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Celebrating World Physiotherapy Day
Every year on 8 September people in the UK and around the world celebrate World Physiotherapy Day. Physiotherapists help people recover from injuries, illnesses or disabilities using a variety of approaches that include movement, exercise, hands-on treatments, education and advice. They support people of all ages to manage pain, prevent disease, stay healthy and remain independent for as long as possible.
This blog looks at how physiotherapy has grown over the past 130 years.
Physiotherapy in the UK began in 1894 when nurses and midwives formed the Society of Trained Masseuses to make massage a respected profession for women. By 1900, it became a recognised professional body. During World War I newly developed therapy techniques and rehabilitation approaches helped injured soldiers recover and so boosted the profession's importance. In 1920, the group became the Chartered Society of Massage and Medical Gymnastics and, in 1944, it was renamed the Chartered Society of Physiotherapy (CSP). In 1985, the Society of Remedial Gymnastics and Recreational Therapy joined the CSP.
The CSP's Royal Charter shows its high standards and leadership in the profession. King Charles III is now its Royal Patron following Queen Elizabeth II who held the role from 1953.
The CSP was awarded its Royal Charter in 1920 and has become the profession's leading membership organisation in the UK.
In the 1970s, the CSP became a certified trade union and was fully affiliated to the Trade Union Congress in 1992. In 1977, Chartered Physiotherapists were officially recognised as autonomous professionals meaning they could assess and treat patients without needing a doctor's referral.
Today, the CSP has around 65,000 members that include qualified staff, students and associates. It has 30 'Professional Networks' that reflect the breadth of skill across the many clinical specialities within the profession. As just one example, whilst many view physiotherapy as only being related to sport the COVID pandemic highlighted many other examples of how physiotherapists can make a real difference to patients in intensive care and their management of Long COVID.
Within the timeline of my own career training qualifications have evolved from 'Chartered Physiotherapist' status (alone) to diplomas to honours degrees to pre-registration masters degrees and onto pre-registration doctoral training programmes for physiotherapists. Such developments academically and clinically have advanced the profession. In my own career I have been fortunate to have facilitated specialist colleagues with a physiotherapy background, and with additional training, to work in advanced roles to order medical tests and investigations, prescribe medication and offer injection therapy. These are just some examples that show how the profession has progressed.
Find out more through the CSP website.
Bibliography
- Barclay, J. (1994) In good hands: the history of the Chartered society of Physiotherapy 1894-1994 Oxford, Butterworth Heinemann
- Chartered Society of Physiotherapy (2023) What is physiotherapy? [Online] Available at: https://www.csp.org.uk/careers-jobs/what-physiotherapy
- Department of Health and Social Security (1977) Relationship between the medical and remedial profession H.C. (77) 33, London
- Durrell S. Expanding the scope of physiotherapy: clinical physiotherapy specialists in consultants' clinics. Man Ther. 1996 Sep;1(4):210-213. doi: 10.1054/math.1996.0271. PMID: 11440510
- Thornton, E. (1994) 100 years of physiotherapy education, Physiotherapy, 80, A, 11A- 19A
Dr James Milligan
James is Head of Subject for 'Rehabilitation and Health Professions' being responsible for studies relating to dietetics, nutrition, occupational therapy, physiotherapy, sports & exercise medicine and sport & exercise therapy.
