physical therapy

American  

noun

1. the treatment or management of physical disability, malfunction, or pain by exercise, massage, hydrotherapy, etc., without the use of medicines, surgery, or radiation.

2. the health profession that provides such care.

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physical therapy British  

noun

1. another term for physiotherapy

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Other Word Forms

• physical therapist noun

Etymology

Origin of physical therapy

First recorded in 1920–25

Example Sentences

Even so, the overall findings suggest that physical therapy approaches offer meaningful benefits without the risks linked to anti-inflammatory medications.

From Science Daily • Mar. 30, 2026

She’s also stopped physical therapy because she can’t cover the co-pays.

From Salon • Mar. 17, 2026

The nearly 30,000-square-foot facility includes indoor basketball courts, a physical therapy suite and a state-of-the-art weight room overseen by a coach who previously trained collegiate athletes at Notre Dame and Stanford.

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 22, 2026

Left out are nursing, physical therapy, dental hygiene, occupational therapy and social work — as well as fields outside of healthcare such as architecture, education, and accounting.

From Los Angeles Times • Nov. 26, 2025

In hospital for four months, multiple surgeries, months of physical therapy.

From "We Were Here" by Matt De La Peña