Heinrich Frenkel
Encyclopedia
Heinrich Sebastian Frenkel (June 5, 1860 Heiden, Switzerland
– April 21, 1931 Dresden
-Loschwitz
) was a Swiss physician and neurologist
born in Heiden
, a town overlooking Lake Constance
. He was an early practitioner of neuro-rehabilitation
, advocating a regimen of special exercise as physical therapy
for patients with neurological
disorders.
He studied medicine at the Universities of Heidelberg and Leipzig
, and was a student of neurologist Wilhelm Heinrich Erb
(1840-1921). In 1884 he earned his degree at Leipzig
, afterwards returning to Heiden to practice medicine.
At Heiden he rented a house in "Cure Park" filled with special exercise equipment. Here he established a center of physical medicine and rehabilitation in order to reinstate dexterity and to improve mobility for patients with neurological impairments. Frenkel's success with therapeutic exercise eventually attracted patients from all parts of Europe, and even America. He was visited in Heiden by Rubens Hirschberg (1862–1920), who was an assistant to French neurologist Fulgence Raymond
(1844–1910). Hirschberg was deeply impressed with Frenkel's work with neurological disorders, and on his return to Paris
, convinced Raymond to establish a gymnasium in the neurology department at the Salpétriére
. In addition, renowned neurosurgeon Otfrid Foerster
(1873-1941) was greatly influenced by Frenkel's work and spent considerable time at Heiden.
In 1896 Frenkel relocated to Berlin
, where in 1913 he attained the title of professor. Here he served as head of the serological department at the clinic of psychiatry
and neurology at Charité
Hospital. He was the author of Die Therapie ataktischer Bewegungsstörungen, a treatise on treatment of tabetic ataxia
by means of systematic exercise and movement therapy.
His name is associated with "Frenkel's symptom", which is defined as lowered muscular tonus in tabetic neurosyphilis
.
Heiden, Switzerland
Heiden is a municipality in the canton of Appenzell Ausserrhoden in Switzerland. Its Biedermeier village around the church square is listed as a heritage site of national significance.-History:Heiden is first mentioned in 1461 as guot genant Haiden....
– April 21, 1931 Dresden
Dresden
Dresden is the capital city of the Free State of Saxony in Germany. It is situated in a valley on the River Elbe, near the Czech border. The Dresden conurbation is part of the Saxon Triangle metropolitan area....
-Loschwitz
Loschwitz
Loschwitz is a borough of Dresden, Germany, incorporated in 1921. It consists of ten quarters :Loschwitz is a villa quarter located at the slopes north of the Elbe river...
) was a Swiss physician and 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...
born in Heiden
Heiden, Switzerland
Heiden is a municipality in the canton of Appenzell Ausserrhoden in Switzerland. Its Biedermeier village around the church square is listed as a heritage site of national significance.-History:Heiden is first mentioned in 1461 as guot genant Haiden....
, a town overlooking Lake Constance
Lake Constance
Lake Constance is a lake on the Rhine at the northern foot of the Alps, and consists of three bodies of water: the Obersee , the Untersee , and a connecting stretch of the Rhine, called the Seerhein.The lake is situated in Germany, Switzerland and Austria near the Alps...
. He was an early practitioner of neuro-rehabilitation
Physical medicine and rehabilitation
Physical medicine and rehabilitation , physiatry or rehabilitation medicine, is a branch of medicine that aims to enhance and restore functional ability and quality of life to those with physical impairments or disabilities. A physician having completed training in this field is referred to as a...
, advocating a regimen of special exercise as physical therapy
Physical therapy
Physical therapy , often abbreviated PT, is a health care profession. Physical therapy is concerned with identifying and maximizing quality of life and movement potential within the spheres of promotion, prevention, diagnosis, treatment/intervention,and rehabilitation...
for patients with neurological
Neurology
Neurology is a medical specialty dealing with disorders of the nervous system. Specifically, it deals with the diagnosis and treatment of all categories of disease involving the central, peripheral, and autonomic nervous systems, including their coverings, blood vessels, and all effector tissue,...
disorders.
He studied medicine at the Universities of Heidelberg and Leipzig
University of Leipzig
The University of Leipzig , located in Leipzig in the Free State of Saxony, Germany, is one of the oldest universities in the world and the second-oldest university in Germany...
, and was a student of neurologist Wilhelm Heinrich Erb
Wilhelm Heinrich Erb
Wilhelm Heinrich Erb was a German neurologist who was a native of Winnweiler, Rhineland-Palatinate.- Academic career :...
(1840-1921). In 1884 he earned his degree at Leipzig
Leipzig
Leipzig Leipzig has always been a trade city, situated during the time of the Holy Roman Empire at the intersection of the Via Regia and Via Imperii, two important trade routes. At one time, Leipzig was one of the major European centres of learning and culture in fields such as music and publishing...
, afterwards returning to Heiden to practice medicine.
At Heiden he rented a house in "Cure Park" filled with special exercise equipment. Here he established a center of physical medicine and rehabilitation in order to reinstate dexterity and to improve mobility for patients with neurological impairments. Frenkel's success with therapeutic exercise eventually attracted patients from all parts of Europe, and even America. He was visited in Heiden by Rubens Hirschberg (1862–1920), who was an assistant to French neurologist Fulgence Raymond
Fulgence Raymond
Fulgence Raymond was a French neurologist who was born in the French department Indre-et-Loire.Originally trained as a veterinarian, he later studied human medicine under Alfred Vulpian in Paris...
(1844–1910). Hirschberg was deeply impressed with Frenkel's work with neurological disorders, and on his return to Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
, convinced Raymond to establish a gymnasium in the neurology department at the Salpétriére
Pitié-Salpêtrière Hospital
The Pitié-Salpêtrière Hospital is a teaching hospital located in Paris, France. Part of the Assistance publique - Hôpitaux de Paris, it is one of Europe's largest hospitals...
. In addition, renowned neurosurgeon Otfrid Foerster
Otfrid Foerster
Otfrid Foerster was a German neurologist and neurosurgeon, who made innovative contributions to neurology and neurosurgery, such as rhizotomy for the treatment of spasticity, anterolateral cordotomy for pain, the hyperventilation test for epilepsy, Foerster's syndrome, the first electrocorticogram...
(1873-1941) was greatly influenced by Frenkel's work and spent considerable time at Heiden.
In 1896 Frenkel relocated to Berlin
Berlin
Berlin is the capital city of Germany and is one of the 16 states of Germany. With a population of 3.45 million people, Berlin is Germany's largest city. It is the second most populous city proper and the seventh most populous urban area in the European Union...
, where in 1913 he attained the title of professor. Here he served as head of the serological department at the clinic of psychiatry
Psychiatry
Psychiatry is the medical specialty devoted to the study and treatment of mental disorders. These mental disorders include various affective, behavioural, cognitive and perceptual abnormalities...
and neurology at Charité
Charité
The Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin is the medical school for both the Humboldt University and the Free University of Berlin. After the merger with their fourth campus in 2003, the Charité is one of the largest university hospitals in Europe....
Hospital. He was the author of Die Therapie ataktischer Bewegungsstörungen, a treatise on treatment of tabetic ataxia
Ataxia
Ataxia is a neurological sign and symptom that consists of gross lack of coordination of muscle movements. Ataxia is a non-specific clinical manifestation implying dysfunction of the parts of the nervous system that coordinate movement, such as the cerebellum...
by means of systematic exercise and movement therapy.
His name is associated with "Frenkel's symptom", which is defined as lowered muscular tonus in tabetic neurosyphilis
Neurosyphilis
Neurosyphilis is an infection of the brain or spinal cord caused by the bacterium Treponema pallidum. It usually occurs in people who have had untreated syphilis for many years, usually about 10 - 20 years after first infection.-Symptoms and signs:...
.