Did you know, that Hippocrates introduced the idea of manual manipulation for pain relief in 460 BC? Hector practiced a physiotherapy technique called “hydrotherapy” – which is Greek for water treatment. China and Egypt also describe the benefits of exercise, movement and massage for ailments.

In 1887, PTs were given official registration by Sweden’s National Board of Health and Welfare. From 1917 to 1918, therapy was performed widely, to cure people injured in World War I. The treatment was considered ‘rehabilitation therapy‘ during that time. An outbreak of polio in the 1920s placed increased demand on Physical Therapists, which lead to more breakthroughs in treatment techniques.

In March 1921, in the United States, Mary McMillan, the first Physical Therapy aide, established the American Women’s Physical Therapeutic Association. The organization’s name was later on changed to the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA).  During the Second World War, most Physical Therapies were done in hospitals for the wounded soldiers that needed rehabilitation. Specialty clinics were then to follow, providing outpatient care for those wounded soldiers.

It was only in the late 1950s that Physical Therapists started treating the patients beyond hospitals. In 1974, many Physical Therapists began to specialize and the Orthopedic Section – was formed in the APTA. During the 1980s, the use of computers became prevalent in Medical Science. Various devices, such as electrical stimulators, were introduced which increased the effectiveness of treatments.

The field of Sports Medicine has developed into an extremely effective means of treating injured sports players. With doctors and therapists treating sports participants whether they’re school players or the stars of world class games, the techniques of Physical Therapy continue to find patients to heal.

(From: Thomas J.A. Terlouw, PT, MSc, PhD (Medical History). Roots of Physical Medicine, Physical Therapy, and Mechanotherapy in the Netherlands in the 19th Century: A Disputed Area within the Healthcare Domain)

Northern Michigan Sports Medicine first opened its doors in Petoskey in January 1988. We had one PT, one ATC, an Aide, and a Front Desk staff. NMSMC now operates from 7 clinics with about 60 employees across 6 northern Michigan communities.

From a rich and long history as a profession,  and in our own northern Michigan, we continue to provide care and healing to a wide range of patients and diagnoses.

October is National Physical Therapy Month, a good time to celebrate our history, and heck, take time to hug a Physical Therapist!!

Written by Chuck Smith, Physical Therapist since 1973 and just warming up!