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3000 BCE
Chinese massage
The Tao-Tse people of ancient China record some of the earliest instances of “Cong Fu” therapeutic movement in 3000 BCE. -
Period: 3000 BCE to 2022 BCE
The evolution
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400 BCE
Hippocrates
Hippocrates (400-385BCE), often called the father of modern medicine, was the first to describe spinal manipulation - using gravity in the treatment of scoliosis (essentially by tying the patient to a ladder and tipping them upside down). -
100 BCE
Hippocratic board
An illustration of Hippocratic board by Apollonius of Kitium showing the correction of a spinal deformity. To reduce the hump, the physician or a trained assistant uses his hands, his foot, or even his whole body to press it, while traction is applied. Bibliotheca Medica Laurenziana, Florence. -
1153
Roman Baths
The gymnasiums, as the Greeks knew them, became part of these large SPA, also known as the Roman Baths. So one could exercise, rest in a hot bath, get a massage, go shopping, and end with a good book—all in the same place. -
Swedish massage and gymnastics
As a professional system, physiotherapy has its earliest documented origins that date back to the physical manipulation and exercise in 1813 as advocated by the father of Swedish gymnastics, Per Henrik Ling, the Royal Central Institute of Gymnastics’ founder. -
Promotion of physiotherapy during polio.
It was toward the end of the nineteenth century when modern physical therapy was established. Women were slowly being hired for physical education and the application of remedial exercises, following American orthopedic surgeons getting an overwhelming number of cases with disabilities that needed the treatment. These physical therapy treatments were promoted and applied during the outbreak of polio in 1916. -
Manual therapy uprising
In the early 1950s, the British Commonwealth countries promoted the use of manipulative procedures to the spine and extremity joints. Simultaneous with the development of polio vaccines was the popularity of physical therapists rising across Europe and the North America. -
VR in physiotherapy
Michael Heinrich, who lost the use of the lower half of his body after an accident, undergoes virtual reality therapy. “From an emotional standpoint, coming off an injury where I lost the majority of the use of my body, V.R. pushed the boundaries of what I thought was possible,” he said.