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

Comments and direct messages quickly poured in from a wide range of medical professionals, each offering suggestions — from CT scans to MRIs to seeing a physical therapist. —Tereza Shkurtaj, PEOPLE, 28 Sep. 2025

Consider seeing a physical therapist specializing in gait (walking or running pattern) analysis to help determine the underlying cause of your blisters and develop a treatment plan. —Aubrey Bailey, Verywell Health, 25 Sep. 2025

Of course, talk to your own physical therapist or podiatrist for shoe recommendations, but in my experience, the adidas Evo SLs were clutch in maintaining my running and rehab-heavy routine. —Kristen Geil, Outside, 22 Sep. 2025

Groven is a physical therapist who suffered a T1 complete spinal cord injury when mountain biking, and wasn't satisfied with the outdoor mobility options he was subsequently left with. —New Atlas, 19 Sep. 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