Individuals
Allied Health
Medical Practitioners
The Beyond the Bend™ Hypermobility Assessment is our specialist diagnosis support service. It builds on your Self-Screening Test results to give you clarity, a personalised plan, and a clinically validated, signed-off report that can be directly addressed to your GP or specialist to help progress your diagnosis. The service is delivered by a senior physiotherapist with deep expertise in hypermobility-related disorders.
The service is designed to be the missing piece to help address current diagnostic bottlenecks.
What makes the Beyond the Bend™ different?
Our structured telehealth assessments focus on combining your initial screening results, targeted additional screening tools, and your lived experience to build a complete, nuanced picture of your health – and turn it into something you can actually act on.
Here’s what that approach looks like in practice:
- 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, HSD or hEDS is different. Your lived experience guides how we interpret your results, determine what matters most to you, and tailor our services to focus on your health priorities.
- We connect your dots: Using your information and validated test results, we help you identify patterns in your symptoms, family history, and daily experiences.
About your practitioner
Pauline Slater, one of Australia’s most experienced physiotherapists in hypermobility, HSD and Ehlers-Danlos Syndromes. Pauline 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.
How it works
The Beyond the Bend™ service comprises three (3) structured consultations conducted by a senior physiotherapist with deep expertise in hypermobility-related disorders.
This carefully staged process allows for a thorough clinical assessment of your hypermobility, including evaluation for Hypermobility Spectrum Disorders (HSD) and hypermobile Ehlers-Danlos syndrome (hEDS). It also includes a careful review of your clinical history, symptoms, associated conditions, and the broader impact on your daily functioning to develop a clear, comprehensive picture of your health.
Each consultation includes dedicated professional time for clinical review, analysis, and documentation to ensure you get an accurate and medically validated result.
- Completion of all three (3) consultations is required to receive your comprehensive, clinically validated report.
- Medicare and private health fund rebates may apply depending on your eligibility. Please check with your provider 🏷️
🇦🇺 This service is currently available to Australian residents only.
What’s included
Structured 3-stage assessment process designed to build a thorough and clinically robust picture of your hypermobility and overall health.
Face-to-face consultations with a senior specialist physiotherapist experienced in hypermobility-related assessment and management.
Comprehensive assessment for hypermobility, HSD and hEDS, including expert review of your Self Screening Test results.
Additional screening for POTS/dysautonomia, pain, fatigue, and hypermobility impact, plus a body-wide systemic review of the issues affecting you most.
Identification of red flags and co-existing conditions that may influence diagnosis, treatment planning, or referral pathways.
Immediate management guidance and next steps, including treatment advice, support strategies, and clear recommendations for referrals and ongoing care.
MOST IMPORTANTLY – you’ll receive a comprehensive, clinically validated report, signed-off by an accredited health practitioner and ready for your GP or specialist to use in supporting your diagnosis.
⚠️ Before you can access the Beyond the Bend™ service, 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.
🛑 This is not a formal diagnosis
Please note that the Beyond the Bend™ service is not a formal medical diagnosis. Our experienced 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. A hEDS diagnosis can only be conferred by a Medical Practitioner in Australia. Likewise, AHPRA 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 service 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.