Member May 2025: Hope for Hypermobility Syndromes: Unraveling the complexities of diagnosis and management (On Demand)-Session Recording

Video Transcription

Video Summary

The recent session on hypermobility syndromes was led by Dr. Jordan Burkhardt, Dr. Nathan Rudin, Dr. Neha Charan, and Dr. Isabel Huang. Dr. Rudin focused on recognizing and diagnosing hypermobility, emphasizing that many physicians wrongly view it as rare and referred patients inappropriately to genetics, leading to long diagnostic delay. Hypermobile Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome (HEDS) and hypermobility spectrum disorders (HSD) are more common than previously believed, with high variability in symptoms such as musculoskeletal pain, gastrointestinal issues, and neurological complications. Dr. Rudin highlighted PM&R's pivotal role in diagnosing and managing these conditions by using history, physical exams, and interdisciplinary care.<br /><br />Drs. Charan and Huang stressed understanding patient goals for providing effective, individualized care. They addressed the fear among clinicians due to the complexity of EDS and advocated for awareness and education, noting that EDS patients, despite being complex, can gain quality of life improvements through tailored interventions. They underscored the importance of establishing a supportive network of specialists, including cardiology, GI, and possibly genetics, while highlighting alternative therapies like low-dose naltrexone or dietary adjustments.<br /><br />The session encouraged physiatrist engagement, emphasizing that careful holistic management could lead to meaningful patient outcomes and personal professional growth. The collaboration advocated for overcoming fear by viewing EDS as an intriguing opportunity to address patients' unmet needs with innovative, patient-centered strategies.

Keywords

hypermobility syndromes

Dr. Jordan Burkhardt

Dr. Nathan Rudin

Dr. Neha Charan

Dr. Isabel Huang

Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome

hypermobility spectrum disorders

diagnostic delay

PM&R

interdisciplinary care

patient-centered strategies