History of the Physical Therapy Profession

Practice flashcards covering the history, educational evolution, and professional organization of physical therapy.

Hydrotherapy

A treatment method involving Greek and Roman Baths that was used way back in history.

Electrotherapy

A treatment modality that first began in the year $1600s$.

Polio Epidemics

Outbreaks occurring between $1914$ and $1916$ where thousands of individuals suffered paralysis, contributing to the birth of the physical therapy profession.

Reconstruction aides

Female workers recruited from nurses and physical education teachers during WWI to provide exercise, massage, and hydrotherapy.

Mary McMillan

The $1^{st}$ US Physical Therapist who worked with polio survivors and provided strength measurements and massage.

American Women’s Physical Therapeutic Association

The professional organization established in $1921$ during the inter-war period.

American Physiotherapy Association

The name given to the American Women’s Physical Therapeutic Association in $1922$ when it was originally associated with the American Medical Association.

$$1921$$

The year the first physical therapy journal was published.

$$1928$$

The year the first curriculum for the profession was initiated as a $9$-month program.

Licensing

A development in the early $1930s$ that legally defined the scope of practice for physical therapy.

Technicians

The term used to describe the relationship of physical therapy practitioners with physicians during the early historical period.

Physiotherapists

The name the profession used in the $1940s$ before the official name change in $1947$.

APTA

The American Physical Therapy Association, which was formally named in $1947$ when the name changed from the APA.

Physical Therapy Assistants (PTAs)

A category of healthcare providers introduced into the profession during the $1960s$.

$$1960$$

The year the Bachelor of Science ($BS$) degree became the minimum educational requirement for physical therapy.

American Board of Physical Therapy Specialties

An entity established in $1978$ to oversee physical therapy specialization.

Foundation for Physical Therapy

An organization founded in $1979$ that encourages research within the field.

$$1983$$

The year the APTA became solely responsible for accrediting physical therapy and physical therapy assistant schools.

$1980s$ healthcare restrictions

The period when cost growth led to first restrictions such as visit limits and insurance authorization requirements.

DPT degree

The Doctor of Physical Therapy degree, which all physical therapy schools were required to offer by the year $2010$.

$$2022$$

The year that marked the celebration of $100$ years of the APTA.

Massage

A traditional therapeutic technique used by reconstruction aides and Mary McMillan to treat injuries and polio survivors.

Scope of practice

The set of services a professional is legally allowed to provide, first defined for physical therapy with licensing in the early $1930s$.

APTA Core Values

Standards established and revised in the $2000s$ alongside the Code of Ethics for the profession.

Evidence-based practice

The clinical decision-making approach that is a focus of modern patient care work within the physical therapy profession.