Pelvic Floor Dysfunction & Hypermobility with Dr. Amy Stein
Zebra Talks: Living Your Best Bendy LifeShow Notes
Host Dr. Libby Hinsley interviews pelvic floor physical therapist and author Dr. Amy Stein, founder of Beyond Basics Physical Therapy. Stein discusses the strong overlap she sees between hypermobility and pelvic floor dysfunction (estimating about 70% of her patients), including patterns of pelvic floor gripping used for stability, pelvic pain, prolapse, hernias, constipation/IBS symptoms, possible pelvic congestion, and bladder, bowel, and sexual dysfunction across all genders.
She emphasizes a multimodal approach: calming tissues, building stability gradually with isometrics and deep core work, modifying exercise, and prioritizing nervous system regulation and mindfulness. Stein also addresses perimenopause/menopause and their effects on symptoms, tissue elasticity, muscle health, and the role of hormone therapy and topical creams. She describes her Wellness By Nature CBD products and advises seeking experienced pelvic floor PTs with thorough assessment.
Highlights of this episode include:
00:00 Welcome to Zebra Talks 00:35 Meet Amy Stein 01:45 Hypermobility overlap 03:59 Amy’s bendy story 05:57 Common pelvic patterns 07:26 Multimodal treatment 09:47 Pelvic floor basics 12:07 Stability and exercise 15:35 Bowel and congestion 18:18 Perimenopause and hormones 22:48 Tissue changes and creams 24:18 CBD products explained 27:37 Lifestyle and whole body 31:27 Finding the right pelvic PT 33:40 Wrap up and resources
More from Zebra Talks: Living Your Best Bendy Life
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Host Dr. Libby Hinsley welcomes physical therapist Dr. Laura Glazebrook to discuss scoliosis, especially its overlap with hypermobility. Laura shares her own history of rapidly progressing scoliosis, undergoing a spinal fusion at age 11, and later realizing she likely falls on the hypermobility spectrum.
Dr. Libby Hinsley welcomes menopause specialist and nurse practitioner Vanessa Weiland, founder of Phases Clinic and creator of Bendy Menopause, who also has hypermobile EDS and MCAS.
Host Dr. Libby Hinsley interviews Abbey Phillipson, a classical Ehlers-Danlos syndrome (EDS) advocate and Paralympic strength and conditioning coach at the University of Michigan. Abbey shares her experience with early signs, diagnosis via genetics (COL5A1), and serious complications of Classical EDS.
Host Dr. Libby Hinsley welcomes pelvic and orthopedic rehabilitation expert Dr. Ginger Garner to Zebra Talks to discuss hip pain in hypermobility syndromes, focusing on hip dysplasia, borderline dysplasia, and micro-instability, which commonly coexist with generalized joint hypermobility. Garner cites studies showing over two thirds—and up to 78% in one cohort—of patients with hip dysplasia meet hypermobility criteria, emphasizing screening beyond labral tears and FAI. She describes practical signs and stresses the value of weight-bearing x-rays, manual therapy, and self-treatment tools, and shares her background integrating yoga, public health, and lifestyle medicine.