physical therapist

noun

plural physical therapists

: a person licensed to practice physical therapy : a health care professional who provides therapy to preserve, enhance, or restore movement and physical function that are impaired or threatened by disease, injury, or disability

… a physical therapist can show you exercises to maintain strength and movement in the affected area and may also use transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation …

—Self Healing

While activity may worsen pain, activity directed by physical therapists, which may be done in therapy sessions and sometimes at home, provides some relief.

—Schenectady (New York) Daily Gazette

—abbreviation PT

called also physiotherapist

Examples of physical therapist in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Haney, a physical therapist herself, said the decision made no sense because at that stage of her recovery, the therapy was focused on preventing her shoulder from freezing up and gradually expanding its range of motion. —Jordan Rau, CBS News, 27 Mar. 2025

Schale-Drake also advised seeking support from a pelvic floor physical therapist if needed. —Daniel R. Depetris, Newsweek, 25 Mar. 2025

The condition can increase tension and cause pain, according to Dr. Anna Falter, a physical therapist specializing in pelvic floor therapy at the Cleveland Clinic, via email. —Cnn.com Wire Service, Mercury News, 24 Mar. 2025

Coaches, physical therapists, biomechanists, and podiatrists agree that over-pronation and other stability issues usually stem from strength and mobility issues, and can often be corrected by improving your mechanics throughout the chain from foot to hip. —Jonathan Beverly, Outside Online, 12 Mar. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1908, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for physical therapist

• physiotherapist
• psychotherapist

Kids Definition

physical therapist

noun

: a person who is a specialist in physical therapy

Medical Definition

physical therapist

noun

: a person licensed to practice physical therapy : a health-care professional who provides therapy to preserve, enhance, or restore movement and physical function that are impaired or threatened by disease, injury, or disability

—abbreviation PT

called also physiotherapist