Historical Development of PT in the US and Philippines

Origins of Physical Therapy and US Development00:00:00

Physical therapy roots date back to ancient techniques like massage, hydrotherapy, and electrotherapy. In the US, the profession was propelled forward by the polio epidemics and the medical needs of soldiers during World War I. The creation of 'reconstruction aids'—exclusively women at the time—established the foundations for modern practice.

Professionalization and Identity in the US00:05:40

The American Women's Physical Therapeutic Association was formed in 1921 with Mary McMillan as its first president. Over the following decades, the profession fought for identity, distancing itself from the 'technician' label as the medical specialty of physiatry emerged. This era also saw the establishment of educational standards, the publication of journals, and the inclusion of men in the field.

Growth and Modern Vision (Vision 2020)00:11:40

The 1960s to 1980s were marked by significant growth and federal funding. Challenges in the 1990s due to healthcare cost controls led to structural shifts. By 2000, the APTA introduced 'Vision 2020,' aiming for physical therapists to be autonomous, evidence-based practitioners and doctors of physical therapy (DPT).

Development of Physical Therapy in the Philippines00:17:36

Physical therapy in the Philippines began with electrotherapeutics at the University of Santo Tomas in 1908. Significant momentum arrived in the late 1940s following World War II and consultant visits by Dr. Henry Kessler. The Philippine Physical Therapy Association was founded in 1964, and the field was regulated by law through Republic Act 5680 in 1969, leading to the first licensing exams in 1973.