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

These could include antibiotics for ear infections or vestibular rehabilitation therapy with a physical therapist. —Sarah Bence, Verywell Health, 21 Feb. 2025

What to do instead: Get foot issues evaluated by a pro, even if that means starting with your primary care doctor, who may refer you to a podiatrist, orthopedic surgeon, or physical therapist, depending on what ails you. —Erica Sloan, SELF, 21 Feb. 2025

Tom Hendrickx, a physical therapist and owner of Pivot Physical Therapy in California, said swinging the arms creates a natural walking or running gait that works out the upper body. —Jocelyn Solis-Moreira, CNN, 31 Jan. 2025

Seeing a physical therapist within 1-2 weeks may help symptoms to improve sooner. —Ruth Jessen Hickman, Health, 9 Jan. 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