Biography of herodicus

What could possible be more important in life than physical health? If you are reading this post, then some part of you agrees that physical training and rehabilitation is a grundläggande part of your well-being. But where did it all begin and how did it develop into what is today known as physiotherapy / physical therapy?

Physiotherapists historically have sported many titles; physiotherapists, physical therapists, remedial gymnasts, and reconstruction aides are all titles that have been used to described professionals working beneath the rubric of physical rehabilitation.

Like many branches of medicine, physical rehabilitation developed and thrived tangentially around the world throughout history. Several paralleled philosophies regarding physical health developed in Greece, Rome, India, and China, just to name a few places. Herodicus, a Greek physician, from around 500 BC, is often credited with establishing one of the first documented systems of exercise called Ars Gymnastica, meaning

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Herodicus, the father of sports medicine

Herodicus (fifth century BC: ) is the first person in the history of medicine who actually combined sports with medicine. He used to be a sports teacher, who later studied medicine and managed to succeed Euryphon in the medical school of Cnidos, one of the most prominent in ancient Greece together with its neighbor medical school of Cos (Hippocrates' home). In Cnidos Herodicus formed his own theoretical perspective of medicine. He considered, namely, bad health to be the result of imbalance between diet and physical activity and for this reason he recommended strict diet, constant physical activity and regular training. He believed that this combination was the ideal way to maintain good standards of health and he applied this type of treatment method to his patients. Unfortunately, Herodicus' works are lost today. However, excerpts of his medical struktur, which can be traced in ancient texts, support the fact that Herodicus can be conside

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Herodicus, The Father of Sports Medicine

DOI 10.1007/s00167-006-0149-z

SPORTS MEDICINE

Herodicus, the father of sports medicine

Anastasios D. Georgoulis Æ Irini-Sofia Kiapidou Æ
Lamprini Velogianni Æ Nicholas Stergiou Æ
Arthur Boland

Received: 17 March 2006 / Accepted: 23 March 2006 / Published online: 2 September 2006

Springer-Verlag 2006

Abstract Herodicus (fifth century BC) is the first However, excerpts of his medical system, which can be
person in the history of medicine who actually com- traced in ancient texts, support the fact that Herodicus
bined sports with medicine. He used to be a sports can be considered as the father of sports medicine.
teacher, who later studied medicine and managed to
succeed Euryphon in the medical school of Cnidos, one Keywords Sports medicine Æ History of medicine Æ
of the most prominent in ancient Greece together with Physical activity Æ Herodicus Æ Training Æ Diet
its neighbor medical school of Cos (Hippocrates’
home). In Cnidos Hero