THANKFUL – HISTORY OF PHYSICAL THERAPY
                     THANKFUL – 
HISTORY OF 
PHYSICAL 
THERAPY
http://www.virtualphysicaltherapists.com/
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. 
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 Women’s Physical Therapeutic Association in 1921. The organization’s 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.
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 driver’s 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.
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 vain…Care 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!
VIRTUAL 
PHYSICAL 
THERAPISTS
[email protected]
HTTP://WWW.VIRTUALPHYSICALTHERAPISTS.COM/
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