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3000 BCE
Ancient China
It is known that physical therapy comes from Asia.Tao-Tse people used Cong Fu as physical therapy. -
500 BCE
Physician Herodicus
In Ancient Greece, physician Herodicus provided exercise therapy for pain and disease -
400 BCE
Recommended Therapy
Hippocrates, a Greek physician, recommended hydro therapy in the 4th century BCE. Additionally, in ancient China and Japan hydrotherapy was a significantly used treatment. -
200 BCE
Roman Physician Galen
Physician Galen provided rehab to wounded soldiers in the Roman empire. -
Universal Term: Physiotherapy
In 1887, physical therapy began to be recognized as physiotherapy by Sweden's Nations Board of Health and Wealthfare. -
Introduction of Physiotherapy in America
In 1918, eighteen women were trained by General C. Gorgas at Reed college, to perform exercise & massage therapy on the injured soldiers of World War 1. -
PT Degree Programs
In the late 1920s, physical therapy degree programs have been increasing. For example, some universities that have acquired pt degree programs early on are the University of Pittsburg, NYU, and Northwestern University. -
Mary Mcmillan
In 1921, after helping the injured troops of World War 1, along with other reconstruction aids, Mary McMillan created the American Women's Physical Therapeutic Association. In 1947, the name was changed to "American Physical Therapy Association" for more inclusivity. -
Early Physical Therapy Program
In 1922, the Army of Medical Excellence created an early physical therapy program to help reconstruction aides with their job at the Walter Reed General hospital. However, due to changes to earn accreditation as a physical therapy program, the duration of the program was only 4 months. -
Georgia Warm Springs Foundation
In 1926, the Georgia Warm Springs Foundation was established by U.S president, Franklin D. Roosevelt. He had contracted polio in 1921 and received physical therapy by Alice Lou Plastridge. She specialized in physical therapy regarding the effects of polio.With the help of Plastridge and the hydrotherapy she provided, Franklin D. Roosevelt was able to recover and start the Georgia Warm Springs Foundation. -
Fully-accredited physical therapy program
In 1928, Northwestern University established the first fully accredited physical therapy program. -
Commissions in the Military
As of 1942, physical therapists have been allowed to join the military and look for commissions for PT programs. -
Licensing Requirements
As of 1950, anyone who has the goals of becoming a physical therapist has to take & pass an exam to show they are successfully capable of performing therapies. -
Standardized Competency Exam for State Licensing Boards
In 1954, the American Physical Therapist Association created a 7 hour multiple choice exam covering theories, procedures, basic sciences, and clinical sciences regarding physical therapy. This exam established a sense of capability for the profession of a whole, as opposed to the state licensing practices. -
PT-PAC
In 1973, APTA's executive director Royce Noland, created the Physical Therapy Political Action Committee. This was significant for the association because it allows them to form a network for congressional champions on physical therapy issues, so the needs for physical therapy will be brought to the government's attention. -
Public Law 94-142
In 1975, President Gerald Ford signed the Education for All Handicapped Children Act, which is significant because it allowed the practice of physical therapy to be brought into public schools. -
Committee on Clinical Residency Program Credentialing
In 1997, a Committee on Clinical Residency Program Credentialing was created by the American Physical Therapist Association's directors, in order to develop proper process for post professional physical therapist to meet the qualifications to be licensed. -
Federation of State Boards for Physical Therapy
As of 2003, all states have specific requirements that need to be met to pass the National Physical Therapy Examination. The FSBPT issue board exams in correspondence to the state's requirements. -
Change to PT Credentials
At the start of the physical therapy profession, people earned a bachelor's in a created field & then got a certification for physical therapy. When the profession gradually grew, a bachelor's degree in physical therapy was created. Then as of January 2016, is was made a requirement by the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education to obtain a doctorate in physical therapy. -
FiRST Council
In February of 2016, the Frontiers in Rehabilitation, Science, and Technology Council was established to improve technology and scientific methods that will benefit the education, research, and implementation of physical therapy. -
CHSPT Establishment
In June 2016, the Council of Health Systems Physical therapy was crated members of the American Physical Therapist Association. The establishment of this council is intended for home care, outpatient clinics, nursing facilities, and inpatient rehabilitation. -
Council on Prevention, Health Promotion, and Wellness in Physical Therapy
In January of 2018, the Council on Prevention, Health Promotion, and Wellness in Physical Therapy's created for physical therapist, PTAs, to promote and advocate the significance of a healthy lifestyle & how it plays a crucial role for the reduction of the effects of disease and disabilities on an individual.