Skip to main content
Back to all

Why Physical Therapy is Critical for Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome Patients

May 1, 2026 | Tips & Trends
Share
Tweet
Share

Physical therapy (PT) can be a cornerstone of Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome (EDS) management, with PT focusing on stabilizing hypermobile joints, reducing chronic pain, and improving proprioception through tailored, low-impact exercises with reduction in stretching.  Physical therapy helps to strengthen muscles to compensate for weak connective tissues, reducing subluxations and enhancing daily function.

Key benefits and techniques of PT for EDS patients include:

  • Joint Stabilization & Strengthening: Focuses on strengthening small, deep stabilizer muscles using low-weight, high-repetition exercises to increase muscular endurance and support unstable joints.
  • Proprioceptive Training: Enhances the body’s awareness of joint position to prevent injuries and reduce pain through balance exercises.
  • Bracing and External Supports: Temporary use of kinesiology tape, braces, or orthotics can help reinforce joint alignment while strength is being built. These should not replace muscle development but can reduce injury risk during PT.
  • Pain Management Techniques: Employs gentle manual therapy, dry needling and heat/cold therapy to manage myofascial pain.
  • Postural and Function Improvement: Provides training for safe movement patterns during activities of daily living to minimize strain and subluxation of joints.
  • Management of Associated Conditions: Includes specific exercises for comorbidities, such as slow, reconditioning exercises for Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome (POTS).

It is essential for EDS patients to work with a Physical Therapist who has additional knowledge/training of how to work with a patient with a connective tissue disorder to ensure exercises are safe and paced correctly.

If you or someone you love has Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome or any form of connective tissue disorder, please contact your local Phoenix Physical Therapy office to learn how we can help.

The entire Phoenix Physical Therapy Team is committed to providing our patients with quality physical therapy, occupational therapy and speech therapy in a safe and healthy clinic environment. We continue to follow the guidance provided by the CDC, WHO and public health officials to update you as new information becomes available. Let’s work together to keep each other safe and healthy.

The safety of our patients, communities and team members remains our top priority. We know you have a choice in your care providers and appreciate your commitment to Phoenix and our qualified clinicians.

Here are the actions we have taken to keep our patients, communities and team healthy & safe:

  • Flexible scheduling allows for social distancing
  • Regular cleaning and sanitation of all clinic surfaces
  • Facemasks must be worn by all Phoenix staff and are recommended for all patients
  • Screening questionnaire and temperature checks prior to entering clinics
  • 6 feet of social distancing throughout the clinics

Keeping Our Clinics Safe

Here are some tips on how we can keep each other safe:

  • Handwashing is your best self-defense against the spread of germs. When soap and water are not available and hands are not visibly dirty, use at least a 60% alcohol-based hand sanitizer.
  • Please stay home if you are not feeling well, especially if you have a fever, are coughing or sneezing, or are experiencing shortness of breath. If a patient shows up with symptoms, the clinic team will work with them to reschedule.
  • Be vigilant. If you have traveled to any of the countries where there are outbreaks of the virus, please follow guidance from the CDC website and our Travel Guidelines.

Here are actions we are taking to keep our clinics clean and safe:

  • Equipment will be wiped down after EVERY use with antibacterial wipes/sprays
  • All surfaces that patients or staff may touch including door handles, countertops, seating, pens at sign-in, bathroom and all other common areas will be disinfected regularly
  • Treatment tables will be 6 feet apart
  • Team members will wash their hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, particularly after going to the bathroom, before eating, and after blowing their nose, coughing or sneezin
  • Clinics will have hand sanitizer available at the front desk and in the treatment areas
  • Any Phoenix team members who are ill will be asked to stay home
  • We will maintain social distancing between patients in the clinic
  • Caregivers that are bringing a patient to the clinic should wait in their car or come back when the appointment has ended unless necessary (i.e. minor requiring a guardian or for assistance needs)
  • When possible, we will treat patients in private rooms to increase social distancing
  • Any patients that have underlying health issues (i.e. diabetes, respiratory problems, etc.) will be given the option to be seen during special clinic hours or can opt to be treated in a private room away from other clinicians and patients
  • All patients should be self-screening before entering the clinic. Our PCCs will perform a secondary screening during the check-in process and before patients enter the clinic including a screening questionnaire and temperature check.
×