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

But advanced nursing degrees, along with health practitioners like occupational and physical therapists, are not on that list. —Joanne Kenen, NPR, 25 Nov. 2025

The Department of Education has adjusted the definition of a professional program that is eligible for federal loan funds, excluding physician assistants, nurse practitioners, physical therapists and audiologists from the list. —Lauren Giella, MSNBC Newsweek, 24 Nov. 2025

Rachel Williamson, a physical therapist at UCHealth Medical Center of the Rockies, who is a frequent paddleboarder, added that the activity also helps to improve balance, which tends to decline with age. —Angelica Stabile, FOXNews.com, 23 Nov. 2025

Chubb said some people brought their masseuse and physical therapist with them to Madrid. —Miami Herald, 12 Nov. 2025

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