2025: Steven Wolf, PhD, PT, FAPTA, FAHA

This presentation reflects on Steve Wolf’s 60-year journey from physical therapy student to a 40-year career at Emory University as a researcher, educator and clinician, highlighting his groundbreaking work in stroke rehabilitation, fall prevention and teaching, while emphasizing the importance of staying true to one’s beliefs and contributions.

Steve has been a physical therapist for almost 60 years. His primary research has been in ways to improve movement capabilities in aging and neurological populations. He has spent considerable time evaluating and treating patients diagnosed with stroke. He has been past vice president of the Physical Therapy Association of Georgia and recipient of its Merit Award. While he has received numerous APTA awards, including: The Golden Pen Award, Lucy Blair Service Award, The Helen J. Hislop Award for Outstanding Contributions to Literature and the Magistro Award. He has been a Catherine Worthingham Fellow since 1987.

Dr. Wolf’s contributions to physical therapy include:

• Establishing the inclusion criteria for forced use of the upper extremity following stroke and contributing to the formulation of what later became known as constraint induced movement therapy.
• Establishing Tai Chi as a falls prevention exercise for older adults.
• Helping to establish FiRST (Frontiers in Rehabilitation Science and Technology) Council of the APTA.

Considered by some to be a bit of a visionary, he has authored or co-authored over 320 refereed articles; edited 9 books; procured over $90M in grant funding; and has provided over 900 national and international lectures.

Dr. Wolf retired recently and remains active with funding from the NIH NINDS, and has established Wolf Rehabilitation Initiatives, LLC designed to assist individuals, groups and organizations in transforming creative ideas into realities. He is now also fulfilling a long-time dream of becoming a novelist.