #split #acrobatics #zebra #hypermobilitymd #bendybodies #JenniferMilner #balletwhisperer  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices