Physical therapy originated as a professional group that dated back to Per Henrik Ling, who is known as the "father of Swedish gymnastics." He founded the royal Central Institute of Gymnastics in the year 1813 for massage, manipulation and exercise. In 1851, the term "Physiotherapy" first appeared in its German form "Physiotherapie" in an article written by Dr. Lorenz Gleich, a military physician from Bavaria. In an English article published in Montreal Medical Journal in the year 1894, Dr. Edward Playter used the word "Physiotherapy." With time, the word "Physiotherapie" changed to "Physiotherapy" and then to "Physical therapy."

Physical therapists (PT) who were once known as reconstruction aides evolved through a series of changes to become the present ever-growing confident and accomplished professionals in the health care system. They play a very important role of providing rehabilitation and habilitation services as well as prevention and risk reduction training. In Sweden, PTs were called "sjukgymnast," which translates to "someone involved in gymnastics for those who are ill".

The world in the year 1916 witnessed the devastating polio epidemic. It was in this period that young women began treating polio patients with residual paralysis by using passive movements. Realizing the need of the hour, PTs developed Manual Muscle Testing for assessing the strength of the muscle and thereby implementing muscle re-education techniques for weaker muscles. In the United States (US), the polio epidemic continued to ravage to such an extent that it even afflicted a man who would become the future President of the US- Franklin D. Roosevelt. He went through various therapies, including hydrotherapy for which in 1926 he purchased a resort at Warm Springs Georgia, which was used as a Hydrotherapy Center for polio patients. This center presently operates as Roosevelt Warm Springs Institute for Rehabilitation.