Françoise Mézières

Françoise Mézières (18 June 1909 – 17 October 1991) was an internationally renowned French physiotherapist.^[1] She was also known for extensively practicing applied kinesiology. In 1947 she developed a physiotherapy technique, known as Mézières Method.^[2]

Biography

Françoise Mézières was born on 18 June 1909 in Hanoi. She studied at the French School of Orthopedics and Massage, Paris. Mézières was “teaching and practising classical segmented physiotherapy.”^[3]

Meanwhile, she found that the body's movement needs to be adjusted in accordance with its tonic system.^[4] She emphasized the importance of “global stretch of muscle chains” through which all connecting parts of the body must be “stretched and readjusted at the same time.”^[5]^[6]

Her physiotherapy techniques are in the nature of “postural reconstruction work”.^[7] In 1947 she developed Mézières Method, an orthopedic form of bodywork, which tried to rebalance the different muscle and joint chains through guided stretching exercises.^[8]

In 1976, Mezieres's theory and kinesiology practices gained worldwide recognition following the publication of the best-seller Le Corps a ses raisons by Therese Bertherat and Carole Bernstein.^[1]

She died in Noisy-sur-École on 17 October 1991.

References

^ ^a ^b Robinson, Jacqueline (1997). Modern Dance in France: An Adventure 1920-1970. Oxfordshire: Taylor & Francis. p. 383. ISBN 978-9-057-02015-5. Retrieved 19 October 2022.
^ Whitehouse, Mary Starks (2007). Authentic Movement: Moving the Body, Moving the Self, Being Moved: a Collection of Essays, Volume Two. London: Jessica Kingsley Publishers. p. 386. ISBN 978-1-843-10768-2. Retrieved 19 October 2022.
^ Bettany-Saltikov, Josette (5 April 2012). Physical Therapy Perspectives in the 21st Century: Challenges and Possibilities. Norderstedt, Germany: BoD – Books on Demand. p. 53. ISBN 978-9-535-10459-9. Retrieved 19 October 2022.
^ McHose, Caryn (25 May 2006). How Life Moves: Explorations in Meaning and Body Awareness. Berkeley, California: North Atlantic Books. p. 136. ISBN 978-1-556-43618-5. Retrieved 19 October 2022.
^ Bertherat, Therese (1989). The Body Has Its Reasons: Self-Awareness Through Conscious Movement. Rochester, Vermont: Inner Traditions / Bear & Co. p. 85. ISBN 978-0-892-81298-1. Retrieved 19 October 2022.
^ Postacchini, Franco (18 December 1998). Lumbar Disc Herniation. Heidelberg, Germany: Springer Science & Business Media. p. 357. ISBN 978-3-211-83118-2. Retrieved 19 October 2022.
^ Bligny, Yves (16 September 2011). Bioharmonic Self-Massage: How to Harmonize Your Mental, Emotional, and Physical Energies. New York City: Simon and Schuster. p. NA. ISBN 978-1-594-77712-7. Retrieved 19 October 2022.
^ Smith, LeCain W. (12 August 2014). Our Inner Ocean. Bloomington, Indiana: Archway Publishing. p. 72. ISBN 978-1-452-51868-8. Retrieved 19 October 2022.

[auto-1] Robinson, Jacqueline (1997). Modern Dance in France: An Adventure 1920-1970. Oxfordshire: Taylor & Francis. p. 383. ISBN 978-9-057-02015-5. Retrieved 19 October 2022.

[2] Whitehouse, Mary Starks (2007). Authentic Movement: Moving the Body, Moving the Self, Being Moved: a Collection of Essays, Volume Two. London: Jessica Kingsley Publishers. p. 386. ISBN 978-1-843-10768-2. Retrieved 19 October 2022.

[3] Bettany-Saltikov, Josette (5 April 2012). Physical Therapy Perspectives in the 21st Century: Challenges and Possibilities. Norderstedt, Germany: BoD – Books on Demand. p. 53. ISBN 978-9-535-10459-9. Retrieved 19 October 2022.

[4] McHose, Caryn (25 May 2006). How Life Moves: Explorations in Meaning and Body Awareness. Berkeley, California: North Atlantic Books. p. 136. ISBN 978-1-556-43618-5. Retrieved 19 October 2022.

[5] Bertherat, Therese (1989). The Body Has Its Reasons: Self-Awareness Through Conscious Movement. Rochester, Vermont: Inner Traditions / Bear & Co. p. 85. ISBN 978-0-892-81298-1. Retrieved 19 October 2022.

[6] Postacchini, Franco (18 December 1998). Lumbar Disc Herniation. Heidelberg, Germany: Springer Science & Business Media. p. 357. ISBN 978-3-211-83118-2. Retrieved 19 October 2022.

[7] Bligny, Yves (16 September 2011). Bioharmonic Self-Massage: How to Harmonize Your Mental, Emotional, and Physical Energies. New York City: Simon and Schuster. p. NA. ISBN 978-1-594-77712-7. Retrieved 19 October 2022.

[8] Smith, LeCain W. (12 August 2014). Our Inner Ocean. Bloomington, Indiana: Archway Publishing. p. 72. ISBN 978-1-452-51868-8. Retrieved 19 October 2022.

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Authority control databases
International	ISNI VIAF
National	France BnF data
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