From Ling to the academic era – An analysis of the history of ideas in PT from a Nordic perspective

Abstract

There has been little interest in the historical development and the history of ideas of physiotherapy (PT). The overall aim in this study is to explore the origin and main ideas, concepts and patterns of thoughts in PT and their change over time from 1830–1979 in Finland and Sweden in order to increase the understanding of PT. The study uses a history of ideas approach and is based on Gadamer's hermeneutic ontology, which closely links thinking and conceptualization. The material consisted of textbooks used in PT education, articles from scientific and professional journals, chronicles, minutes and reports from government inquiry. A holistic and naturalistic perspective on PT were early arisen and constant distinctive, but through various forms. A pattern of thought over times is movement as a natural and curative health promoting agent in contrast to a medical remedy. The main ideas of physiotherapy can be understood according to three perspectives on movement: the health cure, the medical cure and the exercise cure. The main ideas form a basis for understanding movement as the core concept of physiotherapy. PT has a knowledge base of its own that has preserved over time, distinct from medicine and other health disciplines.

Key words::

• Concepts and patterns of thoughts in PT
• history of PT
• qualitative research

Acknowledgement

Camilla Wikström-Grotell is responsible for all parts of the article written in close connection with Catharina Broberg. Siv Ahonen is responsible for the review of the Finnish primary material together with Camilla Wikström-Grotell, while Catharina Broberg is responsible for the review of the primary Swedish material. Moreover Siw Ahonen reviewed all issues of the Finnish physiotherapy journal (Medikalgymnasten, Lääkintävoimistelija, The Finnish Medical Gymnast/Physiotherapist) and Catharina Broberg reviewed a selection of the Swedish journal Sjukgymnasten (The Physiotherapist) and the Swedish journal Tidskrift i gymnastik (Journal in Gymnastics) 1870–1940. Katie Eriksson acted as an overall supervisor and contributed to scientific and critical comments refining the manuscript.

Declaration of interest: The authors report no conflict of interest

Notes

Notes

1. The term “medical gymnastics” is used as a collective entry for the first decades of the doctrine, even though it has had different names over time. In Swedish it was and is still called “sjukgymnastik” (medical gymnastics), alongside with “fysioterapi” (PT).

2. According to Ottoson (16, p. 88) Ling was the most influential authority impacting the early development of physiotherapy and mechanical medicine. Ling elaborated a system of gymnastics, exercises and manoeuvres, divided into four branches: (1) pedagogical, (2) medical, (3) military and (4) aesthetic. The development of the doctrines was as a natural consequence of changes in society after the big wars in Europe during the 1800s and Ling's personal experiences of restoring his bodily health by exercise. Ling's influence on the development of PT is described in Ottoson (16).

3. The development of PT during the 19th century is characterized by a continuous conflict between physiotherapists and physicians about the preferential right of interpretation in the field of science. The study is based on material written by both sides. To the hostile sources belong the references (35), (38), (44) and (45), while (26), (27), (28), (37) and (46) represent advocates for Ling. The writers of this article have interpreted the literature conscious of the tendencies in the material.