ABSTRACT
This chapter provides an historical overview of the physiotherapy profession over the course of the 20th century focusing in particular on visually impaired physiotherapists. It highlights some of the major changes which have taken place within the physiotherapy profession as well as wider changes such as the effects of the First and Second World Wars on health care, and the introduction of the National Health Service. The chapter examines some of the difficulties visually impaired physiotherapists have experienced over the course of the century and how their place within the profession has been maintained. Physiotherapy arose from the profession of nursing at the end of the 19th century, although many of its treatment techniques, such as manipulation, massage, and hydrotherapy were used by the Ancient Romans and Greeks. In 1900 visually impaired students were integrated with sighted students at the London School of Massage in London which was run by Dr. Fletcher Little.
