Faculty & Staff

James Stephens

PT, PhD

Dr. Stephens received his BA in Biology from Grinnell College, an MS in bioengineering from Drexel University, a PhD in Neuroscience from Temple University, and a Certificate in PT from Hahnemann University. He has further training in movement education and is a certified Feldenkrais Practitioner. His clinical experience includes 10 years at Moss Rehabilitation working with a full range of neurologically impaired patients. He continues clinical work part time in a small private practice.

His areas of teaching are neurological rehabilitation and movement science in the DPT curriculum and is involved in courses in motor learning, motor control and atypical human movement in the PhD program.

His areas of research include motor learning and efficacy of interventions for neurologically impaired adults. He is a member of the medical staff of the Jimmie Heuga Center, which conducts research and education for people with multiple sclerosis.

Representative publications:

Stephens J, Call S, Evans K, et.al. Responses to 10 Feldenkrais Awareness Through Movement lessons by four women with multiple sclerosis: Improved quality of life. Physical Therapy Case Reports.2(2): 58-69, 1999.

Stephens JL. Feldenkrais Method: Background, Research, and Orthopedic Case Studies. Orthopedic Physical Therapy Clinics of North America. Galantino ML, (Ed.). W.B. Saunders, Philadelphia. pp.375-394, September 2000.

Stephens JL, DuShuttle D, Hatcher C, Slaninka C, Shmunes J. Use Of Awareness Through Movement improves balance and balance confidence in people with multiple sclerosis: a randomized controlled study. Neurology Report 25(2): 39-49, 2001.

Reed C and Stephens J. Feldenkrais Method. Principles and Practice of Manual Therapeutics. Coughlin P and Micozzi MS, (Eds.). Churchill Livingstone, NY, pp119-138, 2002.

Stephens J, Miller TH. Feldenkrais Method: Learning to move through your life with grace and ease. (Or optimizing your potential for living.) Chapter in Davis C. (Ed.), Complimentary Therapies in Rehabilitation: Evidence for Efficacy, Prevention and Wellness. Slack Publishers, February 2004.

Stephens JL, Pendergast C, Roller BA, Weiskittel RS. Learning to Improve Mobility and Quality of Life in a Well Elderly Population: The Benefits of Awareness Through Movement. International Feldenkrais Federation (IFF), IFF Online Research Journal, http://www.iffresearchjournal.org/ , Volume 2, November 2005.

Stephens J., DavidsonJ., DeRosa J., Kriz M., Saltzman, N. Lengthening the Hamstring Muscles Without Stretching Using "Awareness Through Movement". Phys Ther 86: 1641-1650, 2006.

Stephens J. The Feldenkrais Method of Somatic Education. Section of Chapter titled Alternative and Complementary Therapies: Beyond Traditional Approaches to Intervention in Neurological Diseases, in Umphred D. (Ed.), Neurological Rehabilitation, 5th Ed. Mosby, Philadelphia, 2007.