A Survey of Korean Traditional Physical Therapy

한국의 전통적 물리치료법에 관한 조사

The physical therapy that is in use nowadays, especially thermotherapy, aquatherapy and manual therapy, has been around since humans started to live on the earth. In primitive times, when men were injured while hunting, they washed the wound in clean water and dried it out in the sunshine. They also soaked their bodies in hot springs to decrease physical fatigue. This primitive Korean traditional physical therapy was in common use among people throughout the Koguryo, Koryo and Chosun dynasties. Historical records show that some kings in those days recommended to their men these methods to treat any chronic disease or illness. This was often thought of as a positive means of treatment. Korean traditional physical therapy has been developed, and the scientific effects of therapy have been proven. Korean traditional physical therapy is used extensively in hospitals and clinics to treat many kinds of diseases and illnesses. Unfortunately some methods that have not been medically substantiated as an effective treatment are being used by practitioners. In this situation there is an urgent need for scientifical research and data regarding any unproven physical therapy techniques.