Shirley Sahrmann - Advice From an 87-Year-Old Legend in Physical Therapy

This week, Dr. Shirley Sahrmann—an icon in the world of physical therapy—joins Jake and Callan for a conversation packed with wisdom, perspective, and clinical insight. At 88 years old, Shirley reflects on her decades-long career in neurology, movement science, and education, including her work on Movement System Impairment Syndromes, and how good movement is good medicine.

She shares stories from treating polio patients in the 1950s to challenging outdated models in physio today, while encouraging young clinicians to ask better questions, study movement deeply, and focus on long-term functional change over temporary fixes. This episode is a masterclass in perspective from one of the most respected voices in the field.

To Learn More About Shirley Sahrmann:

📚 Books:

Diagnosis and Treatment of Movement Impairment Syndromes

Movement System Impairment Syndromes of the Extremities, Cervical and Thoracic Spines

🎓 Lectures & Resources:
Search for her work via Elsevier, university libraries, or find recordings of her talks through clinical education platforms and PT networks.

Follow Shirley’s work to dive deeper into movement-based diagnosis, functional restoration, and clinical reasoning shaped by over six decades of experience.

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