Medicine Balls have a long history, dating back at least 3,000 years to ancient Persia where they were used as training equipment. In ancient Greece, Hippocrates had his patients use them for rehabilitation and conditioning, and that is when/where it gained the association to medicine. Various artifacts from Egyptian tombs, as old as 2500 BC, provide evidence that football-like games existed in that region and time period. Weighted linen balls have been found in Egyptian tombs. Little is known about the use of the Egyptian balls. Historians believe that during fertility rites in Ancient Egypt, balls of seeds wrapped in colorful cloth were booted across the fields. Today modern medicine balls are used for these very same purposes of conditioning. The English term Medicine ball for a “stuffed leather ball used for exercise” was added to the dictionary in 1895.

I don’t know the date of origin – I know it’s at least 50 years old….seen it in black & whites!

A medicine ball (also known as an exercise ball, med ball, or fitness ball) is a heavy ball, roughly the size of a volleyball or a basketball. Often used for rehabilitation and strength training, it serves an important role in the field of sports medicine..

Check my source 🙂

The medicine ball originated between 1890–95. I can’t find any reference to the medicine ball being used for anything else but conditioning exercises.

I don’t know where it came from but it’s used for strength training and rehibilitation.