Physiotherapy for hypermobility (Pay no attention to the image you houldn't exercise in just socks) written over an image of a lady using a gym ball against a wall with a physiotherapist assisting

Physiotherapy for Hypermobility

Being hypermobile can cause symptoms that may mean more than just being flexible. The term hypermobility basically means being able to move a joint beyond normal range of movement (ROM) basically meaning that your joints can over bend and stretch. You may be ‘double jointed’ and flexible. For some people, this is totally normal and it…Continue reading Physiotherapy for Hypermobility

A faded background image of a patient sat on a gym ball next to a physiotherapist

Understanding Hypermobility: An Introduction for Physiotherapists.

Hypermobility can mean more than just being ‘bendy’, or ‘flexible’. This is hypermobility as a characteristic and then there’s hypermobility as a symptom for connective tissue disorders (Simmonds, 2022). Hypermobility Sydnromes including Hypermobility Spectum Disorders (HSD) and hypermobile Ehlers-Danlos syndrome (hEDS), are conditions which present with injury, pain and other symptoms which can affect multiple…Continue reading Understanding Hypermobility: An Introduction for Physiotherapists.

title slide of a presentation with the words postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome

Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome: is exercise ‘Hair of the dog’ therapy?

Hello everyone. Derek the student physiotherapist here. I’m near the end of my placement now. I’ve made a little presentation about Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome or (PoTS). I know this is a common condition among the EDS and HSD community. As a physiotherapist I am fascinated how exercise and physical activity can be the cause,…Continue reading Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome: is exercise ‘Hair of the dog’ therapy?

Disability life lessons – Who cares what society thinks?

Life can be tough. Sometimes people with disabilities/impairments have to make tough choices and the impact of society can make tough choices even tougher. Using mobility aids, pacing and pain management strategies often come with judgments and assumptions attached. Over the last few years, I’ve learnt a lot about myself and I feel like I’ve…Continue reading Disability life lessons – Who cares what society thinks?

Chronic Pain – What does it actually feel like?

This is something I’ve been meaning to write about for a long time. While doing my dissertation before christmas I repeatedly read that most newly qualified healthcare professionals do not have a modern understanding of pain. I reviewed 9 articles for my dissertation, one common theme was the negative patient experience. Patients not feeling validated,…Continue reading Chronic Pain – What does it actually feel like?

My Top Adaptive Life Apps

Ok so just a quick post. These are little reviews of my most frequently used or most useful apps. Some of these apps are aimed at anyone and everyone but others are more for people with illnesses or disabilities. If you see something totally irrelevant then please just keep scrolling on to the next one.…Continue reading My Top Adaptive Life Apps

Non-verbal communication

So this is a new topic for me but I think it’s probably going to help a lot of people. Communication is something we all do, usually without much thought but there are some times when communication can be a bit harder. The most obvious types of communication are talking and listening but actually, a…Continue reading Non-verbal communication

Therapeutic Relationships

Therapeutic Relationships – Getting the most from Healthcare

I’m often asked how I’ve managed to get the most out of healthcare appointments, there is no quick answer so I’ve decided to write a longer one. As always, this post is written from the dual perspective of expert patient and healthcare professional. Much of this post is written from my own personal experience. During…Continue reading Therapeutic Relationships – Getting the most from Healthcare

Sleep deprived ramblings -Why I use a wheelchair & Life with a variable disability

It’s not often I write about how much disability can suck. I do my very best to stay positive. I write useful posts with coping strategies. I think I do a pretty good job when it comes to living a fun and meaningful life but there are some times when I genuinely feel like my…Continue reading Sleep deprived ramblings -Why I use a wheelchair & Life with a variable disability

Surviving a General Anaesthetic with H-EDS & PoTS

So as many of my friends will know I was in hospital yesterday to have a tooth extracted under general anaesthetic. It couldn’t have gone better really! I’ve spoken to a few people who have requested I jot down some of the ways the surgical team and I managed my ‘complex issues’ throughout the surgery…Continue reading Surviving a General Anaesthetic with H-EDS & PoTS