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Stretching Exercises

EDS, HSD, POTS

We treat a variety of conditions associated with Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome (specifically hEDS) and Hypermobile Spectrum Disorder (HSD) in all ages. Physical therapy has been viewed by many physicians who treat EDS as the cornerstone to the management of hEDS and HSD. Typical presentations include joint hypermobility, recurrent subluxations or dislocations, fatigue, chronic pain and balance/coordination issues. With time, chronic pain, posture adaptations, and habitual changes can develop that can generate a cascade of consequences throughout the body, increasingly interfering with daily function. The goal of physical therapy for this population is to prevent or reverse the downward spiral, reduce the pain and fatigue and attempt to improve daily function and enjoyment of life. Research shows that many with hEds or HSD have a poor experience with initial physical therapy especially if PTs are not familiar with these conditions. SMPT strives to reverse this trend. Our physical therapists have worked diligently through continual education to understand proper treatment for this population.

   hEDS is usually associated with other complicating disorders, specifically Dysautonomia involving Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome (POTS). POTS creates difficulty tolerating change of and maintaining positions making it difficult to follow a typical physical therapy routine. Research shows that the hydrostatic pressure of the pool assists with preventing blood pooling caused by POTS which allows these patients to tolerate upright exercises more than land based therapy.

Hear It from Our Patients

Jenna W.

After two years of searching and several trials at several other local P.T. clinics, we finally found help for my daughter with POTS, EDS, and other related conditions. Her case is very complicated, and Maddie is compassionate, knowledgeable, and great at finding the balance between pushing toward progress without going too far and flaring things up. I was immediately surprised and impressed that she has done so much research and knows more about my daughter's conditions than most medical professionals/specialists we have seen. I also appreciate that she is constantly thinking outside the box and has brought Sarah in to treat Vertigo and add insight into other issues she has experience with. Sarah has been a great addition to the team and has a lot of knowledge to offer. After many experiences at other clinics, I am really impressed that the P.T.'s at Swanson McArthur PT are so well supported in continuing their education and given the time it takes to create and perform specialized treatments. That is hard to find for straightforward and common conditions and almost impossible for conditions that are uncommon and hard to treat. It says a lot about how the owners value their staff and patients, and I am so grateful!

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