By Elizabeth Douglas, Marketing and Communications

Kat Lee is a Bachelor of Physical Education and Coaching student carving not only a path for her career as a personal trainer, but toward a more accessible fitness industry for all.

After being diagnosed with hypermobile Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome (hEDS) at 16 years old, she found herself adapting to a new way of life and rethinking her original career choice of marine biology.

Ehlers-Danlos syndromes are a group of 13 connective tissue disorders that can cause joint hypermobility and instability, fatigue, dizziness, digestive issues and bruise-prone skin, often presenting alongside other comorbidities.

“When I was diagnosed, the doctors told me that my career prospects in marine biology had to be dropped. I wouldn’t be able to tolerate diving or the cold water,” she says. “I had to think logically about what I could do with my life.”

Everything changed when a high school visit from the Douglas College Sports Institute led her to the Diploma in Sport Science – Kinesiology program.

“I changed my career from one field of biology to another, but I knew I wanted to do something physically active for my employment. Kinesiology felt like the logical choice,” she says.

Defying expectations

At only 25 years old, Kat has close to 10 years of experience working in the fitness industry and 31 active clients. Still, she gets asked how it’s possible for her to be a personal trainer with a chronic illness.

She’s eager to explain.

A comorbidity of her hEDS is dysautonomia, a nervous system dysfunction that can cause spikes in her blood pressure, followed by a plummeting heart rate. Working in an active environment combats these symptoms.

“When you pump your muscles, you’re moving lymphatic fluid through your body and pushing blood back to the heart and lungs,” she says. “So, when I’m exercising, I’m totally fine. Ask me to stand in line at the store? Not happening.” 

Training a diverse range of clients – from others with EDS, to seniors, and even clients just looking to build some muscle – stems from an acute awareness that fitness doesn’t have a universal approach. Kat’s process centres around building client knowledge on muscle and joint function so that they can exercise safely and more efficiently on their own.

“I try to be as educational as possible. I know some of my clients could care less about anatomy, but I want them to understand how their body works,” she says. “This is why the Sport Science program’s emphasis on teaching was really attractive to me. A big component of that is getting trainers more familiar with muscular anatomy, ergonomics and biomechanics. If they know it, then they can teach their clients.”

While EDS affects so many aspects of her life, it has allowed her to relate to her clients and find efficient solutions to their own fitness challenges. She focuses on what her clients can do, while being attentive to their limitations.

“I had a client who never felt sore in his muscles after lifting heavy weights but always did in his joints. Then I noticed that his elbows were hypermobile and turned backwards, like mine. All it took to alleviate his joint pain was a simple grip adjustment,” she says. “It’s all about adapting the exercises to people’s anatomy, regardless of their ability or disability.”

Raising awareness

According to the EDS Canada Foundation, there are more than 126,000 Canadians living with hEDS. But obtaining that diagnosis is far from straightforward.

“Your connective tissue is everywhere – cartilage, ligaments, tendons, blood, bone, everything. Anything and everything can be affected, so you kind of sound like a hypochondriac,” she says. “I’m extremely lucky to have had a doctor who noticed my hypermobile elbows. The average diagnosis time is 21 years, but I got mine in just three.”

Kat uses her Instagram account to raise awareness for EDS and hopes that bringing attention to it will allow more people to obtain a diagnosis in a shorter period of time.

During Ehlers-Danlos Syndromes Awareness Month in May, Kat showed support for the Ehlers-Danlos Society’s “Light it Up” challenge, organizing for Science World, BC Place and New Westminster City Hall to be lit orange.

While working on a reflective Instagram post about achieving small wins, Kat noted her petition to get Science World to light up. Her partner insisted it was more than a small win.

“All I did was send an email, but he said it didn’t matter, that I did it anyway. Some people with my condition don’t have the energy, the means or the function of their hands to type that email,” she says. “I acknowledge the vast amount of privilege I have as someone with a milder case of Ehlers-Danlos, because I’m able to do all of this. I have the capacity physically and energy-wise to advocate,” she says.

An accessible education

For Kat, coming to Douglas wasn’t just about strengthening her sport science skills, it was about choosing a post-secondary that placed importance on accommodating her needs in pursuit of success.

Meeting with Accessibility Services helped Kat obtain a student loan, disability grant and technology like a laptop and a smart pen to help with notetaking, as well as assisting her plan for her future British Columbia Association of Kinesiologists (BCAK) certification.

“It was important to me that coming to Douglas meant accessing good accessibility services,” she says. “When my friends decide to go to post-secondary, one of the main reasons I urge them to come to Douglas is because of the accommodations.”

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