Wendy4Therapy

I, Wendy Wagner, am the owner of Wendy4Therapy (W4T) and am the only medical professional involved in your care. I also have a diagnosis of Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome (EDS), postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (POTS), mast cell activation syndrome (MCAS) and cranial cervical instability (CCI) and have a passion for helping others with vague hypermobility disorders navigate the related pain and effect on your lifestyle. After 40+ years of unexplained symptoms (and lots of doctors who told me my pain was “all in my head,”) I have found treatment for managing the pain and modifying activity and am excited to share that knowledge with all of you.

I received my Bachelors in Business Administration from the University of Illinois and my Masters in Physical Therapy from Northwestern University Medical School. I am a board-certified, licensed physical therapist with a specialty in treating patients with Ehlers-Danlos syndrome and hypermobility spectrum disorders. I have spent my 20+ year career providing both adult and pediatric PT care in a variety of settings, including hospitals, in-home, private practice, outpatient clinics, and the Naperville 203 School District. 

With a wide variety of personal and professional experiences, I'm uniquely qualified to serve families and work with you to determine the underlying cause of your disability and make an actionable PLAN. I have a passion for understanding the WHY of a symptom or limitation.  The phrase “unknown etiology” or “we’re just not sure” is not enough. You will never hear me say, “You are just going to have to live with the pain.” There is ALWAYS something you can do. There is ALWAYS another door to walk through or another tool in your toolbox. You deserve more in a trained health care provider. You will leave our time together with a step-by-step guide toward wellness. I partner with all of my patients and their families often forming deep and meaningful relationships that extend well beyond the time spent in the course of their clinical care.

 

 

Specialty Training

Hypermobility, Ehlers Danlos Syndrome and related disorders

  • Attendance at and participation in the 2019 Global EDS Conference in Nashville, TN and all national conferences offered digitally during the pandemic

  • Participant in and contributor to the EDS “ECHO” program collaborating internationally with other health care providers treating patients with EDS/HSD

  • Expert editor of “Selected Heritable Disorders of Connective Tissue and Disability” commissioned by the Health and Medicine Division (HMD) of The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine

  • Published author of clinical research and journal articles related to EDS/HSD and related conditions

  • Involved in ongoing research related to hEDS/HSD

  • Professional educator training medical school residents and other local providers to recognize, diagnose and treat patients with hEDS/HSD and related disorders

Publications

Guidelines for United States federal government and department of social security and disability (expert journal reviewer): National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine 2022. Selected Heritable Disorders of Connective Tissue and Disability. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. https://doi.org/10.17226/26431

Guidelines for management of Upper Cervical Instability: Russek LN, Block NP, Byrne E, Chalela S, Chan C, Comerford M, Frost N, Hennessy S, McCarthy A, Nicholson LL, Parry J,Simmonds J, Stott PJ, Thomas L, Treleaven J, Wagner W and Hakim A (2023) Presentation and physical therapy management of upper cervical instability in patients with symptomatic generalized joint hypermobility: International expert consensus recommendations, Front. Med. 9:1072764, doi: 10.3389/fmed.2022.1072764

Also trained in…

Physical Therapy in ICU
Physical Therapy in NICU
Cardiopulmonary Physical Therapy
Physical Therapy on horseback
Aquatic therapy
Pilates/Yoga
Torticollis and Plagiocephaly
Life Support for Healthcare Providers

Pain management
Neurological Symptoms
Musculoskeletal Symptoms
TMJ and Facial Pain
GI/digestive issues
Dysautonomia
MCAS
POTS
Women’s Health
Fatigue

 
 
 
 

Professional Memberships

American Physical Therapy Association (APTA)
Illinois Physical Therapy Association (IPTA)
The Ehlers Danlos Society & Dysautonomia International Inc.
National Headache Association
Northwestern University Medical School Alumni Mentorship Program
State of Illinois, Early Intervention Program, Credentialed Trainer

 
 
 
 

Personal Interests

My favorite job is being a mother to three fantastic children, Maddie, Emily & Henry. Physical therapy/health coaching are a close second! I also enjoy traveling (just about anywhere), gardening (veggies when I can find the sun), playing sports (that don’t hurt my aging body), walking, playing with my dog, and reading historical fiction.