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

Derived Forms

• physical therapist
  noun

Etymology

Origin of physical therapy

First recorded in 1920–25

Example Sentences

She started her own physical therapy practice that spring, naming it Hive Therapy in honor of Bee.

From Salon • May 27, 2026

The research team envisions a future version that could be delivered through physical therapy, with retraining taking place during normal walks rather than only inside a lab.

From Science Daily • May 22, 2026

Co-founder Daniel Kelly likens the approach to physical therapy for the brain.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 18, 2026

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

From Salon • Mar. 17, 2026

The physical therapy doesn't seem to be helping.

From "Doing Time Online" by Jan Siebold