Roles of Judo therapist
Judo therapist was
popular as "bonesetter"
"The Judo Therapist" is a person with the national license to treat damage of bones, joints,
muscles and soft tissues by the conservative therapy (without operation)
based on Japanese traditional medicine or Judo therapy skills (which
were popular and trusted by people from a long time ago) and Western
medical knowledge.
Historically-developed, patient-friendly
treatment skills without medical equipment used
The treatment skills unique to Judo therapy are not clearly standardized
due to a lot of schools handed down orally except for a common consideration
that man's natural move, self-medication and immune strength are
to be respected. Therefore it can be said that Judo therapy contains
all the theory-based treatment skills without using medical equipment
existing in the world today. Thus it is very profound.
In recent years, physical medicine and kinesiology using science-based
electric equipment (low frequency, high frequency, supersonic wave,
etc.) has become popular. In Judo therapy, however, these methods
are considered as complementary to the treatment without using medical
devices.
Medical act based on Judo Therapy Law
The Judo therapist license and the operation is controlled by the
Judo therapist Law and related enforcement regulations issued in
1970 as a single law.
In these regulations, the Judo therapist's work is stipulated, and
the provisions related to the right to open a clinic of Judo therapy,
the treatment of bone fracture and bone dislocation based on the
premise of a doctor (excluding first aid) are contained.
The subjects for national licensing examination for Judo therapist
specified in these regulations are anatomy, physiology, kinematics
pathology summary, hygieiology, public health study, general clinical
medicine, surgery summary, orthopedic surgery, rehabilitation medicine,
Judo therapy theory and related laws. Through these subjects, we
can know that today's "traditional medicine (national medicine)
is closely connected with the special knowledge of the modern Western
medicine.
History of Judo therapy
Specialists to treat damaged bones and joints
existed before recorded history
History of Judo therapy started when people treated external injury
for the first time, but as historical evidence recorded, there is
a description about the specialist who treated bone fracture and joint
damage in an ancient code made in 701. This must be the birth of the
traditional medicine (national medicine) in Japan.
In the civil war period when samurais gained power, surgeons called
"kinsoi" treated bone fracture and displacement for samurais
injured in the fighting, according to a record.
Martial art medicine developed from Jujutsu
The headstream of Judo therapy was "kung fu" and "redressment",
which was transferred by asylum seekers from China in the beginning
of the 17th century and developed into the headstream of Japanese
jujutsu to spread nationwide as the "skills for both killing
and curing." This is why there are many schools of Judo therapy
handed down orally.
In 1746, a book titled "Bonesetting Treatment Book" was
written, which is said to be the oldest osteopathy book in Japan.
Also, in a book titled "Redressment Arcanum", a method of
traumatic bone dislocation therapy is described as a Judo first aid.
Moreover, in 1807, "Redressment Models" was written and
redressment was recognized as an art of medicine.
In the Edo period when various Japanese cultures were developed, Western
studies flourished and Western science books in many fields were translated
into Japanese. In the Judo therapy field, Western knowledge was adopted
and Judo therapy was blended with Western medicine.
Social recognition of Judo therapy
In 1874 Health Policy was issued, by which Judo therapists entered
the age of difficulties to survive. In 1919 official regulations
were revised by the "movement to petition the official recognition
of Judo therapist", and in 1920 the first certification examination
was conducted as part of the qualification system.
Health insurance coverage
In 1936, the health insurance coverage for the cost for treatment
by Judo therapists was approved for the purpose of supplying healthy
medical care in depopulated areas as well as densely-populated areas.
This means that the importance of the role of Judo therapists as
part of local medical care was recognized and at the same time their
responsibility was clarified.
Education licensing system
In 1951 when Japan was still in the postwar years of recovery, the
government established the education licensing system related to
cultivation of Judo therapists by the joint ministerial decree by
Education Ministry and Health and Welfare Ministry (present Health,
Labor and Welfare Ministry). Thus the licensing system for fully-fledged
training and education was established and many Judo therapist training
schools were founded.
To the stage of national license
In 1990, the administration of the license of Judo therapist was
transferred from prefectural governments to Minister of Health,
Labor and Welfare, and in 1933 the first national licensing examination
for Judo therapist was conducted
Increasing qualified therapists along with the increase in training
facilities
The number of the examinees in the first national licensing examination
was only 1066, but in the 12th examination held in Mar. 2004 the
examinees increased to 3,000.
This is because the social change since 2000 including deregulation
following the Big Bang, corporate downsizing, bank bankruptcy and
collapse of corporate myth made people worry about their future
and they wanted to obtain qualification. Also the accelerating corporate
advance into different business fields or business categories is
one of indirect causes for rapid increase of Judo therapist training
institutions.
In this way, the number of Judo therapist training schools in 1998
was 14 nationwide, which increased to 107 in 2014 and the full complement
has increased from 1050 students to over 8000.
Conclusion - Cultivation of Judo therapists
who build a future
While traditional things were destroyed one after another, people
apply such a great energy to Judo therapy or a Japanese traditional
medicine as above-mentioned. Thus it is a key to stably select and
cultivate high-quality human resources for next generation, which
is the due responsibility of a training facility.
Also we think it is required to execute fair and public measures to
create a new environment or a social system to nurture competent and
right-quality Judo therapists by the industry, government and academia
tie-up.
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