physical therapy

noun

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

the health profession that provides such care.

Origin of physical therapy

First recorded in 1920–25

Related formsphysical therapist, noun

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

British Dictionary definitions for physical therapy

physical therapy

noun

another term for physiotherapy

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

physical therapy in Medicine

physical therapy

n.

The treatment of physical dysfunction or injury by the use of therapeutic exercise and the application of modalities that are intended to restore or facilitate normal function or development.physiatrics physiotherapy

Related formsphysical therapist n.