Translation guide
Physiotherapy, also known as physical therapy, is a healthcare profession that uses physical methods to treat disease, injury, or deformity. In Japanese, the most common and direct term is 理学療法 (rigaku ryōhō), but the loanword フィジオセラピー (fijioserapī) is also understood, especially in international contexts. This guide covers how to express the concept naturally in Japanese.
Referring to physiotherapy as a medical discipline or the treatment itself.
The standard Japanese term for physiotherapy. Used in medical, academic, and everyday contexts.
彼は怪我の後、理学療法を受けている。
He is receiving physiotherapy after his injury.
理学療法士になるには国家試験に合格する必要がある。
To become a physiotherapist, you need to pass the national exam.
Loanword from English. Recognized, especially in international or sports contexts, but less common than 理学療法.
そのクリニックではフィジオセラピーを提供している。
That clinic offers physiotherapy.
Literally 'physical therapy', but this term is broader and can include treatments like heat or electrical therapy. Not a direct synonym for physiotherapy; use with caution.
May be misunderstood as a subset of physiotherapy rather than the whole field.
物理療法には温熱療法や電気療法が含まれる。
Physical therapy includes thermotherapy and electrotherapy.
Referring to the person who provides physiotherapy.
The standard term for a licensed physiotherapist in Japan.
理学療法士がリハビリの計画を立てた。
The physiotherapist made a rehabilitation plan.
Abbreviation for Physical Therapist, used in some medical settings. Pronounced as English letters.
PTの指示に従って運動してください。
Please follow the PT's instructions for exercise.
Loanword for physiotherapist. Rarely used; 理学療法士 is strongly preferred.
彼女はオーストラリアでフィジオセラピストとして働いていた。
She worked as a physiotherapist in Australia.
Describing the process of receiving physiotherapy treatment.
Commonly used to mean 'undergo rehabilitation', which often includes physiotherapy. リハビリ is short for リハビリテーション.
毎日リハビリを受けている。
I'm undergoing rehab every day.
More specific than リハビリ, explicitly stating physiotherapy.
週に2回理学療法を受けています。
I receive physiotherapy twice a week.
理学療法 (physiotherapy) is a specific type of リハビリ (rehabilitation). リハビリ is a broader term that can include occupational therapy, speech therapy, etc. In casual conversation, リハビリ is often used to refer to physiotherapy exercises.
リハビリの一環として理学療法を行っている。
We are doing physiotherapy as part of rehabilitation.
物理療法 (butsuri ryōhō) literally translates to 'physical therapy' but is not equivalent to physiotherapy. It refers to physical modalities like heat, cold, or electrical stimulation, and is only one part of what physiotherapists do. Using it to mean physiotherapy will cause confusion.
腰痛のために理学療法が必要です。
I need physiotherapy for my back pain.
彼女は理学療法士になるために勉強しています。
She is studying to become a physiotherapist.