Physiotherapist

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. A healthcare specialist dedicated to aiding individuals in recovering movement and function through customized exercise and therapeutic techniques
2. An individual trained to enhance physical abilities and relieve discomfort through hands-on treatment and rehabilitation exercises
3. A medical expert who helps patients regain mobility and manage pain by using physical methods and tailored activity programs

Etymology: "Physiotherapist" is built from two pieces that each carry their own history. The first, "physio-", comes from Greek "physis," meaning nature or the natural constitution of a thing, which gave English words like "physics" and "physical." The second, "therapist," comes from Greek "therapeutes," an attendant or servant, later one who treats or cures. Put together, the name describes someone who treats the body through natural, physical means rather than drugs or surgery. The word is a blend in the making: it could be read as formed from "physio-" plus "therapist," or from "physiotherapy" plus the suffix "-ist," which denotes a person who practises a particular discipline. Either route ends in the same place, a practitioner whose trade is physiotherapy. The suffix "-ist" is the same ending found in "dentist" or "pianist," and it attaches easily to the established noun "physiotherapy" to name the person who carries it out.

Synonyms: physical therapist, rehabilitation therapist