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physical therapy, physiotherapy
Posted: 04 September 2003 10:33 AM   [ Ignore ]
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When did the words physical therapy & physiotherapy appear in the literature? From my reading it likely appeared in the late 1800. It was a medical specialty and applied to physicians not to the physical therapists of today. Around 1904 Robert Tait McKenzie, MD was a "Professor of Physical Therapy in the Department of Physical Education" at the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia and taught physical therapy to medical students. Physicians practicing physical medicine and rehabilitation were known as "physical therapists". Who was the first to coin the term? Thank you!

Dan Staight (JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)

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Posted: 05 September 2003 03:46 AM   [ Ignore ]   [ # 1 ]
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physic - c.1300, "medical science," from O.Fr. phisike "natural science, art of healing," from L. physica (fem. sing.) "study of nature," from Gk. physike episteme "knowledge of nature," from physis "nature." Especially in Gk. ta physika, lit. "the natural things," name of Aristotle’s treatise on nature.

physical - early 15c., "of or pertaining to material nature," from M.L. physicalis "of nature, natural," from L. physica "study of nature" (see physic). Meaning "of the body, corporeal" is attested from 1780.

therapy - 1846, from Mod.L. therapia, from Gk. therapeia "curing, healing," from therapeuein "to cure, treat." Therapist formed 1886; earlier therapeutist (1816).

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