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October 2nd, 2024

Understanding ankle hypermobility

Estimated reading time: 9 minutes Lateral ankle sprains are one of the most common injuries that occur with activities and recreation in the general population (not considering hypermobility). Up to 70% of people that sprain their ankle have recurring ankle sprains and chronic symptoms (1). I find this is a common issue in the hypermobile population and something I often address with my clients.

September 25th, 2024

Understanding dysautonomia

Estimated reading time: 8 minutes My first real client introduction to dysautonomia and in this case Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome (POTS) was back in 2013 when I had a lady join one of my group classes. She told me she would not be able to do any exercises that involved raising her arms above her head as she would faint. She could mitigate this if she was holding a weight in her hands – that would stop the fainting. This makes sense – the autonomic nervous system (ANS) affects blood pressure regulation and blood flow.

September 18th, 2024

Understanding Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome and Its Connection to Scoliosis

Estimated reading time: 7 minutes When I started teaching Pilates mat classes back in 2008, one of the very first clients who joined my classes had scoliosis. I learnt from day one how to work with scoliosis and what was best for this condition (she is still my client today 16 years later, so hopefully I did OK!).

September 11th, 2024

Nociplastic pain, hypermobility, and a sensitized nervous system

Estimated reading time: 6 minutes I’ve asked Dr. Leslie Russek, scientific advisor to The Zebra Club, to collaborate to learn about nociplastic pain and how to regulate a sensitized nervous system.

September 3rd, 2024

7 Essential Morning Stretches for a Great Start to Your Day

Estimated reading time: 6 minutes Do you wake up stiff, tight, and maybe even in pain in the morning? I hear this so often from the hypermobile community. Often during the night, the lack of movement can lead to some tight fascia. If we can get the fascia hydrated with some gentle movement or dynamic stretching we can free up that stiffness and get things gliding.

August 5th, 2024

How does hypermobility impact your Knees?

Estimated reading time: 6 minutes Hyperextension of the knees in hypermobility is common. I used the adopt the strangest of standing postures, from simple knee locking to crossing one leg over the other, or actually wrapping one leg around the other one.

July 25th, 2024

Navigating Menopause with Hypermobility and Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome

Estimated reading time: 7 minutes When I hit the menopause or rather it hit me, my life changed dramatically.

April 24th, 2024

Understanding flare-ups in EDS

Estimated reading time: 10 minutes Can we ever really be prepared for a flare-up? And when they arrive, how do we manage them? They can be as unpredictable as the rain. You dress for the sun and a sudden downpour arrives. Sometimes we definitely know rain is coming and we can pack an umbrella but sometimes rain, like a flare-up, can appear when the sky seemed so blue. We just weren’t expecting it.

April 12th, 2024

What is coat hanger pain?

Estimated reading time: 5 minutes Coat hanger pain is a pain in the neck and upper back, specifically the suboccipital and paracervical regions. It has been described as a “charley horse” kind of sensation in the back of the neck and shoulders. This pattern mimics the shape of a coat hanger with the hook in the neck and the body spreading out across the upper trapezius muscles and shoulders.

March 28th, 2024

Headaches in Ehlers-Danlos Syndromes

Estimated reading time: 6 minutes Discover the link between Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome and headaches. Learn about causes, such as upper cervical instability, and find effective treatment strategies.

October 13th, 2021

Feeling Accepted With A Chronic Illness

Estimated reading time: 2 minutes When I attended my first EDS The Ehlers-Danlos Society conference in Las Vegas in 2017, around 50% of my clients had EDS and hypermobility with pain. I was kindly invited to speak by Lara Bloom CEO of The EDS Society. I had just released the first online hypermobility course, Strengthen Your Hypermobile Core.

The Zebra Club APP

Hypermobility safe, affordable and effective movement, education and community in the comfort of your own home.

The Zebra Club app is a programme based on the Integral Movement Method. In this programme I will carefully guide you through safe exercises to manage your pain.

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