For patients living with EDS there is no one size fits all approach to PT. Each case is different, and each patient should be treated accordingly. Since there are multiple forms of EDS, diagnosis can be difficult and often is considered a diagnosis of exclusion. Often patients’ complaints are written off as made up and not considered real which delays the diagnosis and may cause emotional trauma for patients. When treating a patient with EDS in physical therapy, it is critical to listen to what patients say about their body and not push them past their limit. Patients know themselves better than anyone else!
One method of therapy that has been researched and published for use with patients with EDS is called the Muldowney Protocol. While this is not meant to be the only form of therapy used to treat EDS, this method strengthens each joint in the body while still protecting the joint and considering pain. While following this protocol, specific parts of the body are trained in an intentional order so that areas of the body that affect the alignment of others are addressed prior to treating the dependent areas. Another important aspect of treatment of EDS both with and without the Muldowney Protocol is lifestyle modification and the removal of triggers in daily routines. For example, if a patient experiences frequent SI joint pain it may be advantageous to refrain from sitting in a soft chair while watching TV and instead move to a firmer chair that will provide support to the joint and muscles. Never hesitate to take time to research the condition of your patients if you are not sure of how to progress with their treatment and most importantly, listen to your patients.