Never the “Twain: shall met, or shall they?

Samuel Longhorne Clemens, or more famously known as Mark Twain, has a very interesting contribution to the historical development of manual therapy in the United States. A delicious irony exists in that his pen name (Mark Twain), refers to the point on a river chart where the troubled waters meet the safe waters for navigation at two fathoms depth. The troubled waters of understanding the history of manual therapy, and the rift between professions which often exists in debating it, can be diminished by knowing of his unique contribution.

Twain travelled to Europe in the late 19^thCentury; and spent quite a few years on the continent. In 1899 his family benefitted from the renowned treatment of an early physiotherapist, trained in Swedish mechanotherapy, Jonas Henrik Kellgren. They spent the summer at a Swedish sanatorium in Sanna to continue treatment under the Kellgren Method. Where the history becomes intriguing was that the Twain’s were to stay in Europe until they learned they could receive similar treatment in the USA. Mark Twain’s nephew informed him the same treatment was available in Buffalo, New York, but it was called Osteopathy. The Twain’s returned home but sought now to support the provision of a hands-on type of care for Americans which was readily available in Europe.

Two examples of this evidence of a bridge between European mechanotherapy and American Osteopathy can be found in both the writings of Twain and reporting of his activities:

1 – The first is a letter (1900) written by Twain to A T Still in Kirksville MS, the founder of Osteopathy, petitioning for the admission in Osteopathy of an unnamed young Swede trained by Kellgren, noting the principles of Swedish Mechanotherapy and American Osteopathy to be the same.

2 – The second is a reporting in the Journal of Osteopathy (1901) of testimony provided by Twain in the support of seeking licensure for Osteopaths in New York (which was successful), recognizing the benefits of Osteopathy and services provided to him in London by those trained by Kellgren in an approach akin to Osteopathy.

Of final note, James Cyriax is the grandson of Jonas Kellgren. Kellgren finished training at the RCIG in Stockholm in 1865, the original Gymnastics/Physiotherapy school in Europe. Also, Edgar Cyriax, James’ father, completed his PhD on Swedish Mechanotherapy at the RCIG in 1898-99.

Never the Twain shall meet, I don’t think so!

Posted by Cameron MacDonald

Dr MacDonald received his initial Physical Therapy (PT) education in Australia at Sydney University, and his Doctoral Degree in PT from Regis University in Denver, CO. He is a Board Certified Specialist in Orthopedics and Geriatrics in the USA. He has also obtained Fellowship status in Orthopedic Manual Physical Therapy (OMPT). He has received multiple national research awards from the APTA, AAOMPT and JOSPT. He has taught across the USA, internationally in multiple settings and continues with an active research agenda. He spent 20+ years in clinical practice in a primary orthopaedic setting/s. He is the Director of the Regis Fellowship in OMPT and the Orthopaedic Residency, instructing in manipulative therapy, specific exercise and dry needling in all primary regions of the body. He is an assistant Professor at the Regis School of Physical Therapy. He is the current Chapter President. His current PhD studies from the University of Newcastle, Australia, are on the genesis of manual therapy for all primary professions.

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