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Located in Shenton Park & Hillarys

Hypermobility Spectrum Disorders & Ehlers Danlos Syndrome

The terms Hypermobility Spectrum Disroder (HSD) or Joint Hypermobility Syndrome (JHS) are used by doctors to describe children who have hypermobility combined with pain and/or fatigue, which is significant enough to interfere with their activities or lifestyle.

The Ehlers-Danlos syndromes are a group of connective tissue disorders that can be inherited and are varied both in how affect the body and in their genetic causes. They are generally characterized by joint hypermobility (joints that stretch further than normal), skin hyperextensibility (skin that can be stretched further than normal), and tissue fragility.

Treatment

All of our therapists can assist in reducing/managing the effects of HSD through:

  • Education and advice to faciliate understanding and active self management
  • Provide comprehensive persistent pain management as discussed in “Persitent / Chronic Pain”
  • Providing an exercise programme to increase muscle strength and endurance, balance and fitness
  • Assist with core control and posture
  • Advice on / facilitation of gross motor development
  • Assistance with difficulties with fine motor skills such as handwriting (See our Occupational Therapists specifically)
  • Provide advice on stretches for tight muscles
  • Inclusion in strength and conditioning classes for strength, balance, fitness and practice of motor skills (See our Physiotherapists specifically)
  • Advice on shoe wear (See our Physiotherapists specifically)
  • Referral to podiatrist if necessary
  • Provide advice on types of appropriate exercise and sports (See our Physiotherapists specifically)
  • Pain management techniques; advice on heat / ice, massage, taping, hydrotherapy, activity management

All of our therapists can assist in managing the effects of EDS through:

  • Education and advice to faciliate understanding and active self management
  • Provide comprehensive persistent pain and fatigue management
  • Pain management techniques; advice on heat / ice, massage, taping, hydrotherapy, activity management

Physiotherapy

  • Providing an exercise programme to increase muscle strength and endurance, balance and fitness
  • Pilates
  • Hydrotherapy
  • Assist with core control and posture
  • Advice on / facilitation of gross motor development
  • Advice on shoe wear with referral to podiatrist if necessary
  • Provide advice on types of appropriate exercise and sports

Occupational Therapy

  • Assistance with difficulties with fine motor skills such as handwriting
  • Assistance with management and ability to complete day to day activities

Psychology

  • Teach pain coping strategies
  • Assist in developing strategies to optimise mental wellbeing and coping
  • Mindfulness

Yoga Therapy

  • aims to work with all aspects of your child’s physical, emotional, mental and social wellbeing
  • facilitate pain coping through teaching techniques such as  breathing, relaxation, mindfulness and guided visualisation
  • facilites the development of muscle strength, motor control and body awareness in space