Elevate by Joint Effort
Joint Effort Movement Center is proud to be Charleston's first dedicated dance physical therapy program, helping dancers of all ages move with confidence, recover from injury, and perform at their highest level
Led by dance physical therapists, Joint Effort Elevate provides comprehensive, one-on-one care throughout every stage of a dancer's journey; from injury prevention and pointe readiness to dance injury rehabilitation, dance conditioning, and a safe return to the stage.
Too many dancers are told that pain is simply part of training. We believe otherwise. Pain is not something to push through...it's your body's way of telling you something needs attention. Our goal is to identify the underlying movement patterns contributing to your symptoms, so you can recover, perform, and continue doing what you love.
Whether you're looking to prevent injuries, recover after an injury, prepare for pointe, or improve your performance, Elevate offers personalized care designed specifically for the unique physical demands of dance. We also partner with local studios by providing on-site screenings, educational workshops, studio pop-up clinics, and backstage physical therapy for performances and events.
Our passion doesn't just stop with dancers, we also provide specialized care for other performing artists with similar movement demands, including gymnasts, cheerleaders, aerialists, and figure skaters.
Explore our services below to learn how Joint Effort Elevate can help you stay healthy, perform confidently, and keep doing what you love.
Please continue to scroll down to learn more about our offerings.
About Dr. Faith
Dance Physical Therapist, Elevate Director
Dr. Faith Pelle has a lifelong passion for dance and movement that inspires her work as a physical therapist. With over 20 years of experience in ballet and pointe, she brings a unique understanding of the demands dancers face both in training and performance. Faith earned her Bachelor of Arts in Dance from Florida Southern College and went on to complete her Doctorate of Physical Therapy at Stony Brook University in New York.
During PT school, Dr. Faith was a clinical student at Joint Effort and then returned a few years later as an employee. She started her career in pediatrics, working with children with neurological, developmental and orthopedic issues.
Currently, she is treating clients of all ages (and of course dancers!) with orthopedic and balance issues. She is also learning Postural Restoration, which has become a major asset in treating complex biomechanical problems.
Since joining Joint Effort, she has worked backstage with the Scottish Ballet, started Pointe Readiness and fitting appointments, and has worked with dozens of dancers in Charleston.
She has developed many relationships within the dance community and is quickly working to be the preferred provider for dance injuries and prevention.
Elevate Services
Dance Specific Physical Therapy
At Joint Effort Movement Center, we treat all types of dance-related injuries: from back and hip pain to ankle sprains, tendonitis, and muscle strains.
Through our Joint Effort Experience, every dancer receives personalized, research-backed care designed to help them return to the studio and stage safely.
Our approach goes beyond injury treatment. We focus on strength, alignment, and movement quality specific to dance, helping dancers prevent future injuries and perform at their best. We can also incorporate recovery treatments such as dry needling and cupping.
We also provide pre- and post-operative physical therapy, ensuring a smooth recovery tailored to each dancer’s style, technique, and performance goals.
Stage Ready: Dance Conditioning
From personal training that builds strength and endurance, to cupping and dry needling that help manage soreness and prevent injuries, our services are tailored to meet the unique needs of dancers.
Whether your dancer is in the midst of an intense rehearsal schedule, preparing for competition, or recovering from minor aches and pains, these tools help maintain optimal performance and keep them moving safely.
By combining preventative care with targeted recovery strategies, we ensure dancers can continue to train, perform, and excel without setbacks.
Pointe Readiness & Fittings
Pop-Up Clinics
Thinking About Pointe? Don't like your Pointe Shoes? Let us assess!
Pointe Readiness: In this 30-minute screening, we use dance specific, research-based, tests to assess your dancer’s strength, alignment, control and technique. You’ll also leave with personalized exercises and recommendations to safely prepare them for pointe.
Pointe fittings: Bring in your current shoes and have our PT assess you! She will make recommendations based on the biomechanics of your feet as well as aesthetics of your position.
We understand that competition season is demanding, with dancers spending long hours in the studio and little time for recovery. That’s why we bring the clinic to you!
Through our pop-up clinic program, we partner with dance studios to provide on-site care, making it easier for dancers to get the treatment and support they need without missing rehearsal or practice time.
Is your Dance Studio interested in hosting? Shoot us an email at faith@jointeffortcharleston.com
Professional Stage Ready: Backstage
For our semi-professional or professional dance organizations that are visiting Charleston, we offer Backstage Physical Therapy provided at your venue.
We offer manual therapy, cupping & kinesiotaping (as allowed based on body location and costumes of course), and physical therapy.
Contact Faith at faith@jointeffortcharleston.com for more information.
Can you come to my dance studio?
Absolutely! For workshops, we will work with your studio instructor to set up a time that works best. Our workshops are around an hour long and consist of a mix of lecture and movement. We can tailor the workshop to meet the needs you want.
Common workshops we have done are injury prevention, developing a good warm-up routine, pointe readiness screenings, and balancing dance with cross training.
We can also do workshops specifically for instructors, dancers, or parents.
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