The New Zealand Private Practice Boom
In the years before 1974, private physiotherapy practices were few and far between in New Zealand. Patients either paid the full cost of treatment themselves, or claimed against private insurance schemes which had highly unregulated fee structures and were unwilling to negotiate fees with physiotherapists locally or nationally. With the …
The Sunlight League
Physiotherapist Cora Wilding founded the Sunlight League in New Zealand, was instrumental in establishing the Youth Hostel Association and was one of the most passionate advocates for the physical culture movement. The Physical Culture Movement was a health and fitness movement that began in Europe during the 19th century, spreading …
The “Grandfather” of New Zealand Physiotherapy
In 1921, when the presence of men within the massage profession was still largely frowned upon, Matthew Guinan was the 77th masseur to be registered with the New Zealand Masseurs Registration Board. His registration was granted under the Board’s amnesty for anyone who had practiced as a masseur in New …
The Greenlane Rocker Bed
The image of the Greenlane ‘rocker’ bed will be familiar to generations of physiotherapists who worked at Greenlane Hospital, in Auckland, New Zealand during the 1950s, 60s and 70s. Originally much smaller, the rocker, or tipping bed, was designed by the parents of a girl with bronchiectasis who was being …
The ways we lose our culture
A few years ago, I was going through some old papers and came across a fragile yellowed newspaper cutting celebrating the refurbished physiotherapy school in Dunedin, New Zealand. The broadsheet report had some lovely pictures of the wooden lecture theatre and a handful of women students in uniform studiously taking …
Three recent books on the history of the physical therapies
In the history of physiotherapy, there’s been precious little work on the cultural history of the physical therapies themselves. But over the last few months, a few pieces of popular science writing have tackled subjects that are close to our hearts. Bill Hayes’ book Sweat: A history of exercise is …
The next big thing in physiotherapy history
We had another great biannual meeting of the whole IPHA membership yesterday. Thanks to everyone who took part. As well as reviewing the work of the group over the last six months – especially progress on our fabulous 100 Objects campaign – we talked about getting started on our next …
Fisioterapia no Brasil: Profissão assegurada por Decreto-Lei
DECRETO-LEI N.938 / 69 DE 13 DE OUTUBRO DE 1969 DOU nº.197 de 14/10/69 – retificado em 16-10-1969 Sec. I – Pág. 3.658 Provê sobre as profissões de fisioterapeuta e terapeuta ocupacional, e dá outras providências Os Ministros da Marinha de Guerra, do Exército e da Aeronáutica Militar, usando das …
The first ever Special Issue on the History of Physiotherapy now in print
Nearly three years ago now, we put out a call for people interested in compiling a special issue on the history of physiotherapy for the journal Physiotherapy Theory & Practice, and I’m delighted to say that the papers are now appearing online. There are seven full papers and one Editorial in …
IPHA at 2021 virtual World Physiotherapy Congress
World Physiotherapy (the newly branded WCPT) announced last week that it would be moving its biennial Congress online for 2021. Abstract submissions have been extended to 24th September. More information here. At this week’s meeting of the IPHA Exec, we’ll be discussing whether an online format gives us the opportunity …