Mechanotherapy is a general term for physical therapy modalities that exploit mechanobiology principles for tissue rehabilitation and regeneration using the application of specific mechanical forces.
It was founded by William C. Schulze, an 1897 graduate of Rush Medical College and practicing MD licensed in Illinois, Minnesota, and Wisconsin.
Though heavily criticized by the medical establishment, mechanical methods of healing nonetheless were increasingly popular in North America in the early part of the 20th century.
[1] Mechanotherapy is a useful term for exercise which is prescribed for rehabilitation because tissue repair is driven by the physiological process of mechanotransduction.
Loading of muscle leads to up regulation of a number of load-induced pathways, including mechanogrowth factor (MGF).
[13] Loading bone during rehabilitation can result in significantly increased strength and range of motion, compared with immobilized patients.