Abstract
The contribution of Australian men and women physiotherapists, then known as masseurs and masseuses, to rehabilitation of the unprecedented numbers of wounded and ill in the First World War has received little attention. This paper demonstrates how this nascent profession, already more comprehensively educated than those from elsewhere, developed during the war from inauspicious and challenging beginnings to a service sought by the public and medical colleagues. The physiotherapists worked in Egypt, France, and Britain, on the sea transports and in Australia. Despite being frustrated by a lack of recognition by army authorities, particularly at the beginning, they made important contributions to rehabilitation and added to their knowledge and skills. The wounded and convalescing men did not always welcome physiotherapists’ ministrations, but humour provided a means of depicting their experiences.
Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
