History of Physical Therapy

  • Period: 460 BCE to 460 BCE

    First Documented of Physical Therapy

    Hippocrates suggested massaging for pain relief
  • Period: 460 BCE to 460 BCE

    Hydrotherapy

    Hector develops water therapy to help treat patients.
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    RCIG

    Per Henrik Ling created the Royal Central Institute of Gymnastics (RCIG) in 1813. RCIG was used for exercise and massage.
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    Chartered Society of Physiotherapy

    four nurses in Great Britain formed the Chartered Society of Physiotherapy. The Chartered Society of Physiotherapy help recognize the benefits of rehabilitation and working with long term care.
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    Schools begins teaching Physical Therapy

    In 1913, the School of Physiotherapy was formed by the University of Otago in New Zealand. In 1914, Reed College in Portland was formed. These schools were the early beginnings of teaching physical therapy.
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    Rehabilitation Therapy

    More people started to look toward physical therapist as a career to help out in the war for World War 1
  • Period: to

    PT Review

    A research paper was published by PT Review in March 1921.
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    Mary McMillan

    Established the American Women's Physical Therapeutic Association ( was later changed to the American Physical Therapy Association). One of the first physical therapy aide she was also known as 'Mother of Physical Therapy'
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    Outpatient Physical Therapy

    In the late 1950s, Physical Therapy uses to only happen inside hospitals, now started to treat patients beyond the hospital.
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    International Federation of Orthopedic Manipulative Therapy

    help popularize manual therapy.
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    First doctorates

    First Doctorates in Physical Therapy graduated from Creighton University in Nebraska
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    DPT requirement

    In North America, by 2020 all physical therapist is required to have a doctorate in Physical Therapy.