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

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

Frels plans to study kinesiology in college, hoping to become a physical therapist, but hasn’t chosen a school yet. —Myrna Petlicki, Chicago Tribune, 12 Mar. 2026

Since then, its Healthy Dancers Clinic has grown to provide free consultations with a variety of volunteer medical professionals, such as therapists, physicians and physical therapists, as well as workshops and classes that reach more than 1,000 dancers of all ages. —Zara Irshad, San Francisco Chronicle, 9 Mar. 2026

Sang and Tatum joined the Celtics at the same time in 2017, with Sang being promoted from intern to physical therapist at the start of Tatum’s rookie season. —Jared Weiss, New York Times, 7 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