Şükran İpek ÖKSÜZ
Acta Medica Ruha - 2025;3(4):149-154
Introduction: Physiotherapy is a healthcare discipline focused on promoting functional mobility, preventing disability, and enhancing quality of life through evidence-based interventions. Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the historical institutionalization of physiotherapy and its economic reflections in global health systems. Methods: A literature-based review was conducted using international policy documents, historical reports, and economic evaluation studies addressing physiotherapy's development and integration into healthcare systems. Results: Findings indicated that physiotherapy evolved from wartime rehabilitation efforts into a professionalized and cost-effective healthcare service. Recent digital transformations have further expanded its clinical, preventive, and economic scope. Conclusion: Physiotherapy has become a strategic component of global health systems, contributing both to patient-centered care and to sustainable health economics. Its integration into wellness models and digital health platforms underscores its growing multidisciplinary importance.
