Ground Control for Bendy Bodies: How to Move Without Pain (Finally!) with Dr. Melissa Koehl cover art

Ground Control for Bendy Bodies: How to Move Without Pain (Finally!) with Dr. Melissa Koehl

Ground Control for Bendy Bodies: How to Move Without Pain (Finally!) with Dr. Melissa Koehl

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 "You have to give your body the time to repair between sessions and respect from a cellular perspective how much energy they can effectively produce on any given day." —Dr. Melissa Koehl Why does exercise leave you in more pain—even when you're doing 'everything right’? If you’re hypermobile, traditional fitness advice might be sabotaging your body instead of healing it. The truth? Bendy bodies need a whole new rulebook for movement—one that prioritizes stability over stretching and rest over reps. Dr. Melissa Koehl is a Doctor of Physical Therapy, Pilates instructor, and founder of Chimera Health. With 24 years of experience—and her own late-stage EDS diagnosis—Melissa bridges clinical expertise with hard-won personal insight to redefine what "healthy movement" really means for connective tissue disorders. Ready to finally move without pain? Tune in to uncover why less is more, how to spot the hidden signs of overexertion, and the game-changing strategies Dr. Melissa uses to help her clients reclaim strength (and sanity). Connect with Donna: Website: https://www.donnapiper.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/donnapiper Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thedonnapiper Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thedonnapiper YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@thedonnapiper Episode Highlights: 04:09 Melissa’s Journey Living with Hypermobility 07:15 The Ground Control Program 10:26 Common Symptoms and Misconceptions of Hypermobility 21:13 The Role of Rest and Recovery in Hypermobility 32:08 The Importance of Diagnosis and Self-Advocacy 36:31 Resources and Support for Patients 39:43 You Are an Orchid, Not a Dandelion Resources: Ground Control is starting again in October: https://www.chimera-health.com/ground-control-october-2025-waitlist Two courses that are always available: Navigating Healthcare as a Hypermobile Human: https://www.chimera-health.com/NavigatingHealthcareChimeraFit Video library: https://www.chimera-health.com/ChimeraFit-Video-Library X: If your joints are 'too flexible' but your pain is relentless, you’ve been lied to about exercise. Hypermobility isn’t just about bendy limbs—it’s fatigue, brain fog, and a body that rebels against normal workouts. Doctor of Physical Therapy and Pilates Instructor, Dr. Melissa Koehl, drops truth bombs on the shocking links between EDS, mast cells, and why your PT might be missing the big picture. Listen now to learn how to move smarter, not harder. #DearBodyImListening #MCAS #Lymphedema #Lipedema #ChronicIllness #dysautonomia #hypermobility #painmanagement #EDS Quotes: 02:54 "Even though I had been hypermobile my whole life, I had no idea it affected my daily living as much as it did." —Donna Piper 04:52 "I definitely didn't know anything about EDS or connective tissue disorders or anything like that. It just really like it made sense to me that, because I was bendy, I might have more injuries." —Dr. Melissa Koehl 11:40 "I think a big thing is understanding that your body shouldn't be in pain all the time." —Dr. Melissa Koehl 12:17 "Fatigue is a huge common symptom of hypermobility. I have yet to meet a patient or client of mine that doesn't struggle with it in a very serious way." —Dr. Melissa Koehl 17:02 "If more of your blood is hanging out in your feet and at the bottom of your pelvis, not as much as getting back up to your heart and up to your head, and that's a big driver of brain fog and fatigue as well." —Dr. Melissa Koehl 21:40 "It's not just your muscles that you're working out when we move, it's all of the tendons and the ligaments and the fascia, all of it needs to repair." —Dr. Melissa Koehl 22:24 "You have to give your body the time to repair between sessions and respect from a cellular perspective how much energy they can effectively produce on any given day." —Dr. Melissa Koehl 30:00 "There's a misconception that hypermobility spectrum disorder is a lesser than diagnosis than hypermobile EDS, when in fact, they are two completely overlapping things. " —Dr. Melissa Koehl 40:33 "I think the one important thing that everyone benefits from hearing is that it's not your fault." —Dr. Melissa Koehl 41:31 "There are extra things that need to be considered with a connective tissue issue. It is more challenging; give yourself the time to find the providers that truly understand it. “Give yourself the time to rest without apology, give your body the rest that it needs." —Dr. Melissa Koehl 43:40 "You don't need joint dislocations to have connective tissue disorder." —Dr. Melissa Koehl 46:10 “These symptoms are just not normal, so symptom management is huge. You don't have to be a pain all the time.” —Donna Piper Connect with Melissa: Melissa Koehl is a Doctor of Physical Therapy and Pilates instructor based in Chicago, IL, with over 24 years of experience. She's a board-certified Orthopedic Clinical Specialist and spent more than a decade ...
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