Background: Analyzing the historical and social path of an occupation using the sociology of
professions and the perspective of scientific knowledge promotes an understanding
of the origin of physical therapy in Brazil and of discussions of the profession
in its contemporary context.Objective: The aim of this paper was to discuss the professionalization process of physical
therapy in São Paulo. The authors tried to analyze bath therapy, massage therapy,
and physical therapy as occupations involving distinct expertise
and as part of the group of occupations that evolved into the profession of
physiotherapy in the first half of the twentieth century.Method: The analysis undertaken was a qualitative study based on an analysis of
historical documents. Eighty-six professional records from the Service of
Inspection of Professional Practice in the state of São Paulo and healthcare
legislation from the 1930s and 1940s were analyzed.Results: The distinction between physical therapy practitioner and profession of
physiotherapy can be seen by examining registration requirements for rank-and-file
nurses with expertise in interactions; this distinction suggests the emergence of
specialized expertise that was clearly a part of neither medicine nor nursing and
contributed to expertise in physical therapy since the 1950s.Conclusion: The regulation of physiotherapy practices, the recognition of expertise, the
accreditation of practical nurses by the State, and the institutionalization of a
course for physical therapy practitioners in 1951 are key elements of the
professionalization process for the physical therapy profession in Brazil.