In 460 BC, physicians such as Hippocrates and Galen are said to have been the earliest practitioners of physical therapy, recommending massage, manual therapy methods, and hydrotherapy to heal patients. Following the advent of orthopedics in the eighteenth century, devices such as the Gymnasticon were invented to cure gout and kindred disorders by systematic joint training, comparable to subsequent advances in physical therapy.

Per Henrik Ling, the "Father of Swedish Gymnastics," created the Royal Central Institute of Gymnastics (RCIG) in 1813 for manipulation and exercise, which is the oldest known foundation of physical therapy as a professional group. Until 2014, the Swedish name for a physical therapist was sjukgymnast meaning someone involved in gymnastics for the sick, but the title was later changed to fysioterapeut (physiotherapist), as is the case in the other Scandinavian nations. The Swedish National Board of Health and Welfare officially registered PTs in 1887. Other nations quickly followed. The Chartered Society of Physiotherapy was founded in 1894 in Great Britain by four nurses. In 1913, the University of Otago in New Zealand established a School of Physiotherapy, and in 1914, Reed College in Portland, Oregon educated "reconstruction aides." Spinal manipulative treatment has been part of the physical therapist's practice since its commencement.

Modern physical therapy emerged at the end of the nineteenth century as a result of worldwide events that necessitated significant improvements in physical therapy. Following this, American orthopedic surgeons began treating disabled children and hiring women educated in physical education and remedial exercise. These therapies were expanded upon and advocated during the 1916 polio outbreak.

During World War I, women were recruited to help with injured troops and restore physical function, and physical therapy became an institutionalized specialty. In 1918, the term "Reconstruction Aide" was used to describe those who practiced physical rehabilitation. Following the commencement of World War I, the first physical therapy school opened at Walter Reed Army Hospital in Washington, D.C. The physical therapy movement was spurred forward by research. The first physical therapy research was published in the United States in March 1921, in "The PT Review." In the same year, Mary McMillan founded the American Women's Physical Therapeutic Association, which is today known as the American Physical Therapy Association. In 1924, the Georgia Warm Springs Foundation pushed physical therapy as a treatment for polio. Exercise, massage, and traction were the primary forms of treatment during the 1940s. In the early 1950s, manipulation of the spine and extremities joints became common, particularly in British Commonwealth countries. Physical therapists were common in hospitals across North America and Europe at the same time as polio vaccines were created. Physical therapists began to migrate away from hospital-based practice in the late 1950s and into outpatient orthopedic clinics, public schools, college/university health centers, geriatric settings (skilled nursing facilities), rehabilitation centers, and medical centers.

Physical therapy specialization began in the United States in 1974, when the Orthopaedic Section of the APTA was established for physical therapists who specialized in orthopedics. The International Federation of Orthopaedic Manipulative Physical Therapists was founded the same year, and it has since played an essential role in improving manual therapy across the world. The World Confederation for Physical Therapy (WCPT) is a professional organization that works internationally. It was created in 1951 and has been doing business under the name World Physiotherapy since 2020.

Scope of Physiotherapy

A physiotherapist can work in a variety of settings, including hospitals, nursing homes, healthcare centers, specialized schools, sports facilities (with national and international teams in cricket, football, boxing, and other sports), senior citizens' homes, and as an independent practitioner.

Physiotherapy is much more than just an efficient method of injury and pain management. High-quality physiotherapy can help treat a range of illnesses, including joint ailments, cardiovascular issues, and neurological conditions including spinal cord injuries, stroke, Parkinson's disease, and multiple sclerosis.

The worldwide physiotherapy services market was valued at USD 54.97 billion in 2023 and is expected to reach around USD 92.57 billion by 2033, increasing at a CAGR of 5.35% from 2024 to 2033.

Highest Paying Countries for Physiotherapists

1. Switzerland: Physiotherapists in Switzerland are highly respected within the healthcare sector, earning an average yearly compensation of USD 88,481. To operate as a registered physiotherapist in Switzerland, you must have your degree acknowledged by the Swiss Red Cross.
2. Canada: Physiotherapists in Canada make an average yearly pay of USD 77,937, with the top cities being Vancouver, Toronto, and Ottawa. To become a registered physiotherapist in Canada, you must pass the National Physiotherapy Competency Exam (NPCE).
3. New Zealand: Physiotherapists in New Zealand earn an average yearly income of USD 72,734. To operate as a registered practitioner in New Zealand, you must be registered with the Physiotherapy Board of New Zealand and hold an Annual Practising Certification.
4. United States of America: Physiotherapists in the United States earn an average yearly compensation of USD 71,423. The Federation of State Boards of Physical Therapy conducts the National Physical Therapy Examination (NPTE), which worldwide physiotherapists must pass in order to operate as physiotherapists in the United States.
5. Norway: Physiotherapists in Norway earn an average yearly pay of USD 70,363. To practice as a physiotherapist in Norway, you must pass a Norwegian language exam and be authorized to work through Altinn.
6. Sweden: Physiotherapists in Sweden earn an average yearly compensation of USD 66,279. You will need a Swedish license, which the Swedish National Board of Health and Welfare grants to international physiotherapists once they demonstrate fluency in the Swedish language.
7. The Netherlands: Physiotherapists in the Netherlands make an average yearly pay of USD 64,306. To get a license to work in the Netherlands, you must complete the standards of the Physiotherapist's Evaluation Framework and have worked as a physiotherapist for 5 years.
8. Singapore: Physiotherapists in Singapore earn an average yearly pay of USD 63,333. To operate as a physiotherapist in Singapore, you must first complete a degree program accredited by the Allied Health Professions Council (AHPC) and then receive a license after acquiring the necessary work experience.
9. Australia: Physiotherapists in Australia earn an average yearly compensation of USD 58,747. To move, reside, and operate as a physiotherapist in Australia, worldwide physiotherapists must pass the APC written assessment administered by the Australian Physiotherapy Council.
10. United Kingdom: Physiotherapists in the UK earn an average yearly wage of USD 49,651. To practice as a physiotherapist in the United Kingdom, you must first register with the Health and Care Professions Council.

Overall, the physiotherapy career scope in India is vast and changing, with multiple possibilities for professionals in clinical practice, teaching, research, and specialized sectors. Advancements in healthcare infrastructure, technology, and public awareness are expected to propel the profession forward.