physical therapist

therapist /ther·a·pist/ (ther´ah-pist) a person skilled in the treatment of disease or other disorder.

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physical therapist  a person skilled in the techniques of physical therapy and qualified to administer treatment prescribed by a physician.

speech therapist  a person specially trained and qualified to assist patients in overcoming speech and language disorders.

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physical therapist (PT),

a person who is licensed in the examination, evaluation, and treatment of physical impairments through the use of special exercise, application of heat or cold, and other physical modalities. The goal is to assist persons who are physically challenged to maximize independence and improve mobility, self-care, and other functional skills necessary for daily living. A physical therapist becomes qualified by studying a 4- to 7-year college curriculum leading to a bachelor's or master's degree in physical therapy (usually B.S., M.S., or M.P.T.).

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physical

pertaining to the body, to material things, or to physics.

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physical agent

the physical causes of disease. Includes altitude, radiation, wetness, exercise, fire, electricity including lightning.

physical diagnosis

a preliminary diagnosis made solely on the basis of a physical examination. Often all that is possible in private practice.

physical examination

examination of the bodily state of a patient by ordinary physical means, as inspection, palpation, percussion and auscultation.

physical exhaustion

see physical exhaustion.

physical findings

results of a physical examination. Observations made visually, by auscultation, palpation, smell, percussion, succussion and ballottement.

physical fitness

quality of being able to perform physically, to turn in a good physical performance. Best tested by performance but in horses can be vaguely predicted by a series of tests including hemoglobin content of blood, heart size, duration of the QRS interval on an ECG, and low levels of muscle enzymes in blood.

physical insults

physical agencies that cause disease. These include trauma, stress (physical as in stress fracture of long bones in horses), hyperthermia (as a cause of congenital defects), persistent wetting, high altitude, lightning stroke, electrocution, bushfire and fire injury, volcanic eruption and exposure to radiation.

physical map

in genetics, determination of the array of genes within a DNA segment of a chromosome.

physical restraint

the use of halters, collars and chains, ropes, harness, twitches of various sorts, squeeze cages, hog holders, dog catchers and many more devices. As distinct from the use of analeptic agents—chemical restraint.

physical stress

see stress.

physical therapist

one who is skilled in the physical and therapeutic techniques of helping to alleviate suffering from muscle, nerve, joint and bone diseases and from injuries and to overcome or prevent disabilities. Among the procedures used by the physical therapist are exercise to increase strength, endurance, coordination, and range of motion; electrical stimulation to activate paralyzed muscles; massage, vibrators and many other patented devices to try to improve the circulation and condition of a part. Called also physiotherapist.