InVisible

Episode Summary
In this episode of The Invisible Podcast, host Dr. Ashton Wilson sits down with Katie Cleary, pediatric physiotherapist and Director of Ocean Kids Health. Drawing from both her personal experience with Hypermobility Spectrum Disorder (HSD) and over 15 years of clinical expertise, Katie shares key insights into recognizing, validating, and treating pediatric hypermobility.
Together, they explore the new 2023 international pediatric diagnostic criteria, the crucial link between hypermobility and neurodivergence, practical tips for busy families, and why movement should always be play-based, empowering, and fun.
Key Takeaways
Listen to and Validate Children Early: When a child reports pain, fatigue, or difficulty keeping up, take them seriously. Early intervention prevents acute issues from becoming chronic challenges.
The 2023 Pediatric Diagnostic Criteria: Designed specifically for ages 5–18, this framework replaces adult-centric tools to properly classify pediatric hypermobility subtypes (symptomatic and asymptomatic).
Hypermobility & Neurodivergence: Conditions like Autism, ADHD, and Developmental Coordination Disorder (DCD) frequently co-occur with hypermobility due to underlying sensory processing differences and joint proprioception needs.
Make Movement Fun: Effective pediatric therapy relies on residual heat, bodyweight play, pool work, and games—not rigid or boring home exercise routines.
Pacing over Consistency: Shift the mindset from rigid daily routines to "continuing" at a natural pace to avoid burnout for both kids and parents.
Timestamped Chapter Outline
Timestamp
Chapter Title
00:00
Introduction & Welcome
01:25
The Origins of Ocean Kids Health
02:50
Katie’s Personal Journey with Hypermobility
07:40
How Hypermobility Presents in Early Childhood
10:45
Understanding the 2023 Pediatric Diagnostic Criteria
12:00
Play-Based Treatment Strategies & Movement Therapy
16:38
Overcoming Challenges: System Barriers & Time Poverty
20:19
The Link Between Neurodivergence and Hypermobility
25:11
The Future of Therapeutic Guidelines
30:42
Audience Q&A: Early Signs, Intervention & Running
36:12
Hypotonia (Low Tone) vs. Hypermobility
41:36
Katie’s Top Takeaways for Parents and Clinicians
44:13
Rapid-Fire Questions & Final Thoughts
Key Quotes
"I just love helping families get that diagnosis and recognition, because the sooner we know what's going on, the more support we can give kiddos to have a much better quality of life."
— Katie Cleary
"Movement is medicine for all of our little people. It doesn't matter how you move or what movement you do, but finding joy in it is what keeps kids going."
— Katie Cleary
Mentioned Resources & Links
Ocean Kids Health Website: oceankidshealth.com.au
Connect with Katie Cleary: LinkedIn
International Pediatric Diagnostic Criteria (2023): Developed via The Ehlers-Danlos Society Pediatric Working Group.

Ever feel like your eyes are exhausted by 3 PM, or suffer from mysterious end-of-day headaches? In this episode, Dr. Ashton Wilson sits down with Newport optometrist and university lecturer Victor El-Khoury to unpack the surprising connection between eye health, chronic inflammation, and connective tissue disorders like Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome (EDS) and Hypermobility Spectrum Disorder (HSD).
We dive deep into why "dry eye" is actually a systemic inflammatory issue, why eye drops are often just a band-aid solution, and how hidden eye muscle fatigue can directly trigger neck pain, TMJ issues, and migraines.
What we discuss in this episode:
The Reality of Dry Eyes: Why 80% of cases are actually Meibomian Gland Dysfunction (MGD) and why "watery eyes" are a classic sign of inflammation.
The "Eye Gym" Analogy: How computer screens put our eyes through a grueling 12-hour workout, and how specialized lenses can stop a visual system crash.
The Hypermobility & Collagen Connection: How hypermobility impacts the eye's delicate tracking muscles, leading to Binocular Vision Dysfunction (BVD).
Audience Q&A: Vic breaks down the physiology of the 20-20-20 rule, how to manage eye flares if you have Mast Cell Activation Syndrome (MCAS), and the true "Toyota of eye drops."
Connect with our Guest:
Visit Victor El-Khoury at iLab Newport.

In this episode, Dr Ashton Wilson (Osteopath) chats with Naturopath Kris Jasper about the management of Mast cell activation syndrome. We also take a deep dive into the road to 2026 and what’s to come with the updated diagnostic criteria for hEDS and HSD. It's jam packed with goodness!

In this supercharged episode, Sports Chiro Luke Nelson joins me on the podcast to discuss the different kinds of stress that can impact injury recovery. This conversation takes lots of twists and turns into the demands of running, long term injury and mental health. Luke is a brilliant guest and speaks with such passion about his work.Find Luke on Instagram @sportschiroluke

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In this episode I’m joined by Justine Daly, midwife and hypnotherapist who discusses her journey to becoming a hypnotherapist, the many benefits of restorative rest for our health, the role of hypnotherapy in our healthcare system. This is a great chat that takes lots of twists and turns into the world of hypnotherapy. A worthy listen!You can find Justine on Instagram @youhypnotherapy
 

In this episode, I’m joined by the well renowned Dr Jason Lam (MD) who shares with us his knowledge on Hypermobility, the EDS/POTS/MCAS Trifecta as well as his thoughts on the current state of EDS diagnosis and our healthcare system. This episode is spicy with some hot takes and some juicy discussion points.Instagram: @_thedancedr

In this episode, I sit down with my friend Josh Cauchi, personal trainer from Bacchus Marsh who lives with Diabetes. In this episode we discuss training options for people with Diabetes, the difference between type 1 and type 2 diabetes and Josh shares his own experience with receiving diagnosis.

In this episode, I jump on the mic myself to say a huge thank you to everyone who has downloaded or listened to an episode of the Invisible podcast. I share my 3 biggest takeaways from podcasting as well as updates in my world including being back seeing clients in the clinic, teaching my course online and my upcoming Canada trip!

In this episode with the Barbell Osteo, Caity Hanniver, we discuss our journeys into the online world of allied health. We talk about how our individual passions for movement and education have lead us both down the pathway of online care. We also discuss the shortcomings of manual therapy, the need for more creativity amongst our allied health professionals and how we as a healthcare system can improve our clients experience.