Reiki Technician™

World War I (1914 – 1918). Massage is discovered to be a useful aid in the physical rehabilitation of soldiers with wartime injuries.

Dr. Emil Vodder develops a gentle, rhythmic pressure technique applied to the lymph system. The techniques are found to be effective in the treatment of chronic lymphedema, sinusitis, and other venous diseases. The system is now commonly known as Dr. Emil Vodder’s Manual Lymph Drainage system.

Elizabeth Dicke creates Bindegewebsmassage, now known as Connective Tissue Massage .Connective Tissue Massage emphasizes techniques that stimulate the subcutaneous connective tissues. This method remains is in use today, primarily used in the treatment of circulatory conditions and visceral disease.

Dr. James Cyriax, author of The Textbook of Orthopaedic Medicine: Diagnosis of Soft Tissue Lesions & Cyriax’s Illustrated Manual of Orthopaedic Medicine, introduces Deep Transverse Friction to massage fibrous tissues of muscles, ligaments and tendons. The Elements of Kellgren’s Manual Treatment (1903), by Edgar F. Cyriax.

Gertrude Beard and Frances Tappan author the books Healing Massage Techniques & Beard’s Massage become the most influential authors on massage therapy in the United States.
World War II (1939 – 1945). United States increases massage therapy in hospitals. Automatic massage machines are developed and implemented in hospitals, replacing human touch.

Per Henrik Ling (1776 – 1839). Ling, a Swedish physiologist and fencing master, creates a system of movements designed to improve one’s physical condition called Medical Gymnastics. Medical Gymnastics is based on scientific knowledge of anatomy and physiology, making Ling known as the father of physical therapy.

Students of The Royal Swedish Central Institute of Gymnastics. Established in 1813 by the Swedish government, publishes the work of Per Henrik Lings as The Swedish Movement Cure. Thirty-eight European institutions actively teach The Swedish Movement cure by 1851.

In 1851, Mathias Roth becomes the first author to write about the Swedish Movement Cure using the English language. Roth studied under Ling at the Royal Central Institute, and established the first institute in England that taught Swedish Movement Gymnastics.

1858. Charles Fayette-Taylor, a New York physician, studied privately under Roth, and introduced the system to the United States. George Henry Taylor, brother to Charles Fayette-Taylor, completes the entire Swedish Movement Cure curriculum offered at the Dr. Sotherberg Institute located in Sweden. The brothers began an orthopedic practice in New York that specialized in The Swedish Movement Cure.

1860. George Henry Taylor writes the first American book on The Swedish Movement. Shortly thereafter, he established the Improved Movement Cure Institute in New York City. His brother, Charles, authors several articles and publishes a textbook during 1861 that introduces the Swedish Movement Cure to the reader.
Note: The Swedish Movement Cure is currently known as Swedish Massage.