Show notes
What if a child has joint instability but doesn’t actually look hypermobile? And when are “growing pains” a sign that something more is going on?
In this episode of Bendy Bodies, Dr. Linda Bluestein sits down with Sarah Cohen Solomon, MD, a board-certified pediatrician at UVA Health specializing in Ehlers-Danlos syndromes (EDS), joint hypermobility, and related conditions, to unpack how connective tissue disorders can present differently in children and why they can be so easy to miss.
Dr. Solomon, who was diagnosed with hEDS herself at age 20, explains why evaluating joint hypermobility in children requires more than a quick Beighton score. They discuss how muscle tension can mask joint instability, why coaches, teachers, and parents may notice problems before clinicians do, and when recurring “growing pains” deserve a closer look.
The conversation also explores the significant overlap between hypermobility and neurodivergence, including ADHD and autism, as well as dizziness, orthostatic intolerance, and POTS in children and adolescents.
Just as importantly, Drs. Bluestein and Solomon tackle a difficult question: How do we validate a child’s very real symptoms without increasing fears about their body being fragile?
You’ll hear practical strategies for creating flare plans, using a traffic-light system to guide activity, choosing meaningful school accommodations for dynamic disabilities, and helping children remain active without repeatedly pushing them into symptom flares.
Dr. Solomon also explains when pediatric patients should be referred to specialists, how a 10-minute standing test can help evaluate orthostatic symptoms, and why gentle, consistent physical therapy may be more successful than an aggressive “push through it” approach.
The episode closes with a rapid-fire round covering pediatric red flags, favorite treatment strategies, and a surprisingly simple hypermobility hack for long flights and car rides.
Takeaways:
• Can a child have unstable joints without looking flexible? Muscle tension and guarding may hide more than you think.
• When are “growing pains” not just growing pains? Learn which patterns deserve a closer look.
• Is the Beighton score enough to identify hypermobility in children? Dr. Solomon explains what this commonly used tool can miss.
• Why do hypermobility, ADHD, and autism so often show up together? The overlap may be an important piece of the clinical puzzle.
• Could a simple 10-minute standing test provide clues about dizziness, POTS, or orthostatic intolerance? Here’s what clinicians and families should know.
• Can physical therapy actually make a hypermobile child feel worse? Learn why pushing too hard, too fast may backfire and what a more sustainable approach can look like.
• What can schools do when a child’s abilities change from day to day? The right accommodations can support participation without unnecessarily limiting activity.
• And what’s Dr. Solomon’s simple hypermobility hack for long flights and car rides? Stay to the end for her surprisingly practical tip.
Want more of Dr. Sarah Cohen Solomon?
Website: https://thebendypediatrician.com/
Instagram: @thebendypediatrician
Want more Dr. Linda Bluestein, MD?Website: https://www.hypermobilitymd.com/YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@bendybodiespodcastInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/hypermobilitymd/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BendyBodiesPodcastX: https://twitter.com/BluesteinLindaLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/hypermobilitymd/Newsletter: https://hypermobilitymd.substack.com/Shop my Amazon store https://www.amazon.com/shop/hypermobilitymdDr. Bluestein's Recommended Herbs, Supplements and Care Necessities: https://us.fullscript.com/welcome/hypermobilitymd/store-start
Want to learn more about the UVA EDS Center?
For Appointments and Questions: RUVAEDSCenter@uvahealth.orgUVA EDS: https://www.uvahealth.com/healthy-practice/advancing-care-through-ehlers-danlos-clinicUVA EDS FAQ: https://www.uvahealth.com/support/eds/faq
UVA Pediatric Integrative Medicine: https://childrens.uvahealth.com/specialties/integrative-health
Thank YOU so much for tuning in. We hope you found this episode informative, inspiring, useful, validating, and enjoyable. Join us on the next episode for YOUR time to level up your knowledge about hypermobility disorders and the people who have them.
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