Florence Peterson Kendall (1910-2006)

Physical Therapist and Author. Florence dedicated over 70 years of her life to physical therapy. In 1938, she and her late husband Henry O. Kendall wrote a US Public Health Bulletin on the aftercare of polio. She played a major role in drafting the original bill that was enacted into law in 1947, legally establishing the practice of physical therapy in Maryland. She was the author of eight books, including five editions of the text "MUSCLES testing and function with Posture and Pain" which has been translated into nine languages. In 2002, the Maryland Chapter of the American Physical Therapy Association named her the "Physical Therapist of the Century", and in June, 2004, ADVANCE magazine for Physical Therapists identified her as the top American and number one woman physical therapist in the world in its survey of Seven Giants in the field of Orthopedic physical therapy. She was the recipient of five honorary doctorate degrees and in 2002, she was inducted into the Maryland Woman's Hall of Fame. She has also been listed in "Who's Who of American Women". She was former consultant to the Surgeon General of the Army on musculoskeletal matters (1981-1985) and former consultant to the President's Council on Physical Fitness. In addition to her books on muscle testing, posture and pain, she co-authored "GOLFER'S Take Care of Your Back". She was a member of the American Pen Women and was also a Registered Parlimentarian.

Bio by: RosalieAnn