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IFOMPT History

The history of IFOMT is inevitably intertwined with the development and rise of physical therapy.

The growth of physical therapy over the last fifty years has been phenomenal. Paralleling that growth has been the rise of manual and manipulative therapy. Indeed much of the vigor and ideas for growth have come from this group. In each country there have been leaders who have seen the future and striven for it. Manual therapists have been foremost in that leadership and whether pushing for physical therapy or for manual therapy they have elevated the standing and maturity of both. Today, therefore, physical therapy can look with pride on the accomplishments of manual and manipulative therapists.

As in any developing area there emerged leaders. These leaders did not stare a common vision of the end point nor of how it should be achieved. But they have shared an energy. We have become in many countries if not the first then the foremost specialty group of our professions and we were indeed the first to be recognized as a clinical sub group of the World Confederation of Physical Therapy in Israel in 1978 based on IFOMT's constitution and standards.

In this lecture we, the authors, have tried. to present as best we may the history of the founding of this movement at least at the International level. It has not been an easy tasks. There were some strong differences of opinion on that will be briefly addressed this presentation. But to dwell on differences of opinion would miss the main point which is that manual therapists of many nations have worked together to bring us where we are today and that the next generation which will now assume the leadership is quite rightly less concerned with the past than with the future.

But the history needed to be written and it is appropriate that those who most helped shape it and are privy to the records and the correspondence be those who write this, the first formal history of IFOMT'.

The Year 1960
Manual and manipulative therapy, herein after referred to by either, was in its infancy. In many aspects the birth of manual therapy was in England where at St. Thomas' Hospital there was a long tradition of joint manipulation being instructed to physical therapists by medical physicians. The first of these was Dr. James Mennell whose son, John was to continue the tradition of both New Zealand and the United States. But the giant was Dr. James Cyriax who directly influenced al1 our early and most of our, present 1eaders in manual therapy: Kaltenborn, Grieve, and Paris had all visited him and some worked with him at St. Thomas'. Lamb, Fowler and many others were to follow. These therapists also visited and studied with the medical and osteopathic physician, Dr. AIlan Stoddard, who likewise gave freely of his expertise end encouragement. Although Cyriax and Stoddard had little in common in their approach to manual therapy, both recognized the need for physical therapists to upgrade their skills in manual therapy and to be principal players in this field.

In 1954 Kaltenbom in Norway and by 1952 Paris in New Zealand and Maitland in Australia had all become established as leaders in manual therapy. They lectured, gave seminars and courses and began to publish. The future would establish more, such as Evjenth of Norway, McKenzie of New Zealand, Rocabado of Chile, Grieve of the United Kingdom, Elvey of Australia, and researchers such as Twomey, each making unique contributions But, that's for the future.

In 1967, the Chartered Society of Physiotherapy in England invited Geoffrey Maitland of Australia to come and spend a year giving instruction in his methods to English physiotherapists. Gregory Grieve was associated with Maitland and continued this work after his departure. In the United States, Stanley Paris learned from Maitland of this event and flew to London to meet with him for the first time. Paris invited Kaltenborn and so in the cafeteria of a London hospital Maitland, Grieve, Kaltenborn and Paris in the company of Monica Martin-Jones and Lois Dywer discussed the future of manual and manipulative therapy.

Thus was conceived an association to be called the World Confederation of Manual Therapy. Paris wanted to establish a newsletter within the group and that was agreed to. Agreed also that some movement should be made to an international organization that would bring together all those who were interested in such an association. Paris began to make inquires and called a meeting at Amsterdam during the WCMT Congress in 1970. At that meeting it was agreed to set up an interim committee of Stanley Paris as secretary with Hanna Thorsen of Denmark and Robin McKenzie Of New Zealand as committee members. Also appointed were consultants to the Committee, namely Kaltenborn of Norway and Maitland of Australia thus the roots were laid, although not identified at the times for IFOMT. The charge was to meet again four years later in Montreal, Canada to form an international body.

Paris began the task of attempting to accomplish this in three years. Contacts were made with national groups that were members of the World Confederation for Physical Therapy who were in turn asked to identify if they recognized any one person or any organization of their country that could represent manual therapy at the Congress. At that time, individual communications were also welcomed. Through these vehicles, attempts would be made to collect information on the scope and purpose of WCMT and then to formulate a constitution

It seemed to Paris that not much more was necessary than to call the meeting, and this is how he saw this world confederation as a forum for all who were interested in the field. On the question of standards for membership, he and Hanna Thorsen spoke against, but never voted against them. Essentially he feared that a squabble over standards would bring down the organization before it could be brought to life.

The other view an standards was held by Kaltenborn. He and others felt that without standards for membership, the organization would have no standing in that it may fail to even get started.

In 1973 Kaltenborn, through the International Seminar of OMT, arranged a meeting in Gran Canaria,. This was a formidable undertaking of four weeks. One week each, to review advanced techniques of mobilization to the spine and mobilization and manipulation on to peripheral joints and two weeks of lecture demonstrations including presentations by orthopaedic physicians and surgeons practicing manual medicine, This would be followed by an examination.

This meeting in 1973 was not unanimously supported by the officers of WCMT and this probably represented their priorities. Kaltenborn seeing proof of competency by examination as a necessity, Paris and Thorsen seeing identification of scope and purpose as the priority.

The 1973 Gran Canaria meeting was the opportunity for 74 experienced therapists from 12 countries to meet in a retreat atmosphere and practice and refine techniques and expand the mental horizons by listening to world class leaders.

The examination was arranged. Professor Brodin set the theoretical paper and a board comprising Drs. Cyriax, Brodin, Stoddard and Frisch examined candidates who had passed the theory exam in specific mobilization techniques of the spine and peripheral joints.

From these successful candidates, one or two were chosen as representatives of countries and the board examined these to judge the standard of manipulation. attained in that country. These exams were a prototype and an attempt to create an international examination. This worthy aim has not proven possible in practice. The major importance was it allowed manual therapists to subject their skill levels to the scrutiny of an outside group of impeccable credentials.

At the conclusion of these examinations, the candidates successful in the manipulation section formed the International Federation of Manual Therapy. This group communicated with the World Confederation. There were strong differences of opinion but fortunately maturity prevailed and the two groups fused at the Montreal meeting in 1974 recognizing the need for both process, a constitutional framework and the need for standards.

In June 1974 there was a celebration. Some 12 countries were present with representatives. The following 10 countries were initially approved as voting members:

To their credit, they admitted only 6 of their numbers as having met the principles of Standards for the purpose of voting at future meetings. Those six were:

This was only an interim measure. The countries would eventually have to submit their standards to a committee scrutiny.

Thus, The International Federation of Manipulative Therapy (IFOMT) was founded. The inaugural meeting, including finalizing the constitution was chaired by Paris. The meeting also decided to formulate and develop educational standards. A Committee consisting of F. Kaltenborn - Chairman; G. Grieve - Co- Chairman; B. Edwards and D. Lamb as members , were instructed to accomplish this task. This committee was a committee of General Assembly. Richard Erhard of the United States was elected as the first President of IFOMT and Peter Edgelow of the United State the first secretary. The formation of IFOMT was marked by a joyful celebration dinner.

IFOMT has had several very successful Congresses since the first in Montreal:

The next conference is scheduled to be in Perth Australia in the year 2000.

In 1976, Paris of the United States and Searle of New Zealand became President and Secretary respectively. In 1984 Robert Elvey of Australia was elected President continuing until 1992, when he was succeeded by Robert Sydenham and he by Jan Eric Endresen in 1996. Ian Searle remained as secretary until succeeded by Barb Heatherington of New Zealand in 1996.

The Standards Committee from their original mandate have continued to play a significant role in IFOMT.

In 1976, Kaltenborn and the International seminar organized another practical/theoretical seminar in Gan Canaria which gave the standards committee an opportunity to meet face to face and refine the theoretical components of the Educational Standards. These were largely developed by Greg Grieve assisted by Barbara Grieve and based on the UK system.

By the Vail Congress in 1977, the practical component largely complied by Edwards, based on his experience with the Australian and Norwegian systems, had been added and the Standards Document was accepted together with rules for future membership.

The original mandate of the Standards Committee being completed, Grieve stepped down. In 1978, the Standards Committee was changed with Lamb as Chairman, Kaltenborn and Maitland as members. These three later became consultants to the Executive - their role was largely matters of membership.

The consultants resigned in 1988 to allow the development of the Standards Committee, chaired by Gwen Jull who has presided over a major restructuring of the Standards document to formulate it in modern educational terms.

The constitutions and bylaws have also been subject to scrutiny and change. David Iles of Canada completed the first revision, and Bob and Gaye Sydenham carried out further revisions from 1988 to the present.

Over the years IFOMT has become a mature and solid organization. Its strength in numbers, its diversity of nations and races testify to its strength. Beginning with the six interim members in 1974, it now has 14 members have met the Standards (this includes Canada). By responding to the needs of its members, IFOMT will remain a potent organization. However, as Scott Hlademan DC.MD.Ph.D. stated:

That is why IFOMT must strive for proven levels of excellence and for each country to be very supportive of their own groups, and of other countries. We are a world-wide family who should be the epitome of excellence in manipulative therapy.