physical therapy

noun

Definition of physical therapynext
as in activity
US, medical the treatment of a disease or an injury of the muscles or joints with massage, strengthening movements, heat, etc.

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Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of physical therapy Portugal’s National Health Service this month inked a deal with digital health company Sword to make its physical therapy care available to the country’s entire population of 10 million people. — Mario Aguilar, STAT, 29 June 2026 Others newly added to the professional list include degrees for physical therapy, athletic training, speech-language pathology, physician associates and anesthesiologist assistants. — Collin Binkley, Los Angeles Times, 30 June 2026 Others newly added to the professional list include degrees for physical therapy, athletic training, speech-language pathology, physician associates and anesthesiologist assistants. — ABC News, 29 June 2026 In a controversial move, the Department of Education last year decided that certain healthcare studies – such as nursing, physician assistants and physical therapy – were not considered professional programs. — Tami Luhby, CNN Money, 1 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for physical therapy
Recent Examples of Synonyms for physical therapy
  1. activity
  2. physiotherapy
  3. conditioning
  4. workout
  5. exercise
Noun
  • The purchase reflects a broader effort to improve protection at military bases as unauthorized drone activity becomes more common.
    — Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 7 July 2026
  • But when menstrual symptoms become severe enough to interfere with work, school, relationships or daily activities, something more serious may be going on.
    — Daryl Austin, USA Today, 7 July 2026
Definition of activity
Noun
  • Hassan said Salah underwent physiotherapy this week and an evaluation from the medical team before rejoining the team for a partial practice on Wednesday.
    — Patrick Iversen, New York Times, 2 July 2026
  • Based on six modalities, spa, holistic health, fitness, physiotherapy, aesthetic beauty and nutrition – and offering almost 200 different sessions and treatments – the 15 retreat themes include a new one, Ageing Well.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 2 June 2026
Definition of physiotherapy
Noun
  • Historical data about the parts of the nation that use the most air conditioning shows a strong geographical trend.
    — Ignacio Calderon, USA Today, 3 July 2026
  • Europe has long resisted air conditioning as noisy, an eyesore on architectural facades and unnecessary, as brutal summer heat has been relatively short-lived.
    — Anniek Bao,Evelyn Cheng, CNBC, 2 July 2026
Definition of conditioning
Noun
  • The waistband is made with stretchy material that doesn't dig into your skin, even during long walks or workouts.
    — Nicol Natale, PEOPLE, 3 July 2026
  • According to Playlist, parent company of the gym and spa membership app ClassPass, the number of venues on ClassPass with electrical muscle stimulation workouts rose more than 16% from 2023 to 2025.
    — Diana Anos, CNN Money, 3 July 2026
Definition of workout
Noun
  • The exercise brought together the Royal Navy, British Army and Royal Air Force under Project Vantage, an initiative aimed at accelerating the testing and evaluation of maritime attack drones.
    — Bojan Stojkovski, Interesting Engineering, 4 July 2026
  • Go through the mental exercise of all the potential difficulties.
    — Adam Crafton, New York Times, 4 July 2026
Definition of exercise

Browse Nearby Words

physical therapists
physical therapy
physician
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Cite this Entry

“Physical therapy.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/physical%20therapy. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on physical therapy

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about physical therapy

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