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Florence P Kendall, PT

rebeccacraik{at}apta.org

Shortly before we went to press with this issue of the Journal, the profession of physical therapy lost a living legend. On january 28, 2006, Florence P Kendall, PT, FAPTA, died at the age of 95.

Florence entered the physiotherapy program at Walter Reed Army Hospital in 1931, embarking on an incredible 75-year journey. Her passion for physical therapy was an inspiration to patients, students, and colleagues around the world. She touched—literally—the lives of thousands of people.

Florence worked with patients who had polio in the 1930s and 1940s, with physical therapists and patients who were in free orthopedic clinics across the state of Maryland, and in the private practice that she and her husband Henry began in 1952. Among her many professional accomplishments, she was elected the first president of APTA's Maryland Chapter in 1939, established the Henry O Kendall and Florence P Kendall Practice Award in 1979, and gave the 15th Mary McMillan lecture in 1980. Florence and her husband published pamphlets, made a movie, and wrote several books. She was an advocate for and major donor to the Foundation for Physical Therapy. Five editions of her textbook Muscles: Testing and Function With Posture and Pain (previously Muscles: Testing and Function) have introduced manual muscle testing to physical therapist students for more than 50 years.

None of these details, however, captures her essence.

In 1981, I gave my first platform presentation at annual conference. I was standing outside the lecture hall, relieved that I had made it through my talk without fainting, when Florence Kendall approached me. I was thrilled that this famous physical therapist was coming up to me, and I was sure that she was going to discuss some aspect of my presentation. I followed her back into the lecture room—where she told me to lie supine on the speaker's platform. I still remember her glee when she confirmed her hypothesis that I had weak hip flexors! I was then recruited to be her "model" the next day when she spoke to over 600 physical therapists. Who could say no to Florence? Last June, at the age of 94, she was dancing with us at the Foundation for Physical Therapy banquet. The small, white-haired lady maintained a perfect upright posture, and she reminded anyone she spoke with to do the same.

Stories like these will keep her passion alive and inspire future generations. Thank you, Florence P Kendall, for sharing yourself so selflessly with so many of us.

This Article Full Text (PDF) Submit a response Alert me when this article is cited Alert me when Rapid Responses are posted Alert me if a correction is posted Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Craik, R. L Search for Related Content PubMed Articles by Craik, R. L