History of PT Flashcards
3000 BC
Chinese: early indicators of hydrotherapy, massage, body positioning and breathing to reduce pain
400 BC Hippocrates
father of medicine; used muscle strengthening, balance exercise of pt; deep friction massage for ligament/tendon tears, 1st to use electrotherapy
early books taught…
“give the body lightness and vigor and cleans the muscles and ligaments of their waste”
1700’s US
massage, exercise, hydrotherapy began to be widely used/recommended. Exercise equipment being invented in Europe & US
2 major events contributed to creation of PT
Between 1914-1916
Polio epidemic and WWI
recognized as 1st physical therapist
Mary McMillian; 1915; a reconstruction aide
1917 and Congress
passes legislation to rehabilitate soldiers returning from WWI who were permanently disabled from injuries
1918
1st PT course organized at Walter Reed Hospital to train reconstruction aides, expanded to college institutions, standards set by Surgeon General
1800’s
“gymnastic movement: from Swede, Per Ling Henrick. Development of swedish massage, medical gymnastics, passive and active movements. Required 1 on 1 trainer.
1864
Swedish physician Gustav Zander invented exercise machines to eliminate 1 on 1 trainer (71 machines)
1890’s
Electrotherapy began to be used in US (static mostly) and American Electro-theraputic Association was formed. Nikola Tesla introduced diathermy.
Reconstruction Aides
women’s PE teachers; used Ling’s methods and Zander’s machines, games, group activities, sports
worked under physicians; mostly single women from age 25-40
Mary McMillian
degree in PE; post graduate degree in physical therapy (england); joined army in 1918; worked at Walter Reed general hosp; taught in Oregon; Chief Reconstruction Aide in the dept of physiotherapy at Walter Reed General hosp
1928
council on physical therapy established in AMA - established standards for PT education programs and requirements
1940-1945
physical therapy services provided by physiatrist referral only
1940’s
officially physical therapists
licensure began…
in 1913 in PA, 1926 in NY, by 1959 most other states
1967
physical therapy assistant concept was born - APTA approved the dev of this branch of the profession
1969
name changed to physical therapist assistant; 15 people graduated with assoc degree from 2 programs
1970
9 programs running; PTA’s get their own membership status in APTA
July 2009
287 PTA programs running, PT programs: 11 masters, 209 DPT
1980’s
education for PT’s move to masters degree, policy statement for use of PTA’s is established, Standards for Ethical conduct for PTA’s adopted; APTA becomes accrediting agency for PT and PTA education
