THANKFUL – HISTORY OF PHYSICAL THERAPY

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THANKFUL HISTORY OF PHYSICAL THERAPY
http//www.virtualphysicaltherapists.com/
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This time of year we are reminded and thankful
for those that came before us and paved our
path. Rehabilitation is an essential part of our
healthcare. Advancements in physical therapy
treatment methods and technology have led to
quicker and more effective pain relief and
recovery. Physical therapy was first documented
in the year 460 BC when Hippocrates introduced
the idea of manual manipulation for pain relief.
The Greeks, however, were not the only people
practicing physical therapy ancient writings
from Persia, China, and Egypt also describe the
benefits of exercise, movement, and massage for
ailments. In 1813 Per Henrik Ling, the Father
of Swedish Gymnastics, founded the Royal Central
Institute of Gymnastics (RCIG) for massage,
manipulation, and exercise. The Swedish word for
a physical therapist is sjukgymnast meaning
someone involved in gymnastics for those who are
ill. From 1917 to 1918, therapy was performed
widely, to assist those injured in World War I.
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An outbreak of polio in the 1920s placed
increased demand on physical therapists, which
lead to more breakthroughs in treatment
techniques.  Mary McMillan, known as the Mother
of Physical Therapy, established the American
Womens Physical Therapeutic Association in 1921.
The organizations name was later changed to
the American Physical Therapy Association
(APTA). Florence Henry Kendell were the
pioneers in research for physical therapy. At the
height of the polio epidemic, they establish
baselines for normal function in children and
young adults and conducted groundbreaking
research. Their book, Muscles Testing and
Function, became the standard text and is still
widely used today. The most dramatic
transformation came from a New Zealand native,
Robin McKenzie. Robin stumbled on a
transformative way of assessing and treating back
pain and herniated discs. When he initially
presented this new thought process in 1980 to
American physicians he was mocked and flew home
to New Zealand swearing he would never return.
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McKenzie was burning with a way to save so many
in pain. Thankfully he returned with boldness and
zeal to transform our medical community and
gradually overturned our way of thinking. Forty
years later and hundreds of research articles,
his method of Mechanical Assessment Diagnosis
is now practiced in 60 countries. The
mechanical assessment is more accurate than an
MRI in identifying painful structures and has
saved so many from surgery and chronic pain.
Robin often stated that the patient has all the
answers, we just have to ask the right questions
to uncover the problem. McKenzie also emphasized
that care must focus on patient education and a
self-treatment plan. Instead of passive care,
patients were now in the drivers seat of their
healing. There is still an unmet need for
rehabilitation with 2.4 billion people currently
living with a health condition that would benefit
from physical therapy.
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Most people do not know how simple it is to get
pain relief. But without uncovering the root
cause of symptoms, an exercise protocol is in
vainCare must first start with a Mechanical
Diagnosis to uncover the root cause of
symptoms. We are so thankful to those that came
before and cleared the path, shined the light,
uncovered the causes, and enlightened us in the
realm of musculoskeletal rehabilitation. May we
continue to learn, grow, and transform our care
for the betterment of the world!
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Virtual physical therapists

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