Actify - Empowering You Through Movement

Actify - Empowering You Through Movement Helping Individuals with Joint Hypermobility & Ehlers-Danlos Syndromes to Take Control of Their Lives Dr. Marcia C.

Perretto, is a Doctor of Physical Therapy with advanced training in orthopedic manual therapy, movement sciences, Yoga Therapy, and Redcord®. She specializes in treating patients and working with clients that present with joint hypermobility and Ehlers-Danlos Syndromes as well as with all those who present with inherited and acquired connective tissue disorders. She has a special focus to the studies of human movement sciences as well as the neurosciences of pain and its impact on peoples lives, and has developed a special approach to address the neuromyofascial pain syndromes with the use of scientific proven processes of brain training. ​Her goal is to help those with joint hypermobility to take control of their lives by strengthening their bodies and learning how to live s a healthier and more fulfilled life. A one-time semi-professional figure skater who had to undergo three hip surgeries due to multiple hip subluxations and joint instability, and has hypermobile Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome herself, knows first hand the pain of hypermobile joints, and all other systemic symptoms brought about by hEDS and the challenge of full rehabilitation when experiencing such symptoms. Dr. Perretto is an active researcher in Ehlers Danlos Syndromes and joint hypermobility disorders in partnership with several medical professionals in the areas of movement science and hypermobility syndromes. She has served as a clinical instructor for Nova Southeastern University and Florida International University for the Entry Level Doctor of Physical Therapy Program. She is a book author, educator and recognized speaker both nationally and internationally in the areas of orthopedics, neurosciences, Ehlers-Danilo’s Syndromes and hypermobility spectrum disorders. After receiving her Bachelor’s degree in Physical Therapy at a recognized catholic university in south Brazil, Dr. Perretto completed her transition to Doctor of Physical Therapy degree at Nova Southeastern University. Dr. Perretto continuously develops her knowledge and training in the movement sciences, neuroscience of pain and hypermobility syndromes. She completed her Orthopedic Manual Therapy Certification at the Ola Grimsby Institute in California and a Health Coach Training program with the Institute for Integrative Nutrition in New York, where she learned more than 100 dietary theories and a holistic approach to wellness. Dr. Perretto is certified as a yoga therapy instructor (YTT200) and holds several certifications in Neurac Redcord® and Redcord® Active. Redcord® Is a unique suspension training process, born in Norway, that offers a specialized skill set in kinetic-chain assessments and corrective exercise programs proven to be extremely efficient in the treatment of joint hypermobility, musculoskeletal and neurological issues. ​

Bracing and “staying tight” are often recommended for hypermobility but constant tension can actually disrupt how the bo...
01/14/2026

Bracing and “staying tight” are often recommended for hypermobility but constant tension can actually disrupt how the body stabilizes itself.

The EDS body depends on coordinated pressure systems, breathing mechanics, and adaptability.
When tension is held continuously, those systems lose flexibility and stress gets redistributed instead of absorbed.

Stability isn’t rigidity.
It’s responsiveness.

And for many people with hEDS, learning when to engage matters more than learning how to stay tense.

Rest can reduce symptoms by lowering load and perceived threat.Rehabilitation can restore capacity when appropriately do...
01/13/2026

Rest can reduce symptoms by lowering load and perceived threat.
Rehabilitation can restore capacity when appropriately dosed.

However, neither resolves CCI when progression, range, or load exceed neuromuscular control.

CCI is not simply a strength deficit or a problem solved by prolonged immobilization.
It reflects impaired segmental control, load tolerance, and sensorimotor integration, often with autonomic and vestibular involvement.

When rehabilitation is unsuccessful, it is rarely because physical therapy is ineffective.
More often, symptoms escalate because dosage, positioning, or progression outpace physiologic tolerance.

If rest reduced symptoms but function did not return, that pattern is clinically meaningful.
If rehabilitation provoked flares or crashes, that response also provides important clinical information.

Effective CCI-informed rehabilitation prioritizes precision, timing, and response-based progression over intensity.

What has been more limiting for you: excessive rest or overly aggressive rehabilitation?

“Healed” doesn’t automatically mean “pain-free.”Tissue repair and pain resolution follow different rules. When rehab tre...
01/09/2026

“Healed” doesn’t automatically mean “pain-free.”

Tissue repair and pain resolution follow different rules. When rehab treats pain as a sign of failure instead of a signal from the nervous system, patients get dismissed instead of supported.

The next era of rehab needs to stop equating healing with silence from the body.


One of the most uncomfortable truths in chronic illness rehab:Most programs fail not because patients are fragile but be...
01/08/2026

One of the most uncomfortable truths in chronic illness rehab:
Most programs fail not because patients are fragile but because the system is overwhelmed.

Musculoskeletal strength matters but without autonomic stability, nervous system safety, immune tolerance, and sensory regulation, loading the body too early turns rehab into repeated flares.

This isn’t about doing less.
It’s about doing things in the right order.
When rehab respects system sequencing, progress becomes possible even in complex cases.

“Just lie down” is often well-intended advice in dysautonomia and for many patients, it helps.But for others, being full...
01/07/2026

“Just lie down” is often well-intended advice in dysautonomia and for many patients, it helps.
But for others, being fully supine can worsen head pressure, brain fog, ear fullness, cervical tension, or dizziness.
That doesn’t mean rest isn’t needed.
It means position matters.
Rest should reduce system load, not increase it.

Listening to how your body responds is part of effective regulation, not a failure to rest.
Hashtags



Breathing mechanics influence far more than oxygen intake. The diaphragm, nervous system, and cervical spine work as an ...
01/06/2026

Breathing mechanics influence far more than oxygen intake. The diaphragm, nervous system, and cervical spine work as an integrated system. When breathing patterns are inefficient, the body often compensates with increased muscle tension, autonomic dysregulation, and altered movement strategies.

In physical therapy, breathing retraining is a clinical tool used to improve regulation, reduce pain sensitivity, and support more efficient movement—especially in patients with chronic pain, dizziness, or neck-related symptoms.


A new year brings new conversations.We want to hear what you want discussed—especially the questions that haven’t been a...
01/05/2026

A new year brings new conversations.
We want to hear what you want discussed—especially the questions that haven’t been addressed clearly or honestly enough.

Comment below with topics, requests, or conversations you’d like us to dive into this year. Your input helps guide what comes next.

As this year comes to a close, our hearts are full of gratitude.Thank you to our patients and community for trusting us ...
01/01/2026

As this year comes to a close, our hearts are full of gratitude.
Thank you to our patients and community for trusting us with your care, your progress, and your journey. Being part of your story is a responsibility we do not take lightly.
As we step into 2026, we remain honored to continue growing alongside you. Happy New Year. 🤍

#2026

Physical therapy for hypermobile patients cannot follow traditional templates.When connective tissue behaves differently...
12/30/2025

Physical therapy for hypermobile patients cannot follow traditional templates.

When connective tissue behaves differently, rehabilitation must shift toward motor control, joint stability, nervous system regulation, and precise load progression. Strength alone is not enough. Mobility alone is not the answer.
Hypermobility-informed PT is slower, more intentional, and far more nuanced—because it has to be.

If your rehab never addressed stability, control, or nervous system safety, you were not “too complicated.”
You were underserved.


Hypermobile Ehlers-Danlos syndrome is increasingly understood as more than a connective tissue disorder alone.Emerging r...
12/29/2025

Hypermobile Ehlers-Danlos syndrome is increasingly understood as more than a connective tissue disorder alone.
Emerging research suggests that immune dysregulation—including altered levels of certain immune proteins—may play a role in symptom expression for some patients.

This does not mean all individuals with hEDS have immune abnormalities, nor does it replace current diagnostic criteria. However, it reinforces the need for a systems-based, individualized approach to care.

As research evolves, so does our understanding of hEDS—and why one-size-fits-all explanations often fall short.

Educational content only. Not medical advice.


❤️🖤🤍
12/25/2025

❤️🖤🤍

Capacity crashes are one of the most misunderstood aspects of chronic illness.When inflammation, autonomic dysfunction, ...
12/23/2025

Capacity crashes are one of the most misunderstood aspects of chronic illness.
When inflammation, autonomic dysfunction, stress hormones, and sensory input stack- the body doesn’t fail. It protects.
That’s where skilled pacing, nervous system regulation, and graded exposure matter. Not hustle. Not guilt. Not “trying harder.”
This is clinical. Not character.

Address

7000 W Palmetto Park Road, Ste 220
Boca Raton, FL
33433

Opening Hours

Monday 9am - 5pm
Tuesday 9am - 5pm
Wednesday 9am - 5pm
Thursday 9am - 5pm
Friday 9am - 5pm

Telephone

+15613662435

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when Actify - Empowering You Through Movement posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Share

Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on LinkedIn
Share on Pinterest Share on Reddit Share via Email
Share on WhatsApp Share on Instagram Share on Telegram

Our Story

We Help Individuals with Hypermobility Take Control of Their Lives and Get Back to Doing What they LOVE.

The name ACTIFY developed out of our passion for wellness of both the body and the mind. The activation of our minds is essential to the success of our physical health. In rehabilitation of the body, neuroplasticity allows our brains to create new positive and powerful neural connections to override painful, ineffective and self-limiting habits and movement patterns. Neurons that fire together, wire together. So, if we focus on new efficient and effective functional movement patterns, we will build stronger, positive neural pathways. We can re-educate your nervous system through a hands on approach that creates uniquely chosen therapeutic activities for you. From restoring your posture to re-creating functional and pain-free movement patterns, when we activate the connection between body and mind, you get better quicker.

​Rather than focus only on your injury, we treat your whole body. Pain and injuries often come from imbalances, misalignment, or instability in the muscles, joints, soft tissue, and bone throughout the body and not just at the site of pain. If your body isn’t treated as a whole, you run the risk of having the same injury again or worse. From your first session, we get to work releasing muscle restrictions and restoring natural movement. For you, the impact is immediate, and it lasts.We work together with you to provide you with a multilayered treatment. We take the time to get to know you and ensure that our treatment will evolve as you get stronger. And when injury is no longer a limitation, we can help you optimize your body’s function with the same high level of attention using advanced methods of training.