fisioterapia
nounIntermediate
What does “fisioterapia” mean in English?
physiotherapy — rehabilitation practice using physical methods; hacer fisioterapia
physiotherapy — rehabilitation practice using physical methods; hacer fisioterapia (no article); el/la fisioterapeuta — the physiotherapist
Example sentences
El médico le recetó un ciclo de fisioterapia de doce sesiones y le explicó que era importante que no faltara a ninguna si quería recuperar la movilidad completa del hombro.
The doctor prescribed a course of twelve physiotherapy sessions and explained that it was important not to miss any of them if she wanted to recover full shoulder mobility.
Lleva tres meses haciendo fisioterapia después de la operación de rodilla y los avances han sido mucho mejores de lo que el cirujano esperaba.
She has been doing physiotherapy for three months since the knee operation and the progress has been much better than the surgeon expected.
How to use it
Fisioterapia (feminine: la fisioterapia) is physiotherapy — both the practice and a session of it. The practitioner is el/la fisioterapeuta. Key collocations: hacer fisioterapia, recibir fisioterapia, ir al fisioterapeuta. Unlike cirugía or tratamiento, fisioterapia is typically used without an article after hacer: hace fisioterapia tres veces a la semana (not *hace la fisioterapia*). Used for recovery from injuries, surgery, or chronic musculoskeletal conditions.
Common mistake
Hacer fisioterapia (no article) is the standard collocation when meaning 'to do/undergo physiotherapy'. Ir al fisioterapeuta (go to the physiotherapist — article required because it refers to the person/place). The five-syllable stress: fi-sio-te-RA-pia.
Topics
Related Intermediate words
Reference
This entry’s teaching guidance follows Plan Curricular del Instituto Cervantes (Instituto Cervantes), B1 Nociones especificas.