A Multidisciplinary Approach to Managing Ehlers-Danlos (Type III) - Hypermobility Syndrome: Working With the Chronic Complex Patient

by Isobel Knight

Ehlers Danlos-Hypermobility Syndrome is a challenging condition which is often misunderstood and misdiagnosed. This book looks at how physiotherapy can provide effective and lasting relief for sufferers. The book explains how EDHS is diagnosed and how a physical assessment of the patient should be carried out. It shows how physiotherapy can systematically work through the body inside out to relieve symptoms commonly associated with EDHS such as muscle weakness, chronic pain, sleep disorders and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). From the perspectives of physiotherapist and patient, the authors reflect on how and why they managed to achieve a vastly improved quality of life for Isobel. They highlight the importance of considering every aspect of a patient's lifestyle, as well as the neurological elements and psychological impact of the condition, and how holistic treatments can be incorporated in the treatment plan. There is also guidance on how to monitor and chart symptoms, and set realistic goals in order to navigate a treatment program that works for the patient. This book will be essential reading for physiotherapists working with EDHS, and will be of interest to medical students, complementary therapists, psychologists, dance scientists, dancers and occupational therapists.

Genres: Medical, Nonfiction

360 pages, Paperback

First published March 10, 2013

Reviews

[Jaclyn B. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very helpful, a look into Isobel’s personal experience in living and trying to treat EDSIII, it is a great resource to have for where to start in seeking treatment, and where you could pose questions to your doctor to try and get more pointed, accurate care. Living with EDS isn’t easy, and to maintain a better quality of life you definitely need to put work into it, but this is a great tool to help you along the way.

I’ve also found it incredibly helpful in helping family and friends (who are interested) better understand my condition, and what I’m going through. We all struggle, but we’re learning.

[Judy Garbo]

I think if this was positioned more as Isobel's story and less as a potential guide for managing EDS I'd be less profoundly disappointed in it's inability to give me anything useful. I admit I am absolutely biased against Maslow's hierarchy of needs so the fact that it gets referenced so often did not help. I find the pyramid infuriatingly useless with it's lack of any sort of empirical evidence, extreme cultural bias, obvious examples currently in this messed up world that it is just not true, not to mention his lack of crediting the Blackfoot people he built it out of. As a super basic guide, perhaps it would be helpful to someone who was just starting out but most of us who are approaching a diagnosis or finally have one have been battling the medical establishment for years and decades so, again, I wish it was positioned differently.

[Lisa Vance · Rating 5 out of 5]

Full of information pertinent to both the patient and their physicians trying to manage the complex symptomology of a patient with connective tissue disorders (whether EDS III or other) and co-morbid conditions common to the condition. This book has proved to be a useful resource and I have routinely carried it to doctor's visits and discussed the unique guidance provided herein. Broken into sections based on body function, symptoms and conditions, this is one of my go-to books when seeing new doctors, visiting the ER or just dealing with the day-to-day issues of a chronic, degenerative, genetic condition.