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 technology could also help physical therapists measure patients’ mobility during rehabilitation. — Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 9 Oct. 2026

Working with a physical therapist can help people figure out what is doable for them. — Jennifer Fields, Washington Post, 8 Oct. 2026

The plan is to sit down with the team’s physical therapists on Friday and go from there. — Jordan McPherson, Miami Herald, 8 Oct. 2026

Rookie infielder Pedro Ramírez and two first-year members of the Cubs staff, major-league video and technology coordinator Brad Moylan and major-league physical therapist Jozef Palasiewicz, all dressed up as jockeys. — Meghan Montemurro, Chicago Tribune, 19 Sep. 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