Location: Medical University of South Carolina, 68 President Street, Bioengineering Building, Room 110, Charleston, SC 29403
Time: 5:00 p.m. Patient to patient discussion group
6:00 p.m. Break
6:30 p.m. Lecture
Expert Speaker: Susan Chalela, MPT
Patient Speaker: TBA
Topic: Why Neuroplasticity for Ehlers Danlos Syndrome Works!
Founder of The Chalela Physical Therapy Institute for EDS and CCI/Cervical Instabilities, Susan Chalela, MPT, founded The Chalela Physical Therapy Institute for EDS and Cervical Instabilities. With over 25 years of clinical experience and a Master of Physical Therapy degree from the Institute of Physical Therapy in St. Augustine, FL, Susan has built a career spanning various specialties, including neurological rehabilitation, ergonomics, orthopedics, sports medicine, industrial rehabilitation, aquatic therapy, osteoporosis, pilates and more.
Susan is a Ph.D. candidate at the Medical University of South Carolina, studying upper cervical instability and Ehlers-Danlos syndrome. She regularly lectures nationally and internationally to physical therapy and medical audiences. She co-authors the recent international collaboration consensus recommendations for conservative care of cervical instability.
In recent years, Susan has dedicated her practice to treating patients with Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome (EDS), Upper Cervical Instability (UCI), and hypermobility disorders. Drawing from her personal experience as someone living with hypermobile EDS, Susan brings a unique depth of empathy and insight to her work. She survived a stroke and, through her recovery, learned the importance of neuroplasticity and proprioception—knowledge she now integrates into her innovative treatment approach.
Today, Susan’s internationally respected method combines biomechanics with neuroplasticity to address the root causes of instability in patients with hypermobility. Although her work primarily focuses on cervical instability, she emphasizes the importance of treating the entire body to create a stable foundation for the cervical spine.
EDS ECHO Finding Functional Foundations™ (FFF) Course
The EDS ECHO Finding Functional Foundations™ (FFF) course, taught by Susan Chalela, is designed for licensed physical therapists/physiotherapists treating hypermobile patients aged 10 years and above. The course teaches how to apply principles of neuroplasticity to retrain alignment, stability, and proprioception in this patient population. Using biofeedback and targeted cueing methods, participants will learn how to help patients correct faulty proprioception, strengthen deep stabilizers, improve physical alignment, and translate these skills to functional movement. This ultimately results in decreased pain, reduced neurological symptoms, and improved overall function.
Susan’s clinical expertise, especially with cervical instability, is integrated into the course, making it a comprehensive learning experience for therapists aiming to provide more effective care for hypermobile patients.
Prof. Leslie Russek, PT, PhD, assists with the course, and together they make a great team.