Invited review: Reflections on the growth of musculoskeletal physiotherapy in New Zealand over the last 100 years and the contribution of New Zealand physiotherapists on the world stage

Abstract

In April 2013, the physiotherapy profession will celebrate 100 years of education in New Zealand. The New Zealand Physiotherapy Journal has long been an established medium for publishing clinical information and research to inform the profession. Early publications were often dominated by medical professionals providing guidance to commonly encountered clinical conditions. In the 1938 edition of the journal Mr Morris published an article titled “Manipulation in the treatment of injuries”. This covered a range of injures from low back pain to tennis elbow. Musculoskeletal physiotherapy has always been a strong part of physiotherapy practice in this country. This paper aims firstly, to provide a brief history of the development of the musculoskeletal physiotherapy special interest group in New Zealand and the influence the founding members have had on the development of physiotherapy locally and internationally. Secondly, the paper provides some reflections on the management of the musculoskeletal conditions mentioned in the Morris paper and discusses how current research by New Zealand and other international musculoskeletal physiotherapists has altered the management of these conditions over the last 75 years.