Short Answer is both. In the United States, the term physical therapy is most often used. However, in Canada, Mexico and the majority of countries in Europe, physiotherapy denotes our profession. One thing is for sure though; regardless of what we are called, physical therapists are experts in movement and correcting and improving mobility and function.

In the United States, physical therapists first appeared on the scene following World War 1 and were termed “Reconstruction Aides” as veterans returned home. Also, at about the same time, America experienced the onset of the Polio epidemic. Soon after, the Walter Reed Hospital in Washington DC established the first PT school and in 1921 what is now called the American Physical Therapy Association was formed.