1948 "The physicians in Czechoslovakia are now becoming aware ...".Physical therapy of a sort has been practiced in Czechoslovakia for hundreds of years [at spas such as the one at Karlovy Vary Karlovy Vary (kär`lôvĭ vä`rĭ), Ger. Karlsbad, city (1991 pop. 56,222), NW Czech Republic, in Bohemia, at the confluence of the Teplá and Ohře rivers. (formerly Carlsbad)].... With the Nazi occupation of Czechoslovakia in 1939 all universities were closed to the Czech people and these were not reopened until after the liberation in 1945. This, coupled with the fact that 60 per cent of all pre-war Czechoslovak medical practitioners were victims of the war, gives some idea of the tremendous task this Republic faced in 1945 in regard to medical rehabilitation. A request was sent out early in 1946 by the Czech Ministry of Health for a physical and an occupational therapist occupational therapist A person trained to help people manage daily activities of living–dressing, cooking, etc, and other activities that promote recovery and regaining vocational skills Salary $51K + 4% bonus. See ADL. to come to Czechoslovakia to help in the establishment of a rehabilitation center where war victims could be treated and where future personnel for Czechoslovakia could receive some training. The Unitarian Service Committee agreed to send such a "team" to Czechoslovakia and the American Relief for Czechoslovakia agreed to furnish complete departments for both physical and occupational therapy with American equipment.... In the past the physical therapy in [Czechoslovakia] has consisted mainly of hydrotherapy hydrotherapy, use of water in the treatment of illness or injury. Although the medicinal and hygienic value of water was recognized by the early Greeks, hydrotherapy attained its widest use in the 18th and 19th cent. , massage and electrotherapy electrotherapy /elec·tro·ther·a·py/ (-ther´ah-pe) treatment of disease by means of electricity. e·lec·tro·ther·a·py n. Medical therapy using electric currents. . There has been a considerable amount of ionization ionization: see ion. ionization Process by which electrically neutral atoms or molecules are converted to electrically charged atoms or molecules (ions) by the removal or addition of negatively charged electrons. and galvanization gal·va·nize tr.v. gal·va·nized, gal·va·niz·ing, gal·va·niz·es 1. To stimulate or shock with an electric current. 2. given and exercises have consisted entirely of passive motion. There is a tendency in Czechoslovakia for the various physical therapy modalities to be given by different individuals.... At the time our project was terminated, on December 31, 1947, we believe that the entire staff at Kladruby u Vlasime had a better understanding of the services offered by physical medicine.... The physicians in Czechoslovakia are now becoming aware of the possibilities of good physical medicine.... Plans are being worked out now for new improved courses in physical therapy and a number of physicians are coming to the United States United States, officially United States of America, republic (2005 est. pop. 295,734,000), 3,539,227 sq mi (9,166,598 sq km), North America. The United States is the world's third largest country in population and the fourth largest country in area. to study physical medicine and rehabilitation physical medicine and rehabilitation or physiatry or physical therapy or rehabilitation medicine Medical specialty treating chronic disabilities through physical means to help patients return to a comfortable, productive life despite a medical .... Several of the larger general hospitals throughout the Republic have begun to realize the need of this important adjunct to the medical field and are making plans to improve their services by establishing departments of physical therapy. Schools and hospitals for crippled children are also making an effort to introduce more recent methods of physical therapy.... In September a British physical and occupational therapist arrived in [Czechoslovakia] to establish departments in the Accident Hospital of the Bata factory. With the possible arrival of more British and American therapists and [the] concerted effort they are making to improve professional standards we should expect to hear of rapid strides in physical medicine in this most progressive Republic of Middle Europe. Dorothy Snavely "Physical Therapy in Czechoslovakia" The Physical Therapy Review 1948;28(6):285-288. [Editor's note Editor's Note (foaled in 1993 in Kentucky) is an American thoroughbred Stallion racehorse. He was sired by 1992 U.S. Champion 2 YO Colt Forty Niner, who in turn was a son of Champion sire Mr. Prospector and out of the mare, Beware Of The Cat. Trained by D. : By the time this article was published in December 1948, a communist-led coup earlier in the year deposed the last independent government in Eastern Europe and established a Soviet satellite state in Czechoslovakia.] |
|
||||||||||||||||||||
Printer friendly
Cite/link
Email
Feedback
Reader Opinion