Direct: 954.871.8711
Fax: 833.901.4044
ABOUT ATHLETIX PERFORMANCE THERAPY
Athletix PT was created to provide the highest level of specialized physical therapy care and expertise to athletes and individuals with orthopedic and sports injuries while maximizing your athletic and wellness potential.
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Our expert team of licensed, Board Certified Orthopedic Physical Therapists, Sports physical therapists, Athletic Trainers, and Strength and Conditioning Specialists will utilize all aspects of Sports Science to achieve optimal results and provide the best physical therapy in Charlotte. ​
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We will always strive to create a welcoming and supportive environment where patients feel empowered to take an active role in their recovery and wellness journey.
Joe Tedesco
DPT, OCS, ATC, CSCS
Founder/CEO
Joe is a South Florida native who relocated to North Carolina in 2007. He has been married to his wife and best friend, Lesley (also a Physical Therapist) since 2006, and they have two amazing girls Caly and Lia. Joe grew up playing baseball and basketball, and wishes he would’ve played soccer, as both of his girls have taken a love of the sport. Joe has been a Crossfitter since 2004, and is constantly finding ways to challenge himself physically and mentally.
His varied style allows his fitness level to be ready to train for any event in two weeks. Joe recognizes the importance of living a healthy lifestyle as he tries to lead by example for his family and patients. He is also a major supporter of local charities, especially The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society.
On the weekends you’ll either see him cheering for his girls at their soccer games, Florida Gator football, or finding a trail to hike. His biggest passion is traveling the world to hike the world’s tallest mountains. His goal is to hike on all seven continents with his Mom, Renee- his biggest hero.
Education and Experience:
Joe is a Doctor of Physical Therapy from Duke University, Board Certified Orthopedic Clinical Specialist, Athletic Trainer and Strength and Conditioning Specialist from the University of Florida served on the Athletic Training staff for the Florida Gator men's basketball team. He has completed advanced training in Trigger Point Dry Needling through Myopain Seminars, Myofascial release, and Postural Restoration through the Postural Restoration Institute.
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Treatment Approach:
Joe focuses on movement dysfunction, optimizing biomechanics via diverse manual therapy techniques in conjunction with therapeutic exercise to correct kinetic chain flaws. His career passions include evidence-based functional rehabilitation and spinal stability as it relates to correcting movement dysfunction for sports performance, job demands, and weight management. Joe is always a student and seeks the most current and effective treatments for his patients. He uses this advanced knowledge to create patient-specific, sport/athlete-specific, year-round training/injury prevention programs according to age, previous injuries, competition level, position, energy system and work:rest and nutrition requirements.
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Clientele and Outreach:
While Joe is an expert in the field of orthopedic, sports physical therapy, and sports performance, he also will help guide your overall wellness and has a large referral network to get you to the right specialist if surgical, medical, nutritional, sport coaching or mental health consult is needed. Joe has treated athletes from pediatric to professional: PGA golfers, Endurance athlete, Olympic figure skaters, gymnasts, swimmers, and track athletes, tennis and pickleball players, lacrosse and soccer players, collegiate and NFL football, MLB baseball, NHL hockey, and NBA basketball players, CrossFit athletes, weekend warriors, professional ballerinas, and Broadway performers.
He currently serves as a sports medicine advisor for Lancaster, York, Union and Mecklenburg County high schools sports, Extreme Ice, Charlotte Rush Hockey, Porter Ridge Athletic Association, Lancaster Parks and Rec, Soccer Academies, Miller Street Dance Studio, Jami Masters School of Dance, Latitude 35 Crossfit, CrossFit Indian Trail, Indian Land Crossfit, CrossFit S3, CrossFit Kaiju, and Ultimate CrossFit. Joe also has a passion for The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society for whom he has helped raise over $1 million in the past 8 years.
Whether it's learning to walk, training to run the Boston Marathon, or making the climb up Mt. Everest, Joe promises you a dedication to excellence and unsurpassed devotion to helping you achieve your goals.
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Lesley Tedesco
DPT, OCS
Co-Founder/President
Lesley, Joe’s wife and “boss”, is excited to join her husband at Athletix PT! It has always been a dream of theirs to open a physical therapy practice, since they graduated together from Duke University’s Doctor of Physical Therapy Program in 2005. Like Joe, Lesley is a Florida native and graduated from the University of Florida in 2002 with highest honors, earning a degree in Exercise and Sports Science with a specialization in Athletic Training.
She was fortunate to serve as an assistant athletic trainer for the women’s volleyball team at Florida when they made it to the Elite 8! Lesley has been treating patients in outpatient orthopedics since 2005, but has had a special interest in women’s health since 2011.
Like Joe, Lesley enjoys a very active lifestyle with a strong focus on fitness and nutrition. When not treating patients, Lesley can be found hiking in the mountains, cheering on the Florida gators, or sipping on clean crafted wine!
Education and Experience
Lesley is a Doctor of Physical Therapy from Duke University, Board Certified Orthopedic Clinical Specialist, and Athletic Trainer at the University of Florida. She has completed extensive training in pelvic health through the Herman and Wallace Institute, Trigger Point Dry Needling, including the pelvic floor musculature, myofascial release, and postural re-education through the Postural Restoration Institute.
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Treatment Approach
Lesley’s passion for physical therapy began during high school sports when she had her first of 4 knee surgeries, including 2 ACL reconstructions. Although playing nearly every sport at some time, basketball was always her favorite! Lesley recognizes the importance of a physical therapist on the mental and emotional state of an athlete following an injury, as much as the physical recovery. Her interest in women’s health was sparked years later by her own post-partum recovery following the delivery of her two, beautiful daughters.
Lesley employs a comprehensive, patient-specific treatment approach with a strong emphasis on manual therapy techniques, including myofascial release and soft tissue mobilization. Although skilled in treating orthopedic injuries across all age groups, she specializes in spinal disorders. In her women's health practice, Lesley uses a combination of manual therapy, dry needling, biofeedback, corrective exercises, and thorough education to address conditions such as urinary and fecal incontinence, prolapse, vulvodynia, dyspareunia, bladder and bowel disorders, and constipation.
MEET THE TEAM
9499 Old Bailes Rd
Suite 114
Fort Mill, SC 29707
P: 954.871.8711
F: 833.901.4044
BY APPOINTMENT ONLY
PHILOSOPHY
We need to evolve athletically as we move through life in 5 transitional phases, as each phase has different athletic performance training considerations:
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Adolescent (Pre-Teen): In the youngest years, children need unsupervised free play to explore movement.
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Pre Pubescent (Early Teen): During middle school years, they need to prepare their ever-changing bodies for the demands of their newly chosen sports.
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Developing (Mid Teen - Early 20s): As they achieve fully developed bodies, they need to master movement and apply training/recovery principles in order to stay in their sport.
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Prime (20 - Mid 30s): Strength/Power/Speed/Movement peak with mastery of sport skill.
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Past Prime (Late 30s+): Once their sport career has reached completion, athletes are left to ponder “What do I have left in this body?” The average age of a retired pro athlete is 33, leaving many more years to evolve as an athlete.
Longevity is achieved by a well rested, optimally fueled body that stays in motion and is balanced in all aspects of wellness.
ATHLETIX PERFORMANCE THERAPISTS are the experts to guide your Athletic Evolution!