Grave of the father of physical therapy

Pehr Henrik Ling was born on 15 November 1776. He was the son of Lars Peter Ling, a minister, and Hedvig Maria (Hedda) Molin. Ling was born in Södra Ljunga, Småland, a region with a history of notable scientists. Ling left Sweden and lived abroad and traveled for seven years after 1800. In 1804, he returned to Sweden and began a routine of daily exercise, including fencing. By 1805, he had been appointed as a master of fencing at Lund University.

Using his own daily exercise routines to restore his health, Ling decided to apply this experience for the benefit of others. He attended anatomy and physiology classes and completed the whole curriculum for the training of a medical doctor. He outlined a system of gymnastics, exercises, and maneuvers divided into four branches: pedagogical, medical, military, and aesthetic, which carried out his theories. This system was rigorous enough to be approved by established medical practitioners.

Despite his efforts, orthodox medical practitioners were opposed to his claims. It was not until 1831 that he was elected a member of the Swedish General Medical Association, and in 1835, he was elected a member of the Swedish Academy and became a titular professor the same year. Ling died in 1839, leaving behind a legacy of medical gymnastics.

Sources: Wikipedia, OpenStreetMap, Wikidata, Wikimedia Commons