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 State House Education Committee will take up a separate bill tomorrow regarding school physicals, HB26-1231, which would allow physical therapists to perform school physicals. —Shaun Boyd, CBS News, 23 Mar. 2026

Giese felt dubious about another physical therapist, though. —Jaclyn Cosgrove, Los Angeles Times, 19 Mar. 2026

The one-day strike comes on the heels of a historic four-week work stoppage by 30,000 Kaiser health workers in California and Hawaii, including 2,800 nurse anesthetists, physical therapists and others. —Grant Stringer, Mercury News, 18 Mar. 2026

Before starting a new exercise program, Culbertson advised seeing a doctor or a physical therapist to make sure there’s nothing neurological causing your loss of grip strength. —Danielle Zickl, Health, 12 Mar. 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