physical therapy

noun

|Updated on: 3 Aug 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

—

physical therapist

noun

See physical therapy defined for English-language learners

See physical therapy defined for kids

Recent Examples of physical therapy from the Web

On Friday, huddles of Northwestern students studying physical therapy and engineering tested the cars’ speeds, took measurements and mapped out the necessary modifications.

— tessa weinberg, chicagotribune.com, "Northwestern students give 'freedom' by retrofitting motorized cars for kids with disabilities," 1 July 2018
Here are the two largest add-back allocations each supervisor made for the next two fiscal years: • District One (Sandra Lee Fewer): $120,000 to expand physical therapy and support services for seniors and $110,000 to support small businesses.

— dominic fracassa, SFChronicle.com, "SF supervisors get to spread some money around their districts," 28 June 2018
Physicians can then take steps to address these vulnerabilities such as prescribing physical therapy for an older patient with muscle weakness or ordering a nutritional consultation for someone who has become malnourished.

— judith graham, Washington Post, "Geriatric Assessments Could Fine-Tune Cancer Care For Older Adults," 28 June 2018
In addition to taking Parkinson’s medication, Rendell began rigorous physical therapy with Heather Cianci, a specialist at the Parkinson’s Rehabilitation Center at Pennsylvania Hospital.

— marie mccullough, Philly.com, "Former Pa. Gov. Ed Rendell announces he has Parkinson's disease," 18 June 2018
Rhinehart needed speech, occupational and physical therapy to help regain function on the right side of his body.

— rachel roberts, idahostatesman, "A stroke left him unable to speak or walk. Now Idahoan is running the Boston Marathon. | Idaho Statesman," 13 Apr. 2018
The information charges Sierra with laundering approximately $937,000 for various physical therapy clinics in the Miami area.

— juan ortega, Sun-Sentinel.com, "A look at South Floridians charged in health care fraud, opioid crackdown," 29 June 2018
So how, exactly, did a physical therapy device become so trendy?

— leah prinzivalli, SELF, "All About the TheraGun, the Self-Massage Device That's Taking Over Instagram," 28 June 2018
The 22-year-old is currently undergoing an intense physical therapy regime but says music is the perfect distraction.

— USA TODAY, "Burn victim finds strength through music," 26 June 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

NEW! Time Traveler