When modern medicine has just developed, how do people practice physical therapy?

Are you curious how people practiced physical therapy with machines in the 19th century?

The Institute of Dr. Gustav Zander in Stockholm, founded in 1865 can be called the world's first gymnasium. It is equipped with 27 custom-built machines that allow Zander's patients to do physical therapy.

Zander says his therapeutic machines can help restore bodily functions to people with disabilities, impairments and illnesses caused by birth accidents or hard labor. He is also a believer in the movement healing approach from his earlier pioneer, Per Henrik Ling.

Soon after becoming a doctor in 1864, Zander put his idea into practice at a local school in Stockholm by building prototype therapy machines for students. His machine uses weights and levers that can be pulled and moved to adjust resistance to suit each person's strength. Another set of weights and levers that compensate for the user's body weight or limbs. For people who are paralyzed or too weak, motorized machines keep the affected muscles from atrophying.

His therapeutic machines can aid in the recovery of bodily functions.

After noticing a marked improvement in muscle group strength and overall health among patients at the Stockholm school, Zander opened an Institute of Medical Mechanics in Stockholm to promote the machine. At first, the practitioners were a little skeptical about the new therapy, but the patient's improvement and recovery created confidence, and attracted more and more practitioners around the world to endorse Zander's therapy and for allowed him to open the second Zander Institute in London, England.

Zander's machines came to prominence at the 1876 Centennial and International Exhibition in Philadelphia, USA. It earned him the award for best mechanical design. Rapid mechanization in the late 19th century saw a massive increase in the number of office workers, and Zander began to market his products to this rapidly growing class of American businessmen.

Zander explains that his machines are 'a measure to prevent the evils of a sedentary office life'.

He died in 1920 and the machine and his contribution to the field of physical therapy were at times forgotten until this radical idea resurfaced in the last decades of the 20th century. .

Until the beginning of the 21st century, his machines were improved, innovated to look much different. It is visible in every health spa, fitness center and in private institutions.

Some other pictures of the physiotherapy equipment of scientist and inventor Zander: