Someone has rightly remarked that the necessity is mother of invention. During the second World War, when a large number of soldiers and civilians suffered injuries, the need for putting them back on health track became imperative. The number of injured persons was so large that acute shortage of medicines was felt. The situation gave rise to a new science of healing, now known as ‘Physiotherapy’. Physiotherapy is the cheapest treatment without drugs. In short, it is the science of treatment of disease by exercise, massage, heat, light, electricity or other physical agencies. Use of drugs in this form of therapy is avoided. When required, it can be administered from the neonatal to the geriatric stage.

Over the years, there has been a lot of change in the curriculum for physiotherapy. A certificate course was started during the second World War. At that time, physiotherapists were looking after broken bones and doctors were mending them. Later, regular diploma courses were started. Now, physiotherapists are graduates, post-graduates and even PhDs, specialising in different disciplines of physiotherapy.

Of late, a new course in physiotherapy called electrotherapy is in the process of taking shape. In this course all physiotherapists will learn how to use the new equipment. In between, lectures are organised to update knowledge, where at times physiotherapists of different disciplines interact closely.

Hands play a very important role in physiotherapy. As in movement and mobilisation, the joint is seen and felt, and the patient moves the joint. Then the physiotherapist realises why a patient feels pain, and where the problem lies. At times the touch of hands does the magical healing.

The importance of a physiotherapist has been felt irrespective of the kind of disease. In view of large size of population and widely prevalent poverty, the problems in India are more than those of any other country in the world. This system of healing assumes greater significance in the context of our country. To prove the significance, India had only 10 colleges in 1984 providing courses in physiotherapy. At present there are around 100 such colleges. There are a number of institutions offering certificate course also.

Physiotherapy has undergone a revolution in India. Firstly, people are understanding that medicine and injections are not the only means of curing disease. Exercises recommended by the physiotherapist are extremely useful. Secondly, the equipment has undergone transformation. Earlier, we only had wave ultrasonic and short-wave diathermy. But now we have a vast gamut of latest equipment which is useful for treating a variety of pain and other injuries. Thirdly, it will be a leading career in the futue, as sedentary jobs are increasing.

An Indian physiotherapist not only stands equal to but is far superior to any foreign physiotherapist. But the ground situation here is different. Abroad, on an average, there is one physiotherapist for every eight patients. In India only one physiotherapist may be seen in the whole hospital. Whereas the number of medical and paramedical personnel has gone up substantially. In India a physiotherpist is yet to find a proper place. In spite of their specialised knowledge, they are not recognised at par with doctors.

Physiotherapy today is an established science of healing. Physiotherapists are actively working in government and private sector. Girls and boys both are taking it as a profession. There are a large number of people who would prefer physiotherapy to any other methodology of treatment. This is more popular in India as there are no side effects of this system. Indians by their temperament prefer a system which is closer to nature. Physiotherapy relies on massage, heat treatment, proper mobilisation of joints and muscles and goes well with the psyche of Indian people. This system is gaining popularity day by day. Thus, what began as a simple practice to ease the pain in the second World War, physiotheraphy has taken shape of a full fledged discipline of medical science.