Listen to this articleWorld Physical Therapy Day is observed every year on September 8. It is celebrated to raise awareness about the critical role of physical therapists and chronic pain therapies in keeping people healthy and fit.
The World Confederation for Physical Therapy (WCPT) established World Physical Therapy Day on September 8 of each year, in 1996. The WCPT was created on this date 70 years ago. The day celebrates the global physical therapy community’s togetherness and solidarity. It is a chance to recognize the contributions that physical therapists provide to their patients and the community.
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Going back in time, the first documented account of physical therapy comes from Hippocrates, the old master of medicine. Hippocrates originated the concept of manual manipulation for pain treatment in 460 B.C. Since then, physiotherapy has progressed from a simple massage to a complex portfolio of therapies with a wide range of specialized applications.
For centuries, the area of physical therapy experienced minimal progress. A unified group of physical therapy practitioners did not emerge until the 18th century. Per Henrik Ling, known as the ‘Father of Swedish Gymnastics,’ created the Royal Central Institute of Gymnastics (RCIG) in 1813 for massage, manipulation, and exercise. In 1887, Sweden’s National Board of Health and Welfare granted physical therapists official registration.
Until World War II, the majority of physical therapy was performed in hospitals on patients suffering from surgery, injuries, or other ailments. During the war, specialty physical therapy clinics were established to treat the thousands of wounded soldiers who required rehabilitation following hospital stays. This shift to outpatient care reflected physical therapy’s expanding popularity.
Physiotherapy is now utilized to treat a wide range of diseases and conditions. Back pain, osteoarthritis, Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, bursitis, muscular strains, Guillain-Barre syndrome, balance disorders, asthma, fibromyalgia, wounds, burns, rheumatoid arthritis, and a variety of other illnesses may be treated. The goals of physiotherapy vary depending on the patient’s specific needs, but common intended outcomes include pain relief, increased range of motion, endurance and strength, independence, stress reduction, and a higher quality of life for the patient.
The field of physiotherapy evolved even more as computers became more widespread in the medical realm. With the advent of the electronics age, made possible by ever-smaller components, new technologies for use in therapy were introduced. Electrical stimulators and ultrasounds are two examples of gadgets that have improved therapeutic effectiveness.
