Joel Zelt

Degrees

• Bachelor of Science (Honours) Kinesiology, Queen’s University
• Master of Science – Experimental Medicine, Queen’s University
• Master of Science – Physiotherapy, McMaster University

Memberships

• College of Physiotherapists of Ontario
• Canadian Physiotherapy Association

Volunteer Work

• Ontario Parasport Games – Provided on-site physiotherapy support for para-athletes during competition, assisted with injury prevention and recovery strategies.
• Queen’s University – Crew Love Queen’s U – Co-founded an AMS Queen’s University organization focused on utilizing the connection and community of exercise to improve the mental health amongst students.
• Kingston Clippers Soccer – Coached youth soccer for 15 years focusing on developing the necessary fundamental skills for success while instilling the love for sport and competition.

Awards and Achievements

• Physiotherapy Professional Advancement Award
• Leading Edge Physiotherapy Scholarship
• McMaster University Physiotherapy PASC Award
• Ontario Graduate Scholarship
• NSERC Student Research Scholarship

Registration

• Joel is Registered and in good standing with the College of Physiotherapists of Ontario. Click HERE to see his up to date registration status

Joel Zelt is a dedicated and compassionate Registered Physiotherapist who prioritizes a patient-centered approach to care. His core philosophy integrates the most current clinical evidence with individualized treatment plans. He excels at developing personalized strategies tailored to each patient’s unique goals, needs, and functional capacity. By emphasizing patient education, functional movement, and goal-oriented rehabilitation, Joel ensures that every treatment approach is both clinically effective and personally meaningful, empowering his patients to reach their full potential.

Beyond his professional life, Joel is an accomplished athlete with a passion for adventure. Originally from Kingston, he played varsity soccer at Queen’s University and went on to play semi-professional soccer in League 1 Ontario, where he even won the “Goal of the Year” award in 2015. When he’s not helping patients, you can often find him windsurfing or golfing at local courses!

Pets

• Vizsla named Rozsa

Favorite Quote

“The only way to do great work is to love what you do.”

Binge Watches

• Stick

Playlist

• Tom Misch, ANOTR, Bon Iver

Joel’s Published Content and Articles

1)     Huynh E, Clements A, Baumgarten S, Zelt JT, Sharma J, Malascalza E, Nguyen W, Edward H, Smith-Turchyn J. Effects of virtual exercise interventions on physical function in individuals with a current or previous diagnosis of cancer: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Disabil Rehabil. 2025 Dec 8:1-14.

2)     Bentley RF, Jones JH, Hirai DM, Zelt JT, Giles MD, Raleigh JP, Quadrilatero J, Gurd BJ, and Neder JA. Submaximal exercise cardiac output is increased by 4 weeks of sprint interval training in young healthy males with low initial Q̇-V̇O2: Importance of cardiac response phenotype. PloS One. 2019;14(1)

3)     Zelt JT, Jones JH, Hirai DM, King TJ, Berton DC, Pyke KE, O’Donnell DE, and Neder JA. Systemic vascular dysfunction is associated with emphysema burden in mild COPD. Respiratory Medicine. 2018;136:29-36.

4)     Bentley RF, Jones JH, Hirai DM, Zelt JT, Giles MD, Raleigh JP, Quadrilatero J, Gurd BJ, Neder JA, and Tschakovsky ME. Do interindividual differences in cardiac output during submaximal exercise explain differences in exercise oxygenation and ratings of perceived exertion? Physiol Rep. 2018;6(2).

5)     Hirai DM, Jones JH, Zelt JT, da Silva ML, Bentley RF, Edgett BA, Gurd BJ, Tschakovsky ME, O’Donnell DE, and Neder JA. Oral N-acetylcysteine and exercise tolerance in mild chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. J Appl Physiol (1985). 2017;122(5):1351-1361.

6)     Jones JH, Zelt JT, Hirai DM, Diniz CV, Zaza A, O’Donnell DE, and Neder JA. Emphysema on thoracic CT and exercise ventilatory inefficiency in mild-to-moderate COPD. COPD. 2017;14(2):210-218.

7)     Hirai DM, Zelt JT, Jones JH, Castanhas LG, Bentley RF, Earle W, Staples P, Tschakovsky ME, McCans J, O’Donnell DE, and Neder JA. Dietary nitrate supplementation and exercise tolerance in patients with heart failure with reduced ejection fraction. Am J Physiol Regul Integr Comp Physiol. 2017;312(1):R13-R22.

8)     Neder JA, Hirai DM, Jones JH, Zelt JT, Berton DC, and O’Donnell DE. A 56-year-old, otherwise healthy women presenting with light-headedness and progressive shortness of breath. Chest. 2016;150(1):e23-7.

9)     Neder JA, Jones JH, Zelt JT, Ramos RP, Ota-Arakaki JS, Hirai DM, Sperandio PA, Alencar MC, Arbex FF, and O’Donnell DE. Pulmonary artery wedge pressure and exercise oscillatory ventilation in pre-capillary pulmonary hypertension. Int J Cardiol. 2016;206:164-6.

10)   Oliveira MF, Zelt JT, Jones JH, Hirai DM, O’Donnell DE, Verges S, and Neder JA. Does impaired O2 delivery during exercise accentuate central and peripheral fatigue in patients with coexistent COPD-CHF? Front Physiol. 2015;5:514.