Ludwig Guttmann
Encyclopedia
Sir Ludwig "Poppa" Guttmann CBE
, FRS (3 July 1899 – 18 March 1980) was a German
neurologist
who founded the Paralympic Games
while living in England
, and is considered one of the founding fathers of organized physical activities for people with a disability
.
family in Tost
, Silesia
, Germany
(now Toszek
in Poland), the eldest child in the family. He joined the Accident Hospital in Konigshutte in 1917, where he would meet his first spinal cord injured patient. In April 1918, he began his studies in the Medical Faculty of the University of Breslau. He left in Spring 1919 to study at the University of Freiburg
, and received his MD
in 1924.
He worked in Nazi Germany
at the Jewish Hospital in Breslau, later becoming Director of the Hospital. However, when life in Germany became impossible, he and his family emigrated to Oxford, England
, in 1939. He began research work there at the Nuffield Department of Neurosurgery.
In 1944, Guttmann was asked by the British government to found the National Spinal Injuries Centre at Stoke Mandeville Hospital
in Buckinghamshire
. He was appointed to the position of director at the Centre, a position he held until 1946. As director, he believed sport
was a method of therapy
, using it to help build physical strength and self-respect. By 1952, Guttmann's Stoke Mandeville Games for the disabled had grown to over 130 international competitors, and it continued to grow, impressing Olympics
officials and the international community. In 1956, Guttmann was awarded the Fearnley Cup, an award for outstanding contribution to the Olympic ideal.
Ludwig Guttmann's vision of an international games the equivalent of the Olympics was realized in 1960 when the International Stoke Mandeville Games were held in Rome alongside the official IOC 1960 Summer Olympics
. Known at the time as the 9th Annual International Stoke Mandeville Games, the Rome games are now recognized as the first Paralympic Games. (The term "Paralympic Games" was retrospectively applied by the International Olympic Committee in 1984.)
In 1961 Guttmann also founded the British Sports Association for the Disabled, later known as the Disability Sport Events.
In 1961 he was the inaugural President of the International Medical Society of Paraplegia (now the International Spinal Cord Society (ISCoS)) and was the first Editor of the journal of the Society, Paraplegia (now named Spinal Cord).
Stoke Mandeville Stadium
, the National Centre for Disability Sport in the United Kingdom, was developed by him alongside the hospital.
Guttmann received Great Britain's OBE and CBE and was honoured worldwide. In 1966 he was knighted by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II and thus became a KBE
(Knight of the Order of the British Empire).
He died of heart failure in 1980 following a heart attack a few months earlier.
Institut Guttmann, a neurorehabilitation hospital in Barcelona, is named in his honour.
Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
, FRS (3 July 1899 – 18 March 1980) was a German
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
neurologist
Neurologist
A neurologist is a physician who specializes in neurology, and is trained to investigate, or diagnose and treat neurological disorders.Neurology is the medical specialty related to the human nervous system. The nervous system encompasses the brain, spinal cord, and peripheral nerves. A specialist...
who founded the Paralympic Games
Paralympic Games
The Paralympic Games are a major international multi-sport event where athletes with a physical disability compete; this includes athletes with mobility disabilities, amputations, blindness, and Cerebral Palsy. There are Winter and Summer Paralympic Games, which are held immediately following their...
while living in England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
, and is considered one of the founding fathers of organized physical activities for people with a disability
Disability
A disability may be physical, cognitive, mental, sensory, emotional, developmental or some combination of these.Many people would rather be referred to as a person with a disability instead of handicapped...
.
Biography
Ludwig was born into an Orthodox JewishOrthodox Judaism
Orthodox Judaism , is the approach to Judaism which adheres to the traditional interpretation and application of the laws and ethics of the Torah as legislated in the Talmudic texts by the Sanhedrin and subsequently developed and applied by the later authorities known as the Gaonim, Rishonim, and...
family in Tost
Toszek
Toszek is a town in Poland, in Gliwice County, Silesian Voivodeship, with 4,000 inhabitants.- History :The beginning of the settlement and fortified keep is dated in the 9th and 10th centuries when the area was ruled by the Piasts, Mieszko I of Poland and later Bolesław I the Brave.The fortified...
, Silesia
Silesia
Silesia is a historical region of Central Europe located mostly in Poland, with smaller parts also in the Czech Republic, and Germany.Silesia is rich in mineral and natural resources, and includes several important industrial areas. Silesia's largest city and historical capital is Wrocław...
, Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
(now Toszek
Toszek
Toszek is a town in Poland, in Gliwice County, Silesian Voivodeship, with 4,000 inhabitants.- History :The beginning of the settlement and fortified keep is dated in the 9th and 10th centuries when the area was ruled by the Piasts, Mieszko I of Poland and later Bolesław I the Brave.The fortified...
in Poland), the eldest child in the family. He joined the Accident Hospital in Konigshutte in 1917, where he would meet his first spinal cord injured patient. In April 1918, he began his studies in the Medical Faculty of the University of Breslau. He left in Spring 1919 to study at the University of Freiburg
University of Freiburg
The University of Freiburg , sometimes referred to in English as the Albert Ludwig University of Freiburg, is a public research university located in Freiburg im Breisgau, Baden-Württemberg, Germany.The university was founded in 1457 by the Habsburg dynasty as the...
, and received his MD
Doctor of Medicine
Doctor of Medicine is a doctoral degree for physicians. The degree is granted by medical schools...
in 1924.
He worked in Nazi Germany
Nazi Germany
Nazi Germany , also known as the Third Reich , but officially called German Reich from 1933 to 1943 and Greater German Reich from 26 June 1943 onward, is the name commonly used to refer to the state of Germany from 1933 to 1945, when it was a totalitarian dictatorship ruled by...
at the Jewish Hospital in Breslau, later becoming Director of the Hospital. However, when life in Germany became impossible, he and his family emigrated to Oxford, England
Oxford
The city of Oxford is the county town of Oxfordshire, England. The city, made prominent by its medieval university, has a population of just under 165,000, with 153,900 living within the district boundary. It lies about 50 miles north-west of London. The rivers Cherwell and Thames run through...
, in 1939. He began research work there at the Nuffield Department of Neurosurgery.
In 1944, Guttmann was asked by the British government to found the National Spinal Injuries Centre at Stoke Mandeville Hospital
Stoke Mandeville Hospital
Stoke Mandeville Hospital is a large National Health Service hospital within Aylesbury Urban Area to the south of the town of Aylesbury, near the village of Stoke Mandeville in Buckinghamshire...
in Buckinghamshire
Buckinghamshire
Buckinghamshire is a ceremonial and non-metropolitan home county in South East England. The county town is Aylesbury, the largest town in the ceremonial county is Milton Keynes and largest town in the non-metropolitan county is High Wycombe....
. He was appointed to the position of director at the Centre, a position he held until 1946. As director, he believed sport
Sport
A Sport is all forms of physical activity which, through casual or organised participation, aim to use, maintain or improve physical fitness and provide entertainment to participants. Sport may be competitive, where a winner or winners can be identified by objective means, and may require a degree...
was a method of therapy
Psychotherapy
Psychotherapy is a general term referring to any form of therapeutic interaction or treatment contracted between a trained professional and a client or patient; family, couple or group...
, using it to help build physical strength and self-respect. By 1952, Guttmann's Stoke Mandeville Games for the disabled had grown to over 130 international competitors, and it continued to grow, impressing Olympics
Olympic Games
The Olympic Games is a major international event featuring summer and winter sports, in which thousands of athletes participate in a variety of competitions. The Olympic Games have come to be regarded as the world’s foremost sports competition where more than 200 nations participate...
officials and the international community. In 1956, Guttmann was awarded the Fearnley Cup, an award for outstanding contribution to the Olympic ideal.
Ludwig Guttmann's vision of an international games the equivalent of the Olympics was realized in 1960 when the International Stoke Mandeville Games were held in Rome alongside the official IOC 1960 Summer Olympics
1960 Summer Olympics
The 1960 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XVII Olympiad, was an international multi-sport event held from August 25 to September 11, 1960 in Rome, Italy...
. Known at the time as the 9th Annual International Stoke Mandeville Games, the Rome games are now recognized as the first Paralympic Games. (The term "Paralympic Games" was retrospectively applied by the International Olympic Committee in 1984.)
In 1961 Guttmann also founded the British Sports Association for the Disabled, later known as the Disability Sport Events.
In 1961 he was the inaugural President of the International Medical Society of Paraplegia (now the International Spinal Cord Society (ISCoS)) and was the first Editor of the journal of the Society, Paraplegia (now named Spinal Cord).
Stoke Mandeville Stadium
Stoke Mandeville Stadium
Stoke Mandeville Stadium is the National Centre for Disability Sport in the United Kingdom. It is sited alongside Stoke Mandeville Hospital near Stoke Mandeville and Aylesbury in Buckinghamshire...
, the National Centre for Disability Sport in the United Kingdom, was developed by him alongside the hospital.
Guttmann received Great Britain's OBE and CBE and was honoured worldwide. In 1966 he was knighted by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II and thus became a KBE
Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
(Knight of the Order of the British Empire).
He died of heart failure in 1980 following a heart attack a few months earlier.
Institut Guttmann, a neurorehabilitation hospital in Barcelona, is named in his honour.
Selected publications
- 1959. The Place of Our Spinal Paraplegic Fellow-Man in Society: A Survey on 2000 Patients. Dame Georgina Buller Memorial Lecture.
- 1973. Spinal Cord Injuries: Comprehensive Management and Research. Blackwell Science. ISBN 9780632096800.
- 1973. "Sport and Recreation for the Mentally and Physically Handicapped" in The Journal of the Royal Society for the Promotion of Health. 1973; 93: 208-21.
- 1976. Textbook of Sport for the Disabled. Aylesbury: HM+M. ISBN 978-0-85602-055-1