For Individuals
For Allied Health
For Medical Practitioners
About the service (Australian residents only)
Beyond the Bend™ is a specialist telehealth service for Hypermobility, hEDS & HSD. It gives you an expert clinical assessment backed by one of Australia’s leading hypermobility specialists. You’ll receive a physiotherapist-signed clinical report that brings together your validated Self-Screening Test, your symptoms, and your personal story – giving you clarity, a plan, and a document your GP or specialist can act on to help accelerate your diagnosis.
Your 90-minute telehealth consultation is led by Pauline Slater, one of Australia’s most experienced physiotherapists in hypermobility, HSD and Ehlers-Danlos syndromes. With over 30 years of clinical, educational, research and lived experience, Pauline brings unmatched expertise and compassion to every consultation.
Here’s what makes the Beyond the Bend™ assessment different:
- We see the whole person: We bring together your Self-Screening Test results, targeted assessments (pain, POTS, fatigue, and systemic issues), and your personal story to build a complete picture of your health and priorities.
- Your story leads the way: Everyone’s experience of hypermobility, hEDS, or HSD is different. Your lived experience guides how we interpret your results, determine what matters most to you, and tailor the clinical report to focus on your health priorities.
- We connect the dots: Using your information and validated test results, we help you identify patterns in your symptoms, family history, and daily experiences.
About Pauline
Pauline Slater combines decades of clinical expertise with lived experience of HSD, hEDS and POTS, giving her a rare level of understanding and empathy. She has guided thousands of individuals through their diagnostic journey and is recognised as a leading voice in hypermobility care across Australia and internationally:
- Specialist Physiotherapist: Extensive experience in Hypermobility, HSD, hEDS, POTS, chronic pain, and neurodivergent presentations.
- Lived Experience: Personally affected by EDS, HSD and POTS, offering genuine understanding and empathy.
- Global Educator: Presenter at several EDS Society International Scientific and Global Learning conferences; joint facilitator of the EDSECHO Australasian clinician training program; and trainer with the Australian Physiotherapy Association and Australian Association for Musculoskeletal Medicine.
- Recognised Leader: Involved in The Ehlers-Danlos Society Centres & Networks of Excellence (CNE) program.
- Active Researcher: Conducting research with Adelaide University on the diagnostic journey, impact, and lived experience of individuals living with EDS and HSD in Australia.
Founder and Principal Physiotherapist, Clinician Educator, Researcher
B.App.Sc (Physio), M.Ed., MAPA (Pain & Paediatrics), MAPS, HMSA Member, EDS Society Affiliate & CORE Network of Excellence (CNE), POTS Foundation Member.
What’s included
The Beyond the Bend™ assessment is designed to give you a comprehensive and meaningful understanding of your situation. It includes:
- A 90-minute telehealth consultation tailored to your symptoms and concerns.
- Screening for POTS/Dysautonomia, pain and fatigue, plus a systemic review of the issues impacting you most.
- Identification of red flags and co-existing conditions that may influence your diagnosis or treatment plan.
- Immediate management and next steps, including treatment guidance, support strategies, and clear recommendations for referrals and ongoing care.
- A validated, physiotherapist-signed clinical report ready for your GP or specialist to use to accelerate your diagnosis.
- Potential Medicare and private health fund rebates, depending on your eligibility.
⚠️IMPORTANT: Before you book a Beyond the Bend™ assessment, please ensure that you have completed our free online Self-Screening Test (takes approx. 15mins). A PDF report will be emailed to you upon completion, and this is required for the assessment.
(you will be taken to our booking app)
This is not a formal diagnosis
Please note that the Beyond the Bend™ assessment is not a formal medical diagnosis. Our experienced EDS/HSD and POTS practitioners will review your symptoms against internationally recognised diagnostic criteria and assessment tools and help you understand whether they support the hEDS or HSD diagnosis provided by the Self-Screening Tool. A hEDS diagnosis can only be conferred by a Medical Practitioner in Australia. Likewise, APHRA regulations mean that allied health practitioners cannot formally diagnose conditions like Ehlers–Danlos syndrome or other connective tissue disorders.
Making informed decisions
Before booking, it’s helpful to check with any relevant organisations about documentation or formal requirements, as this report is not meant for legal or insurance purposes. During your initial contact, let us know your specific needs so we can ensure the assessment supports your goals. It’s important to note that some organisations specifically require assessment by particular specialists or face-to-face assessment. We can help guide you towards appropriate specialists if needed.
