physical therapy

noun

Definition of physical therapy

: therapy for the preservation, enhancement, or restoration of movement and physical function impaired or threatened by disease, injury, or disability that utilizes therapeutic exercise, physical modalities (such as massage and electrotherapy), assistive devices, and patient education and training

— called also physiotherapy

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His family bought its home from a man who had installed a massive, rectangular swimming pool for physical therapy exercises. — Will Weissert, The Seattle Times, "The Origin Story: A blind date, a border and Beto O’Rourke," 29 Mar. 2019 Among the findings: †Eight weeks before surgery, before the intervention group began physical therapy ‡After surgery Source: European Society of Sports Traumotology, Knee Surgery, Arthroscopy; Joaquin Calatayud et al. — Cheryl Stritzel Mccarthy, WSJ, "What You Need to Do Before Having Knee Surgery," 20 Nov. 2018 But during one physical therapy session at the Mayo Clinic, 29-year-old Jered Chinnock moved back and forth enough to cover about the length of a football field. — Fox News, "Paralyzed patients take first steps after implant, intense rehab," 25 Sep. 2018 Miller has been posting updates on her physical therapy process on Instagram for the past few months, including a photo of her in a harness from July. — Sarah Jacoby, SELF, "Nearly 5 Months After Her Emergency Spinal Surgery, Abby Lee Miller Is Leaving Rehab," 5 Sep. 2018 In a research study at the University of Louisville, Thomas and three others had a device surgically implanted on their spinal cords to stimulate electrical activity, accompanied by months of daily physical therapy. — Carolyn Y. Johnson, The Seattle Times, "Paralyzed people are beginning to walk with a new kind of therapy," 24 Sep. 2018 Triston has been spending the past four months in recovery and is continuing physical therapy. — Tamara Fuentes, Seventeen, "This Teen Fell Off A Bridge While Trying To Take a Selfie And Broke Almost Every Bone in His Face," 21 Feb. 2019 Seranko worked primarily with Lori Clements at MBC Fitness in Westmont, going to physical therapy three times a week. — Rich Mayor, Naperville Sun, "'We don't want to overdo it': Benet eases sophomore star Megan Seranko back into regular pitching role," 28 Apr. 2018 The now 20-year-old Forest Grove resident is still going to physical therapy after the April 2016 crash resulted in a broken jaw, arm, dislocated shoulder and torn shoulder labrum. — Everton Bailey Jr., OregonLive.com, "'Suspicious' death at Forest Grove apartments under police investigation," 20 Mar. 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'physical therapy.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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Last Updated

13 Apr 2019

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The first known use of physical therapy was in 1919

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More Definitions for physical therapy

physical therapy

noun

English Language Learners Definition of physical therapy

US, medical : the treatment of a disease or an injury of the muscles or joints with massage, exercises, heat, etc.

See the full definition for physical therapy in the English Language Learners Dictionary

physical therapy

noun

Medical Definition of physical therapy

: therapy for the preservation, enhancement, or restoration of movement and physical function impaired or threatened by disability, injury, or disease that utilizes therapeutic exercise, physical modalities (as massage and electrotherapy), assistive devices, and patient education and training

— called also physiotherapy