 If you've spent any time reading about hypermobile Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome (hEDS), you've probably heard it described as a connective tissue disorder. The usual explanation is that the body's connective tissues are built a little differently, leading to more flexible joints, frequent injuries, chronic pain and instability. But many people living with hEDS know that's only part of the story. What about the dizziness? The fatigue? The brain fog? The gut problems? The allergies, mast cell issues, POTS, slow recovery from illness, and the way symptoms seem to flare after stress or infection? A recently published research paper has taken an interesting step towards answering that question. Before we dive in, it's important to say that this blog is not my opinion or interpretation of the science. It's simply my attempt to translate a fascinating research paper into everyday English. If you'd like to read the original study yourself, you can find it here. Now, let's unpack what the researchers actually found. So... what did they do? Rather than looking at people's genes, the researchers looked at the proteins circulating in their blood. Think of it like this: Your genes are the recipe book. Proteins are what your body is actually cooking today. By measuring these proteins, researchers can get a snapshot of what systems in the body are active and how they're behaving. The study compared blood samples from women with hypermobile EDS to women without hEDS. What surprised the researchers? They expected to find lots of differences in proteins related to connective tissue. Instead... Most of the differences they found were related to the immune system. Many of the altered proteins were involved in:
Only one of the significantly different proteins was directly related to connective tissue itself. That doesn't mean connective tissue isn't important in hEDS. It simply suggests that there may be much more happening throughout the body than we've previously appreciated. Why is that exciting? If you've ever felt like your symptoms don't fit neatly into the "loose joints" explanation, you're certainly not alone. Many people with hEDS also experience conditions like:
For years, researchers have recognised these conditions often occur together, but they've struggled to explain why. This study suggests that changes in the immune system may be one piece of that puzzle. It's important to be clear here: the researchers are not saying that hEDS is an autoimmune disease, nor are they saying the immune system causes hEDS. They're saying they found measurable differences in immune-related proteins that deserve further investigation. That's a very different statement—and a much more scientifically responsible one. Does this explain why symptoms flare? Possibly. The researchers also found changes in pathways involved in inflammation and the body's response to stress. Many people with hEDS describe becoming significantly more symptomatic after things like:
What doesn't this study prove? Good science is just as much about recognising what we don't know as what we do know. This research does not prove that:
People with hypermobile EDS appear to have a distinct pattern of proteins circulating in their blood, particularly involving immune and inflammatory pathways. That's an important finding, but it's only one piece of a much bigger puzzle. Why I think this research matters One of the things I love most about chronic pain research is watching the picture become more complete over time. For many years, hypermobile EDS was viewed largely through the lens of joints and connective tissue. Studies like this remind us that our bodies are incredibly interconnected. The immune system, nervous system, connective tissue, blood vessels and inflammatory pathways all influence one another. Looking at hEDS as a whole-body condition may help researchers better understand why people experience such a wide variety of symptoms. As someone who works with many people living with hypermobility and persistent pain, I find that encouraging. It doesn't give us all the answers. But it does suggest that researchers are asking better questions. And that's often where real progress begins. Want to discuss this research with a therapist who is experienced in treating hypermobility, EDS and associated conditions? Book with Mel or Sarah, we'll be more than happy to discuss what we know during your treatment. Reference:
Molly Griggs, et al. Proteomic discoveries in hypermobile Ehlers–Danlos syndrome reveal insights into disease pathophysiology, ImmunoHorizons, Volume 9, Issue 10, October 2025, vlaf044, https://doi.org/10.1093/immhor/vlaf044 By Andrew Wickens, Myotherapist When approaching plantar fascia pain, I like to take a clinical approach. This means we look beyond just the sore spot in your heel. Instead of only treating the symptoms, we focus on understanding why your pain is there, which could potentially be due to tight calves, poor movement patterns, or daily habits contributing to the problem.  Treatment for plantar fascia pain isn’t always just a massage to the bottom of the foot. I like to make sure the treatment is tailored to you. Different treatment techniques can include deep or superficial pressure to the tissue, needling (especially for the calves), cupping (with movement or static), exercise and strengthening prescriptions, corrective advice for daily tasks and movements, and potentially advice on supportive footwear. These treatments can help reduce pain, improve mobility, and guide you on ways to support yourself at home or work. Treatment can also help identify triggers and give you simple strategies to prevent flare-ups. Helpful actions you can take for your plantar fascia before seeking treatment include:
While leaving the pain to improve on its own can sometimes lead to a temporary “fix,” the pain often tends to creep back later, potentially leading to further injury or affecting other areas of your body. A Myotherapy treatment approach is more targeted and goal-driven. It’s about addressing the cause, improving how your body moves, and keeping your plantar fascia pain away for as long as possible. By Rachael Bird, Myotherapist Physios are legends when it comes to rehab. Seriously. But here's the thing—most of the time, they're not doing a lot of hands-on work. And that's where it might be worth thinking about what else could help. You're in pain, right? So you get given a bunch of exercises to do at home. But you're still in pain, which means you either can't be bothered doing them, or you do them and... nothing much changes. You're left thinking, "What's the point?" Now, here's the thing, a lot of people get brilliant results from exercises alone, which is fabulous. But for others, there might be more going on.  Why hands-on work might help: Exercises are great for training and building strength. But they can be less effective if the tissue underneath is tight, restricted, or guarded. Adding hands-on work; releasing tension, breaking down trigger points, addressing restrictions, could potentially create better conditions for those exercises to actually do their job. Let me use plantar fasciitis as an example. Everyone treats the calf and the foot, yeah? But there's a possibility that if your foot isn't working as well as it could, your body might compensate. You could start using the other leg more. That might create a postural imbalance. And then? Potentially some back discomfort. By the time your foot finally improves, those compensation patterns might still be hanging around. That's where things get tricky. What could potentially be going on: • Your glutes might be really tight due to the compensation → which could contribute to tightness in your calves • Tight calves → could feed into tightness in your foot • A tight foot → might mean you're overloading the other side • Overloading the other side → could shift your posture, create hip imbalance, potentially strain your lower back • All of this → might make you more susceptible to injury and recurring discomfort It's a chain reaction that sometimes treatment plans only touch one link of. This is where myotherapy comes in alongside physio: Here's something to think about—myotherapy and physio exercises could complement each other well. While your physio is training that area to work properly and regain strength, myotherapy is loosening restrictions and releasing tension. You're getting both angles at the same time. Hands-on work might create conditions for change, addressing those compensation patterns. Your physio gives you the tools to train that area. Together? That could amplify your results. One alone might work great for you. Both together? That could give you additional benefits, whether it's longer-lasting relief, faster improvement, or just a more complete picture of what's happening. Something worth considering: When you start looking at the broader picture instead of just that one painful spot, things might start making more sense. The area that hurts isn't always the root cause—sometimes it's dealing with the fallout of everything else upstream. Maybe your exercises aren't shifting things because the tissue needs some preparation first. Maybe your pain keeps returning because compensation patterns are still active. Maybe there's more to the story. It's worth exploring :) By Rachael Bird, Myotherapist Most people think that getting a treatment is a fix-all solution, but actually… it’s only a small part of it. To properly manage pain, you usually need a combination of things!  Understanding What’s Going On Where is the pain coming from? Is it local pain or referred pain? What type of pain is it, and how severe is it? Is that the only source of pain? Sometimes there can be underlying issues, old injuries, movement patterns, or compensations that have gradually contributed to the problem without you even realising it. Treatment & Goals If your treatment goal is only focused on the “here and now,” then there’s a high chance the pain may return. It’s important to look a little further ahead and work on how to keep the pain away long term, or at least help manage it more effectively. This can include self-management strategies or maintenance plans for chronic conditions such as Fibromyalgia or MS. These conditions may not be “fixed,” but treatment can still help provide relief so you can go about being your awesome self. Be Realistic If you’ve had an issue for a long time, there’s a possibility it may take a little while to get you back on track. This also applies to fresh injuries or symptoms. Sometimes what feels “new” is actually something that has been building up over time and has only just decided to crack it — so now you’re finally feeling it. Healing isn’t always straightforward, so it’s important to be mindful and understand that it’s our job to help you — and we genuinely want that too. Everybody is unique. For some people, it is a quick fix, while for others (even with the same pain or same area), it can take a bit longer. Yes… You’ll Probably Get Homework I know this isn’t the best news 😂 However, having the right information and tools can help make your pain:
This may include:
These are all important in helping you achieve your goals more effectively. Our job is to be here when you need us — but not for you to have to rely on us completely. We want you to be able to enjoy your life, do the things you love, and only need us occasionally to help maintain things when needed. We’ll work with you to help manage your issue and get you back to doing what you enjoy most. Plantar Fasciitis is one of the most common causes of heel pain, involving inflammation of the plantar fascia—a collection of tissue that runs across the bottom of your foot and connects your heel bone to your toes as well as all the muscles that help in controlling the feet. What Is It? Plantar fasciitis occurs when the plantar fascia becomes irritated or inflamed, often due to overuse or stress. This condition can lead to sharp heel pain, particularly noticeable with the first steps in the morning.  Common Causes
Early Signs and Symptoms
Effective Treatments Conservative (First-Line) Treatments
Our therapists are all highly qualified and have experience in treating Plantar Fasciitis. We are here for you 7 days a week to support you through treatment of painful conditions - you can book online with any of our therapists. Jumper’s knee is a degenerative condition of the patellar tendon, which connects the kneecap (patella) to the shinbone (tibia). It typically results from repetitive stress and microtears/degeneration in the tendon, leading to pain and inflammation at the front of the knee.  Common Causes:
Early Warning Signs:
Effective Treatments:
Our therapists are all highly qualified with experience in injury rehabilitation and knee pain. We are here for you 7 days a week to support you through treatment of painful conditions - you can book online with any of our therapists. By Andrew Wickens, Myotherapist Hip-focused muscular treatment can significantly boost basketball performance by improving mobility, strength and coordination. Since the hips drive key movements like sprinting, jumping and quick direction changes, keeping these muscles balanced and flexible helps players move more efficiently while reducing injury risk. By maintaining healthy hip function through techniques like stretching and massage, athletes can enhance agility, stability and explosiveness on the court. This leads to better defensive movement, stronger drives and more consistent performance throughout the season.  By Andrew Wickens, Myotherapist Dry needling is used to ease pain and tightness in the calf by targeting specific trigger points (Tight bands within the muscle). The insertion of very fine needles helps these areas, promoting better circulation and reducing muscle tension. This can result in improved flexibility, discomfort decrease and support recovery. This is particularly helpful in people with overuse issues and muscle strains.  By Dr Sarah Varmalis, Senior Osteopath Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome (EDS) is a group of genetic conditions that affect the body’s connective tissue. Connective tissue is what gives structure and support to things like ligaments, skin, blood vessels, and even internal organs. It’s essentially the “scaffolding” that holds everything together. In people with EDS, this connective tissue is more elastic and less supportive than usual. This often shows up as joints that move more than they should (sometimes called hypermobility), skin that may be more stretchy or fragile, and a tendency toward injuries like sprains, dislocations, or ongoing aches and pains. But EDS isn’t just about being “flexible.” Because connective tissue exists throughout the entire body, it can affect multiple systems. This means people may experience a wide range of symptoms; from joint pain and fatigue, to digestive issues, dizziness, or difficulty regulating energy levels. It can look very different from one person to another, which is part of why it’s often misunderstood or missed early on.  Learning More and Getting Diagnosed For those wanting to better understand Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome, ‘The Ehlers-Danlos Society’ is one of the most trusted resources available. They provide up-to-date information on the different types of EDS, as well as guidance around diagnosis and management. The current diagnostic criteria (particularly for hypermobile EDS (hEDS)) can be found here: https://www.ehlers-danlos.com/heds-diagnostic-checklist/ Diagnosis is not always straightforward. It typically involves a combination of medical history, physical assessment (including joint hypermobility), and ruling out other conditions. For many people, the process can take years. EDS also rarely exists in isolation. Because connective tissue is found throughout the body, it’s common to see overlap with other conditions and symptoms, including:
 An Osteopathic Approach to Ehler-Danlos Living with a condition like Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome (EDS) or ongoing chronic pain can feel confusing, frustrating, and at times, overwhelming. Many people go years trying different treatments, often being told that everything looks “normal” despite still feeling far from it. From an osteopathic perspective, the focus shifts away from chasing symptoms and toward understanding how the whole body is functioning and more importantly, where it’s struggling to adapt. What’s Actually Going On? Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome is a connective tissue condition. In simple terms, the “glue” that holds the body together; ligaments, fascia, blood vessels, even organs have a different structure. This often leads to increased flexibility, but that flexibility comes at a cost: reduced stability. Over time, the body works harder to compensate. Muscles overwork, joints become irritated, and the nervous system becomes more sensitive. This is where chronic pain can start to take hold. But here’s the key thing; pain in these conditions isn’t just about joints being “loose.” It’s about how multiple systems in the body are interacting and, in many cases, becoming overloaded. Why Traditional Approaches Don’t Always Work A lot of treatments focus purely on strengthening or stabilising joints. While that can absolutely be helpful, it often doesn’t address the full picture. In people with EDS or persistent pain, there are often underlying drivers such as:
A Different Way of Looking at the Body Osteopathy takes a whole-body approach. Rather than asking “where does it hurt?”, the question becomes “why is the body under strain in the first place?” Two techniques that are particularly useful in these cases are:
Counterstrain: Calming the Nervous System Counterstrain is a technique that focuses on tender points in the body, small areas that reflect dysfunction in muscles, nerves, blood vessels, or organs. Rather than stretching or pushing into pain, the body is placed into positions of ease. These positions are held briefly, allowing the nervous system to “reset” its perception of that area. In patients with EDS or chronic pain, this can be incredibly powerful. Why? Because the nervous system is often running in a heightened, protective state. Counterstrain helps reduce that sensitivity, allowing muscles to relax and improving how the body coordinates movement. A key part of this process is the cranial scan. By gently assessing points along the skull, practitioners can identify which systems in the body are under strain—whether that’s vascular, neurological, or visceral. It becomes a roadmap for treatment, rather than guessing where to start. The Barral Approach: Supporting the Organs When people think about pain, they rarely think about organs but they should. The Barral approach (often called visceral manipulation) looks at how organs move and interact with surrounding structures. Each organ has its own natural rhythm and mobility. When that movement is restricted, it can create tension patterns throughout the body. For example:
In EDS and chronic pain conditions, these subtle restrictions can play a much bigger role than expected. By gently improving how these structures move, the body often finds it easier to settle, stabilise, and function more efficiently. Why Gentle Treatment Matters One of the biggest misconceptions is that stronger or more forceful treatment leads to better results. In reality, for people with EDS or heightened pain sensitivity, the opposite is often true. The body responds best to:
Both Counterstrain and the Barral approach respect this. They work under the body’s tolerance, rather than pushing past it. What Patients Often Notice While every person is different, common changes patients report include:
Importantly, progress is usually gradual and layered—because the body is unwinding patterns that have often been there for years. The Bigger Picture Managing Ehlers-Danlos and chronic pain isn’t about finding a single “fix.” It’s about helping the body become more adaptable, more efficient, and less reactive over time. Osteopathy, particularly when using approaches like Counterstrain and Barral, offers a way to support that process gently and intelligently. It’s not about forcing the body into place—it’s about giving it the space and input it needs to find a better way of functioning. Matt has a strong passion for helping people recover from injury, reduce pain, and improve their overall physical wellbeing. He brings a calm, professional approach to treatment and is committed to delivering hands-on care that supports both short term relief and long term recovery. With practical experience working alongside a local football club, Matt has developed a strong understanding of sports related injuries, muscle recovery, and performance based treatment. This exposure has given him valuable insight into the demands placed on the body through training, competition, and physical activity, allowing him to better support both athletes and active individuals.  Matt enjoys working with clients from all backgrounds - whether they are managing a specific injury, recovering from sport or gym related strain, or dealing with general muscular tightness and postural discomfort from work or lifestyle factors. His treatment approach is focused on identifying the root cause of pain and dysfunction, rather than just treating symptoms. Depending on your needs, Matt may use a combination of:
Matt has a particular interest in helping clients with:
Matt takes pride in creating personalised treatment plans that support recovery, improve movement, and help clients return to the activities they enjoy with greater confidence and comfort. Whether your goal is injury rehabilitation, performance improvement, or simply reducing everyday tension and stress, Matt provides a supportive and effective treatment experience tailored to your individual needs. You can now book with Matt on Mondays, Thursdays & Sundays |
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Mel Simon (Senior Clinical Myotherapist) and Dr Sarah Varmalis (Senior Osteo) are available 7 days a week at our Boronia clinic. Archives
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