The Political and Social Issues That Have Shaped Physical Therapy Education over the Decades

Abstract

The purpose of this article is to describe the social and political events that have had a major influence on the shaping of physical therapy education since the beginning of the profession. This theme was developed by looking at the early history of the development of the field in the United States followed by an examination of the effects of World War I and the Great Depression on development of the education of the physical therapist. Following this, there is an exploration of the effects of World War II and the postwar period on the further development of the education of the physical therapist related to the social and political changes occurring in the nation. During the 1960s, there was a great deal of change in the nation's political, cultural, and social values, and these changes were explored in relationship to the physical therapy profession's educational changes. From the 1970s to the 1990s, rapid changes were taking place in terms of accreditation and education of the physical therapist, and these changes are discussed. During this time, increased legislative activity leading to direct access occurred, and the initiative to develop a postbaccalaureate degree as the primary method for education for the physical therapist began. The postbaccalaureate degree discussion finally led to the development of the Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) degree being adopted as a goal for the profession. In the late 1990s and at the beginning of the 21st century, changes took place in physical therapist practice requiring the profession to deal for the first time with a potential surplus of physical therapists. Also discussed is the concept of strategic adaptation and the successes and failures of the adaptations that the profession has made. Finally, there is a discussion of the transition to the DPT degree and the continuing changes that are occurring in the field of physical therapy.