Why “Dazzle” Health?
Did you know that a group of Zebras is called a “Dazzle”? And that people with Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome and other connective tissue disorders are called "medical Zebras” because of how difficult it is to diagnose?
The term "zebra" is used to describe people with Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome (EDS) due to a metaphor often taught in medical school. The metaphor, "When you hear hoofbeats, think horses, not zebras," encourages medical students to consider common diagnoses before exploring rarer ones when faced with a patient's symptoms. In other words, the more likely explanation for a set of symptoms should be prioritized over a rarer one.
EDS is a group of rare genetic disorders characterized by hypermobility, skin that is easily bruised or hyperextensible, and joint pain, among other symptoms. The condition is often misdiagnosed or undiagnosed for a long time because its symptoms can be attributed to more common conditions. People with EDS are called "zebras" because they represent the less common diagnoses that medical professionals might not consider immediately. The zebra metaphor has been embraced by the EDS community to raise awareness about the condition and highlight the importance of considering rare disorders in medical practice.
Julie Griffis, PT, IHWC Credentials & Specialties:
Licensed Physical Therapist
Integrative Health & Wellness Coach
Hypermobility Specialist
EDS ECHO Training Certification
STOTT Pilates Rehabilitation Training
Certification in Cannabis Science & Medicine
Certification in Cannabis Plant Biology
Foraging & Natural Medicine
Trauma-Informed Therapist
CranioSacral Therapy Training
About Me
Julie Griffis, PT, IHWC, was born and raised in Shelburne, Vermont, where she later attended the University of Vermont and graduated with her Bachelor of Science in Physical Therapy in 1999. Throughout her physical therapy career, she has worked in many different settings of physical therapy practice, from acute care to rehabilitation centers to outpatient clinics, and with clients of all ages, from premature infants to end-of-life Hospice care.
She has focused most of her professional continuing education classes on learning and implementing intentional movement practices primarily based on the Pilates Method, Therapeutic Yoga and more traditional exercise and sports medicine movement disciplines. She specializes in various manual techniques, including Integrative Manual Therapy, CranioSacral Therapy, and Myofascial Release.
She prefers a holistic, “whole person” approach when working with her clients and often incorporates different forms of mindfulness to strengthen the mind-body connection. She has completed additional training to become a Trauma Informed Therapist and has a certification in Cannabis Science & Medicine and Integrative Health & Wellness Coaching.
Many years ago, after being diagnosed with hypermobile Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome herself, she focused on learning as much as she could about Ehlers-Danlos syndrome and hypermobility spectrum disorders and their associated comorbidities such as Craniocervical Instability (CCI), Tethered Cord Syndrome (TC), Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome (POTS), Fibromyalgia, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, Mast Cell Activation Disorder (MCAD) and Vascular Compression Syndromes. She has completed the Ehlers-Danlos Society certification training through ECHO North America for Allied Health Professionals and many other continuing education courses. She now focuses her practice on working with clients with connective tissue disorders, helping people gain the body awareness, joint stability, strength, and proper conditioning they need to reduce pain and increase function without making their condition worse.
She enjoys gardening, hiking, foraging with her dog in her spare time, and making various handcrafted herbal products. She loves to create and is also a self-taught Artist working in mixed media, including acrylic painting, epoxy resin, and soft pastels. She lives in Milton with her partner, Dan, and daughters, Arlo and Alana.
I’d love to help you learn to love your bendy body. See how you can work with me to discover how to let your Zebra stripes shine!
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