Abstract
This article demonstrates how Norwegian physiotherapy has developed as part of the state apparatus over the past decades. From the state's point of view, the methods and skills of physiotherapy are deemed valuable because they are designed to encourage people to take an active part in constructing and reconstructing their own health. From the physiotherapists' point of view, the state is an attractive ally in their seemingly endless struggle to escape from the shadow of medicine. The occupation was drawn into the public domain and given a wider mandate as part of a bio-political strategy. In return, it has experienced growth, gained nationwide representation, and obtained greater autonomy vis-à-vis the law. The case illustrates the larger issues of how modern welfare states expand and contribute to the regulation of complex societies.
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