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

The next step in Nakonechna's rehabilitation is learning to walk without a cane, her physical therapist, Anastasiia Stetsenko, said. —ABC News, 27 May 2026

Joyce, who is rehabbing from shoulder surgery, has been in Arizona this week working out with a physical therapist. —Jeff Fletcher, Oc Register, 24 May 2026

As a physical therapist, I was trained to analyze human movement, to watch how somebody walks, and to understand bone structure. —Kelsey Schagemann, Midwest Living, 22 May 2026

Depending on your coverage, your health plan may include therapy sessions, access to registered dietitians, trainers or physical therapists, and even gym memberships. —Stephanie Anderson Witmer, Health, 14 May 2026

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