"Human nature has the ability to heal itself, and the physician's duty is to provide an environment that allows the patient to use these abilities." Natura sanat, medicus curat. Hippocrates mentioned manipulation and its benefits. "Vertebrae do not dislocate much, only slightly. If the physician uses their hands and eyes effectively, they can reposition the misaligned vertebrae. If this ancient art is applied correctly, the patient will not be harmed."
Hippocrates wrote in the 5th century BC that many diseases could be treated with manual therapy. Writings about this treatment have been preserved from ancient civilizations in Central Asia, India, and Central and Eastern Europe.
In 1874, American surgeon and anatomist Andrew Still opened the first private osteopathy medical school, training osteopaths with a two-year program.
Today, osteopaths graduate with the title of Doctor of Osteopathy after completing a full medical education plus an additional 400 hours of manipulation and mobilization training. Osteopaths use long levers (head, body, extremities) during interventions. They apply soft tissue techniques, facilitation methods, and various mobilization techniques.
History of Manual Medicine: Chiropractic schools started as courses completed in 14-day periods, but they have evolved into four-year higher education institutions teaching all basic and clinical subjects except pharmacology. Chiropractors focus on using short levers (like transverse processes of vertebrae) with specific techniques. Their practice has been limited to unique manipulations and subluxation theories.
Swiss internist Dr. O. Naegelli particularly treated headaches and other cervical-origin disorders.
In 1955, the German Manual Therapy Association was founded by Sell and Wolf to provide education exclusively to physicians.
In England, Prof. Dr. Mennel chose to teach diagnostic techniques to medical students and therapeutic interventions to physiotherapists.
In the 1970s, Prof. Dr. Maignie included manipulation lessons in medical education and introduced an additional one-year specialization program for FTR residents.
In 1972, H. Frisch in Germany established a 260-hour curriculum as the standard for manual therapy education for specialist physicians. Prof. Dr. Hüseyin Nazlıkul completed his education in manual medicine under Frisch in 1995.
Prof. Karel Lewitt particularly focused on reflex interactions caused by vertebral-origin disorders. The International Federation for Manual/Musculoskeletal Medicine (FIMM) was founded in 1958 with the participation of Belgium, England, France, Scandinavian countries, and West Germany.
In 2008, under the leadership of C. Aksoy and H. Nazlıkul, the Manual Medicine Association was established in our country, chaired by Prof. Dr. Cihan Aksoy.
In September 2008, the Turkish Manual Therapy Association was accepted as the first and only manual therapy association in Turkey by the federation during the FIMM Congress held in Vernadaki.
For the first time in Turkey in 2011, a training program approved by FIMM for physicians was initiated. For these training sessions to be recognized and accepted by FIMM, they must be conducted by two physicians authorized to teach at this institution. Dr. Wolfgang von Heymann and Dr. Hüseyin Nazlıkul are the authorized educators under FIMM standards.
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