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It is known that physical therapy comes from Asia.Tao-Tse people used Cong Fu as physical therapy. -
In Ancient Greece, physician Herodicus provided exercise therapy for pain and disease -
Hippocrates, a Greek physician, recommended hydro therapy in the 4th century BCE. Additionally, in ancient China and Japan hydrotherapy was a significantly used treatment. -
Physician Galen provided rehab to wounded soldiers in the Roman empire. -
In 1887, physical therapy began to be recognized as physiotherapy by Sweden's Nations Board of Health and Wealthfare. -
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. -
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. -
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. -
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. -
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.
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In 1928, Northwestern University established the first fully accredited physical therapy program. -
As of 1942, physical therapists have been allowed to join the military and look for commissions for PT programs. -
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. -
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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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. -
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. -
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.
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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.
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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.