World physiotherapy day 2021 theme, Indian and world physiotherapy history

Updated: Sep 18, 2021

Welcome to all of physio's helping hand (physiogk) family members and very very happy world Physiotherapy day to all of you.

History of Physiotherapy | physical therapy history — World Physiotherapy day 2021

In this blog, we will know about the Physiotherapy history of the world and India. How this day means 8 September start to celebrate as world pt day. What is the theme of World Physiotherapy day 2021?

Introduction

Once again happy World PT Day. This day is an opportunity to recognize the work that physiotherapists do for their patients and the community. It’s time to unite all world physio's and aware about physiotherapy to everyone. Let all physio together make physiotherapy popular in the medical field.

History of physiotherapy

According to information available on different sources, the treatment by physiotherapy started in 460 B.C.
It is believed that physicians such as Hippocrates followed by Galenus were the first practitioners of physiotherapy and at that time they treated people with massage, manual therapy techniques, and hydrotherapy.
Physiotherapy is the first to be recognized as a professional group, documented in Swedish, the credit goes to Per Henrik Ling.
Per Henrik Ling is also known as the father of Shewdiah gymnastics. He founded the royal center Institute of Gymnastics in 1813 for manipulation, exercise and massage.
In 1887, PTs were given official registration by Sweden’s National Board of Health and Welfare.
In 1894, four nurses from Great Britain formed the Chartered Society of Physiotherapy.
In 1913 the University of Otago of New Zealand started the School of Physiotherapy where physiotherapy was taught.
The soldiers who were injured in the world War of 1917-1918, they are treated for the first time by the physio in the US and it was also named Rehabilitation Therapy.
Physio's first research paper was published in PT Review in the US on this day in March 1921.
Mary McMillan, known as the Mother of Physiotherapy founded the American Women's Physical Therapeutic Association which is now known as the American Physical Therapy Association(APTA).
Until 1950, physiotherapy was performed only in the hospital. After 1950, PT was practiced outside the hospital. By 1974, APTA created a separate specialized division called as Orthopedic Section for Therapists who specialize in orthopedic PT.
In 1974 the 'International Federation of Orthopedic Manipulative Therapy' was established. After it, manual therapy was popularised worldwide.

History of Indian Physiotherapy

In Asian Indian, surgeon Sushruta in his practice applies physical, breathing exercises, as well as massage and hardening.
In India, Physiotherapy was first started in 1952 in Mumbai with a polio outbreak. Physiotherapy school and center were opened in Mumbai by the helped of GOI, State Government and Mumbai Municipal Corporation where movement related problem is treated.
The Indian Association of Physiotherapy(IAP) was established in 1962 and is now a registered medical body with more than 30000 physiotherapists.

Why do we celebrate 8 September as world PT day?

In 1996, 8 September was designated as World PT Day. This is the date World Physiotherapy was founded in 1951. The day marks the unity and solidarity of the global physiotherapy community.