Black and Blue Ribbons – a Column by Karen Del Vecchio

July 28, 2020July 24, 2020

Peeling Back the Layers of Physical Issues

Black and Blue Ribbons - a Column by Karen Del Vecchio, Columns

My horse, Cherry, fractured a bone in her foot in May. She came to me 14 months ago with a variety of physical compensations, which I’ve written about in ... Read more

July 21, 2020July 16, 2020

Pilates Is Another Key to Building Body Awareness

Black and Blue Ribbons - a Column by Karen Del Vecchio, Columns

I wrote last week about how much horseback riding has helped me with body awareness. Another activity that has helped me significantly improve body awareness is Pilates. Pilates also ... Read more

July 14, 2020July 9, 2020

Horseback Riding Has Boosted My Body Awareness

Black and Blue Ribbons - a Column by Karen Del Vecchio, Columns

Recently, someone mentioned that I seem to have heightened body awareness. I’d never really thought about it, but I guess I do pay attention to how my body moves ... Read more

July 7, 2020July 2, 2020

Why Do My Arms Have Different Muscle Tone?

Black and Blue Ribbons - a Column by Karen Del Vecchio, Columns

I rarely wear short-sleeve shirts, but it’s not because of the same reason I often wear pants instead of shorts. Rather, it’s because I sunburn easily. I practically live ... Read more

June 30, 2020June 26, 2020

Chronic Fatigue and Summer Heat Are a Tough Combo

Black and Blue Ribbons - a Column by Karen Del Vecchio, Columns

Some people like summer. Love it even. I’m not one of them. In fact, if I listed the four seasons for their weather attributes, summer would come in a ... Read more

June 23, 2020June 19, 2020

Patience and Horse Training Pay Off for My Body’s Physical Challenges

Black and Blue Ribbons - a Column by Karen Del Vecchio, Columns

One of the great things about horseback riding is that when done correctly, it requires an enormous amount of body awareness. While many people see a person riding and ... Read more

June 16, 2020June 12, 2020

Why Do I Mentally Frame My EDS the Way I Do?

Black and Blue Ribbons - a Column by Karen Del Vecchio, Columns

I realized earlier that I don’t often think of myself as having EDS. It’s not that I don’t recognize or accept that I have it, but that I rarely ... Read more

June 9, 2020June 5, 2020

Are Blisters Part of My EDS?

Black and Blue Ribbons - a Column by Karen Del Vecchio, Columns

Wow, did summer sure decide to turn on its furnace overnight here in Virginia. A day ago, it was in the mid-70s and perfect, and today it was 92 ... Read more

June 2, 2020May 29, 2020

Adjusting to a Temporary New Normal

Black and Blue Ribbons - a Column by Karen Del Vecchio, Columns

Last week, I was able to see my massage therapist for the first time in over three months due to the pandemic. About 10 years ago, I learned that ... Read more

May 26, 2020May 21, 2020

Letting Go of People’s Nosy Comments

Black and Blue Ribbons - a Column by Karen Del Vecchio, Columns

One thing that’s both particularly difficult as well as sometimes wonderful about Ehlers-Danlos syndrome (EDS) is that, for the most part, it’s invisible. Except for my bruising, if you ... Read more