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

I ice my shin and do my physical therapy stretches when Mom reminds me to, but otherwise, I don’t bother.

From Literature

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

Fewer than half of people diagnosed with osteoarthritis are referred to exercise programs or physical therapy by their primary care provider.

From Science Daily

“I tried my best to do traditional acupuncture, physical therapy and hydrocortisone shots in my spine and everything,” she said.

From Los Angeles Times

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