What is physical therapy? Physical therapy is the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of movement dysfunctions and the enhancement of the physical health. Therapists help restore movement and function that are threatened by aging, injury, disease or environmental factors. The functional goal is to help patients return to their activities of daily life. This is facilitated by interventions such as thermal modalities, therapeutic exercise, traction, manual therapy and many other treatment options to help improve optimal physical health, and quality of life.