physical therapy

noun

|Updated on: 8 Jun 2018

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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physical therapist

noun

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Recent Examples of physical therapy from the Web

In a study published in Nature Electronics last week, scientists engineered an implantable sensor that can help with physical therapy.

— angela chen, The Verge, "How sensors are giving us another way to peek inside our bodies," 25 May 2018
As part of their ACL recovery, patients are put on a program of physical therapy that includes multiple phases of exercises that can last up to six months.

— angela garbes, The Cut, "What If We Told Women the Truth About What Birth Can Do to Their Bodies?," 15 May 2018
After a long period of struggle and recovery, Waller became a doctor of physical therapy in his native Connecticut.

— pam kragen, sandiegouniontribune.com, "Film a chronicle of Carlsbad teen's recovery," 9 May 2018
Peterson is a retired attorney who now runs her own business aimed at helping those who need continued strength training after physical therapy.

— emily k. coleman, Lake County News-Sun, "Lake County Board election: Property taxes a top priority in District 17 race," 15 Mar. 2018
An ambulance took him to a hospital, which released him to the nursing home for physical therapy.

— author: tara siegel bernard, robert pear, Anchorage Daily News, "The nursing home said she had to go. To a homeless shelter.," 22 Feb. 2018
In this Saturday, May 12, 2018, photo, April Oury, owner of Body Gears physical therapy center poses for a portrait with her instructional skeleton George, in Chicago.

— Washington Post, "‘If I could do it over’ — businesses learn from experiences," 16 May 2018
Plaatjes stayed on as a store manager for a year and then quit to focus on his physical therapy practice full-time.

— ariella gintzler, Outside Online, "Is Boulder's Newest Running Shop the Future of Retail?," 14 May 2018
The Dolphins want additional training facility space for their locker room, cafeteria, weight room and physical therapy room, among other upgrades.

— adam h. beasley and barry jackson, miamiherald, "Location of possible new Dolphins headquarters in Miramar revealed | Miami Herald," 10 May 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.

First Known Use of physical therapy

1919

in the meaning defined above

See Words from the same year

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