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Scientific Research Journal of India
Exploration of the History of Physiotherapy Krishna Nand Sharma* BPT, MPT (Neuro) Abstract: Physiotherapy or Physical Therapy or PT, is a conservative science of the treatment and management after the clinical examination, assessment and diagnosis of the diseases for restoration of the neuro-musculo-skeletal and Cardio-pulmonary efficiencies, managing pain and certain integumentary disorders with the help of physical means like radiation, heat, cold, exercise, current, waves, manipulation, mobilization etc. Many organizations describe physiotherapy in their ways. This paper explores the historical roots of physiotherapy.
INTRODUCTION Physiotherapy or Physical Therapy
The Maharashtra OT PT Council defines
or PT, is a conservative science of the
the physiotherapy as: “ a branch of
treatment and management after the
medical
clinical
and
examination, assessment, interpretation,
diagnosis of the diseases for restoration of
physical diagnosis, planning and execution
the neuro-musculo-skeletal and Cardio-
of treatment and advice to any person for
pulmonary efficiencies, managing pain and
the purpose of the preventing correcting,
certain integumentary disorders with the
alleviating and limiting dysfunction, acute
help of physical means like radiation, heat,
and chronic bodily malfunction including
cold,
life
examination,
exercise,
assessment
current,
waves,
manipulation, mobilization etc.
science
saving
which
measures
includes
via
chest
physiotherapy in the intensive care unites,
Various organizations have defines
curing physical disorders or disability
the Physiotherapy in their own words. Few
promoting physical fitness, facilitating
definitions of them are given below:
healing and pain relief and treatment of
The APTA defines the physiotherapy as:
physical and psychosomatic disorders
“clinical applications in the restoration,
through modulating physiological and
maintenance, and promotion of optimal
physical response using physical agents,
physical function. ” 1
activities and devices including exercises, mobilization,
manipulation,
therapeutic
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Vol.1 ● No.1 ● 2012
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Scientific Research Journal of India
ultrasound, electrical and thermal agents
Sweden. The Swedish word for physical
and electrotherapy for diagnosis, treatment
therapist is “sjukgymnast” (sick-gymnast).
and prevention. ”
2
Per Henrik Ling who is called he Father of
Physiotherapists use the patient’s
Swedish Gymnastics founded the Royal
history and physical examination to make
Central Institute of Gymnastics (RCIG) in
the diagnosis and establish a management
1813 for massage, manipulation, and
plan and in necessity they incorporate the
exercise. The
results of laboratory, imaging studies and
first
physiotherapy
Electrodiagnostic testing.
is
use
of
found
the in
word
German
Physiotherapy is concerned with
Language as the word “Physiotherapie” in
identifying and maximizing the quality of
1851 by a military physician Dr.Lorenz
life and movement potential within the
Gleich.5
spheres
of
promotion,
Physiotherapists
prevention,
were
given
treatment or intervention, habilitation and
official registration by Sweden’s National
rehabilitation
Board of Health and Welfare in 1887
which
encompasses
the
physical, psychological, emotional, and
which
was then followed
by other
social well being.
countries. The word “Physiotherapy” was the
coined by an English physician Dr.Edward
physiotherapy was rooted in 460 B.C.
Playter in the Montreal Medical Journal in
when the physicians like Hippocrates and
1894 after 43 years of the German term
later Galenus who may be believed to have
“Physiotherapie”. In his words- “The
been the first practitioners of physical
application of these natural remedies, the
therapy used to advocate massage, manual
essentials of life, as above named, may be
therapy techniques and hydrotherapy to
termed natural therapeutics. Or, if I may be
The
treat people.
texts
reveals
that
3
In the 18
permitted to coin from the Greek a new th
century, after the
term, for I have never observed it in print,
development of orthopedics, machines like
a term more in accordance with medical
the Gymnasticon were developed for the
nomenclature than the word hygienic
treatment of gout and similar diseases by
treatment commonly used, I would suggest
systematic exercise of the joints, similar to
the term, Physiotherapy” .6
later developments in physical therapy.4 The earliest documented origin of the actual physiotherapy is found to be in
In the same year four nurses Lucy Marianne
Robinson,
Rosalind
Paget,
Elizabeth Anne Manley and Margaret http://www.srji.co.cc
Vol.1 ● No.1 ● 2012
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Scientific Research Journal of India
Dora Palmerin in Great Britain formed the
March 1921 in “The PT Review”. In the
Chartered Society of Physiotherapy.7
same year, Mary McMillan organized the
The first documented professional
physiotherapy
association
named
the
institution for Physio- therapy training was
American Women’s Physical Therapeutic
School of Physiotherapy at the University
Association which is currently known as
of Otago in New Zealand which run an
the
entry level program in physiotherapy.8
Association (APTA).
After this the next year or in 1914
American Primarily
Physical in
the
Therapy 1940s
the
in United States, Reed College in Portland,
treatment consisted of exercise, massage,
9
and traction but later in the early 1950s the
The establishment of the modern
Manipulative procedures to the spine and
physical therapy is thought to be in Britain
extremity joints began to be practiced
towards the end of the 19th century. The
especially in the British Commonwealth
American orthopedic surgeons started
countries, in the early 1950s.10, 11
Oregon, graduated “reconstruction aides”.
treating the disable children and started employing women trained in physical education, massage, and remedial exercise. It was promoted further during the Polio outbreak of 1916 and during the First World War when the women were working with the injured soldiers. The first physical therapy research was published in the United States in
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Vol.1 ● No.1 ● 2012
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Scientific Research Journal of India
5. Tertouw TJA. Letter to editor-the origin
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Thyself ” . World- wide Spine &
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New
2
Zealand:
(1):
Spinal
16–20.
http:/ / physio.otago. ac. nz/ about/ history. CORRESPONDENCE *Academic Chairman: Institute for Health & Wellness Address: Institute for Health & Wellness, Dr.L.Sharma Campus, Muhammadabad Gohana, Mau, U.P., India. Pin-276403. Email:
[email protected] Cont: +91-9320699167
.
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