Physiotherapy, or physical therapy in American English, refers to the treatment of diseases, injuries, or physical conditions using methods such as massage, heat treatment, and exercise rather than relying on drugs or surgery, as defined by Oxford.
In 460 BCE, Hippocrates introduced the idea of manual manipulation for pain relief. Since then, physiotherapy has evolved from simple massage to a technical medical science and profession.
The word physiotherapy was first used by German physician Friedrich Julius Siebenhaar. The origins and history of physical therapy as a profession trace back to Per Henrik Ling, who in 1813 founded the Royal Central Institute of Gymnastics in Stockholm—earning him recognition as the “father of Swedish gymnastics.” [3]
Physiotherapy as a profession started in India more than 70 years ago. The first school of Physiotherapy was established in Mumbai at KEM Hospital and Seth G.S. Medical College by Dr. K.M. Munshi, widely regarded as the father of physiotherapy in India, along with experts from WHO—Mr. R.L. Jacques from the United Kingdom and Mrs. Pege Mehta from the United States—with support from the Government of India and BMC in 1953. [1]
India with its rich history of traditional medicine had physicians practicing a form of physiotherapy since the ages of yogis.
The techniques described by the renowned Indian physician, Sushruta, in the Sushruta Samhita (600BCE ) laid the foundation for modern physical therapy practices. His detailed descriptions of surgeries and medical treatments are the most ancient recorded medical manuscript available. In these ancient texts, Sushruta mentions water therapy, massages, and stretching exercises, which are forms of physical therapy that are still practiced today.
India was a part of British Empire during World War 2 (WW2) and two and a half a million Indians were recruited for the war against the Axis powers to fight under the British command.
The return of injured soldiers created a sustained need for rehabilitation in India. To meet prosthetic and functional rehabilitation needs, the Artificial Limb Centre in Pune began operations on May 19, 1944, to support service personnel who lost limbs in combat. Physiotherapy services were immediately required for their recovery.
Another pressing challenge was the recurrent polio outbreaks in the 1950s, which accelerated the demand for polio rehabilitation in India, especially to manage paralysis, prevent contractures, and support mobility. This created a steady pipeline of trained professionals for hospitals and community rehabilitation.
India later achieved key public health milestones that reshaped rehabilitation needs. The last confirmed wild poliovirus case occurred in 2011. The World Health Organization certified India polio free in 2014, which shifted services from acute polio management to lifelong disability prevention, orthotic needs, and community reintegration for survivors. [2]
The Indian Association of Physiotherapists emerged to represent the profession nationally and internationally. World Physiotherapy lists the association’s year of establishment as 1955, with membership in the world body since 1967, renewed in 2020.
Today, physiotherapy is a global profession with specialties ranging from orthopedics, neurology, cardiorespiratory, sports, pediatrics and geriatrics. The focus has shifted from merely treating ailments to promoting overall health and wellness.
Parliament enacted the National Commission for Allied and Healthcare Professions Act in March 2021 to regulate education, registration, and practice for allied and healthcare professionals, including physiotherapists. The Commission began constituting committees in 2024 to draft minimum standards for registration, institutional norms, clinical practice, and professional ethics. [4]
The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare’s Allied Health Section issued a Model Curriculum Handbook for physiotherapy in 2017 to create uniform national guidance for undergraduate and postgraduate programs. [5] This was aimed at standardising the curriculum and to maintain the standards. In 2025, the ministry updated competency-based curricula for several allied professions to align with current practice and strengthen physiotherapy education standards.
Physiotherapists in India now work across acute care, outpatient services, community-based rehabilitation centres, and sports and occupational health.
Physiotherapy is increasingly seen as a mainstream medical profession rather than an alternative treatment, gaining recognition for its long-term effectiveness in managing conditions like arthritis, backaches, sciatica, frozen shoulder, headaches, and sports injuries.
However, it still struggles with recognition as an autonomous profession. The lack of a central regulatory body similar to the Medical Council of India results in inconsistencies in practice standards and professional recognition. Limited pay scales in government jobs have led many physiotherapists to seek opportunities abroad or turn to private practice. [6]
Awareness about physiotherapy is growing, yet a significant portion of the population remains unaware of its benefits. Misconceptions often lead to underutilization, and services are negligible or absent in rural areas. This urban-rural divide continues to be a major challenge in achieving equitable rehabilitation in India.
Physiotherapy in India has evolved considerably over decades, from its origins from ancient ayurvedic times to modern medical standards. Meeting the requirements during post WW2 and helping the affected after polio epidemic, Indian physiotherapy has achieved its establishment goals.
With the renewed framework proposed by MoFHW and updated curiculum, the post graduates and graduates in the field is trained professionally to meet every global standards. Let's hope the coming years will be even more fruitful for the healthcare sector.
References:
International Journal of Research Publication and Reviews (IJRPR), “IJRPR30668.pdf,” IJRPR 5, no. 6 (2024), accessed August 27, 2025, https://ijrpr.com/uploads/V5ISSUE6/IJRPR30668.pdf.
World Health Organization Eastern Mediterranean Regional Office (WHO EMRO), “Polio-free India: It Seemed Impossible Until It Was Done,” WHO EMRO News, January 12, 2023, https://www.emro.who.int/polio-eradication/news/polio-free-india-it-seemed-impossible-until-it-was-done.html.
D. Caney, “The Physiotherapist,” in Social Skills, ed. W. T. Singleton (Dordrecht: Springer, 1983), 101–117, https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-011-7819-8_8.
Press Information Bureau (PIB), Government of India, “Press Release,” PIB, April 27, 2022, https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleaseIframePage.aspx?PRID=1824397.
Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW), Government of India, Model Curriculum Handbook of Physiotherapy, September 11, 2017, https://www.mohfw.gov.in/sites/default/files/Model%20Curriculum%20Handbook_PT_11%20September%202017%20%28Final%29.pdf.
JSS College of Physiotherapy, PJIAP-June-2017.pdf, JSS Institute, 2017, https://www.jssphysiotherapy.edu.in/assets/documents/library/e-repository/publications/dr-kavitha-raja/PJIAP-jUNE-2017.pdf.
Kavitha Raja, “Exploration of the History of Physiotherapy in India: A Modern Approach,” ResearchGate, 2017, https://www.researchgate.net/publication/316154359_Exploration_of_the_History_of_Physiotherapy.
Snehal Dharmayat and Santosh Metgud, “Physiotherapy Education in India – Past, Present, and Future,” Indian Journal of Physical Therapy and Research 4, no. 2 (July–December 2022), https://journals.lww.com/ijpt/fulltext/2022/04020/physiotherapy_education_in_india___past,_present,.1.aspx
MSM