Continuing Education

Shirley A. Sahrmann, PT, PhD, FAPTA is Professor Emerita of Physical Therapy at Washington University School of Medicine - St. Louis, Missouri.  She received the BSPT, AM, and PhD in  Neurobiology from Washington University. She was the first director of the PhD program in Movement Science. She is a Catherine Worthingham Fellow of the APTA and has received the Mary McMillan, Marion Williams research, Lucy Blair Service, Kendall Practice, and John H.P. Maley Awards Dr. Sahrmann has also received Washington University's Distinguished Faculty Award, the Distinguished Alumni Award, the School of Medicine’s Inaugural Distinguished Clinician Award and an honorary doctorate from the University of Indianapolis. She has also received the Bowling-Erhard Orthopedic Clinical Practice Award from the Orthopaedic Academy of the APTA.  She has served on the APTA Board of Directors and as president of the Missouri Chapter. Her first book, Diagnosis and Treatment of Movement Impairment Syndromes, has been translated into seven languages; her second book, Movement System Impairment Syndromes of the Cervical and Thoracic Spines and the Extremities, has been equally influential in promoting movement diagnoses. Dr. Sahrmann has been a keynote speaker at the World Confederation of Physical Therapy, Canadian, Australian, New Zealand, Japan, Thailand, Sweden, Finland, and Danish national congresses.

Disclosure: Dr. Sahrmann receives royalties from a book Diagnosis and Treatment of Movement Impairment Syndromes published by Elsevier.

Maiko Morotani, PT, DPT is from Osaka Japan. She received her DPT degree from WashU Medicine Physical Therapy. It has been Maiko’s mission to continue learning about the movement system, and to share the knowledge with her Japanese physical therapy community. She is one of seven Japanese translators of the textbook Movement System Impairment Syndromes of the Extremities, Cervical and Thoracic Spines. Since 2014, she started Nexus Motion, a continuing education company to primarily help Japanese physical therapists. Her role has evolved more recently, as Nexus Motion collaborates with WashU Medicine Physical Therapy to organize their flagship movement system continuing education courses. Maiko has taught movement system courses in Japan, US, Thailand, and was a keynote speaker at the 2023 Asian Confederation of Physical Therapy Congress.  She treats patients with neuromusculoskeletal dysfunctions in the Los Angeles area and provides mentoring services to clinicians.

Disclosure: Maiko Morotani does not have any relevant financial or non-financial relationships to disclose.

Joan Vicente, PT, DPT, PhD earned her physical therapy degree in the Philippines in 2004. She is a Board-Certified Specialist in Orthopaedic Physical Therapy and a fellowship graduate in Movement System Physical Therapy. She currently serves as a Rehab Clinical Educator at UCLA Health and is an adjunct faculty member in a Doctor of Physical Therapy program. Dr. Vicente completed her PhD in Health Sciences with a concentration in Orthopedic Sports Science, with research focused on thoracic spine posture and mobility in relation to shoulder health. She is also trained in Schroth-based scoliosis management and integrates this approach into her clinical practice. Dr. Vicente served as a regional mentor for the Movement System Clinical Fellowship at Washington University in St. Louis and has helped teach Movement System Syndromes courses since.

As a movement specialist, she promotes annual physical therapy check-ups, performing injury prevention and return-to-sport assessments for adolescents. Many of these patients successfully complete high school and go on to compete in Division I collegiate sports without injury. 

Disclosure: Dr. Vicente is the Rehab Clinical Educator at UCLA Health. She has no other relevant financial or non-financial relationships to disclose.

In 1997, Michael Salazar PT, DPT received his physical therapy degree in the Philippines. He became and Orthopedic Certified Specialist in 2010 and received his Transitional DPT in 2011 at Western University of Health Sciences.  Attending Clare Frank’s courses kindled his keen interest in Movement Science.  He became a Movement System Fellow at Washington University and was fortunate to learn Movement System from Dr. Sahrmann and the faculty and mentored by Maiko Morotani.  Michael also became a Therapeutic Pain Specialist in 2021. 

Michael practices at UCLA Health in Santa Monica, California.  He has lab assisted for several Movement System classes in Los Angeles.   

Disclosure: Michael Salazar is a paid UCLA Health employee. He has no other relevant financial or non-financial relationships to disclose.

Prachi Vira, PT, DPT is a dedicated and lifelong learner in the field of physical therapy with over 15 years of outpatient and inpatient experience focusing on orthopedics and neurology and more than 10 years of focused work in movement systems. Since beginning my movement system journey back in 2012, I have consistently pursued advanced education to enhance my clinical skills, completing the Movement System Clinical Fellowship in 2019 and further expanding my movement system knowledge through courses with Medbridge and Movement Links. This ongoing commitment to professional development has deepened my expertise in biomechanics, movement analysis and clinical reasoning significantly strengthening my ability to assess and treat movement dysfunctions. I regularly integrate these skills into clinical practice through treatment interventions and patient education. By empowering patients with a clearer understanding of their movement patterns, I aim to improve body awareness, encourage long-term self-management of symptoms, and help prevent re-injury.

Disclosure: Prachi Vira is a paid UCLA Health employee. He has no other relevant financial or non-financial relationships to disclose.