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A physical therapist known to two kids only as "the Exercise Lady" helped both them and their family in a time of need.
Anchorage, Alaska, skyline.
In 1952, my dad was recalled to active duty in the Navy and deployed to Japan in support of the Korean conflict. My 25-year-old pregnant mother, 3-year-old brother, and I, age 5, moved to Coronado, California. Several months after our arrival, the 1953 polio epidemic broke out. Public swimming pools were closed, and group social activities were canceled. (Sound familiar?)
Listen to 'Defining Moment' in the author's own voice and words.
Date: September 1, 2021
Contact: aptamag@apta.org
Content Type: Column
Pat McAdoo, PT
Article
APTA and State Chapters Advocate for Improved Access and Payment Under MedicaidMay 26, 2026
State chapters are advocating to state policymakers as Medicaid budget constraints put pressure on payment rates, patient access, and the sustainability
Article
Now Open: Registration for the Lynda D. Woodruff Lecture on June 18May 26, 2026
Maintaining a commitment to belonging in physical therapy requires ongoing reflection, honesty about the profession’s history, and a willingness to act
Statement
CMS Proposes New Model That Could Highlight PTs’ Impact in Joint ReplacementMay 22, 2026
In the model, physical therapists would serve as a critical component of some of Medicare’s most common surgical interventions.
