| Physiotherapy has its origins in the days of | | | | after-effects, was a revered figure at Mayo Clinic. |
| Hippocrates. Even in those early days, massages | | | | Physiotherapy took a major turn at the point of |
| were used as supplementary medical treatments. | | | | the polio epidemic in history. |
| From those simple beginnings, physiotherapy has | | | | Once the polio crisis passed, the popular |
| evolved into a complex science today. | | | | treatments remained massages, traction and of |
| In 460 B.C. Hector used a treatment known as | | | | course, exercises. Chiropractic treatments came |
| aqua therapy for physical treatments. | | | | to the fore in 1950, and has remained a norm in |
| Professionals to treat their patients even in | | | | Great Britain. |
| today's advanced age, use the same therapy, | | | | Since then, physiotherapy has become a |
| modified to suit different requirements. | | | | treatment of choice in hospitals as well as other |
| The first incident of nurses using physiotherapy | | | | areas. Physiotherapists have been working in |
| with the Chartered Society is recorded in 1894. | | | | places like nursing homes, private clinics and even |
| Within two decades of this, several physiotherapy | | | | schools. Around this time, physiotherapy also |
| systems were in place in different countries. 1931 | | | | developed a special line related to Orthopedics. |
| saw the setting up of the first physiotherapy clinic | | | | The International Federation of Orthopedic |
| in New Zealand, and 1914 was America's turn to | | | | Manipulative Therapy developed at this time and |
| do the same. | | | | introduced treatments that changed the face of |
| Portland Oregon's Walter Reed College and | | | | the physiotherapy profession. One of the |
| Hospital was the leading light for professional | | | | physiotherapists who made several important |
| physiotherapists in America. In those days, they | | | | changes was Mariano Rocabado. A Norwegian |
| were known as reconstruction aides. Nurses who | | | | physiotherapist who is also renowned for his work |
| had received physical education practiced | | | | on the Eastern coast of US is Freddy Kaltenborn. |
| physiotherapy. Several World War I veterans owe | | | | Australian Geoffrey Maitland heavily influenced the |
| their recovery to these reconstruction aides. | | | | methods used in the training of physiotherapists. |
| In modern history, physiotherapy has been a | | | | Technology became the point in focus in the 80s, |
| widely researched subject. The US boasts a | | | | when several new techniques using modern |
| comprehensive research study that was carried | | | | technology were invented. These new procedures |
| out and published in 1921. Research in the various | | | | included ultrasound and electrical stimulation |
| specialized fields continues even today. | | | | requiring the use of computers. As physiotherapy |
| Mary McMillan formed the Physical Therapy | | | | entered the 1990s, manual therapy came into the |
| Association in 1921. Now known as the APTA, it | | | | limelight with Kaltenborn again pioneering new |
| remains the most important and influential | | | | techniques. |
| association in the history of physiotherapy in | | | | Throughout its history, practice and training |
| America. | | | | methods have been revisited and revised |
| In 1924, the Georgia Warm Springs Foundation | | | | repeatedly. Several practitioners have left behind |
| was set up. The main focus of this foundation | | | | marks of their brilliance in history through literature |
| was the spreading problem of polio. Physiotherapy | | | | and foundations for physiotherapy. Due to the |
| for polio victims was its main offering. Sister | | | | effort of al those involved, today, physiotherapy |
| Kinney who is renowned for her work with | | | | is a respected and revered profession. |
| patients suffering from polio's devastating | | | | |