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 firm offered to pay for all of his medical bills and one year of physical therapy “as a form of restitution,” according to the complaint.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 10, 2026

Their Health Education and Learning High School, which opened at an existing Houston school last year, lets students choose career paths such as medical imaging, physical therapy and pharmacy technician roles.

From The Wall Street Journal • Oct. 12, 2025

Tuesdays are the worst, because in the afternoon, she has to get Haley to gymnastics and my other younger sister, Semaj, to physical therapy.

From "A High Five for Glenn Burke" by Phil Bildner