Physical Therapy Clinic Spanish Terms and Commands

A set of vocabulary and phrasing flashcards designed for physical therapy professionals to communicate with Spanish-speaking patients.

La espalda

The back; formal body part terminology used in physical therapy.

La rodilla

The knee; a common joint focused on in clinical settings.

El hombro

The shoulder.

Mucho gusto / Encantado de conocerlo

Nice to meet you; formal greeting appropriate for healthcare settings.

¿Cómo ha estado su semana?

How has your week been?; natural conversational phrasing using 'usted'.

¿Qué hace para divertirse?

What do you do for fun?; the formal version using 'usted' for small talk.

¿Cómo se siente? / ¿Qué tal se siente?

How are you feeling / How's that feeling?; general inquiry about a patient's current state.

Puede dejar sus cosas aquí

Go ahead and set your things down here; conversational phrase for room setup.

Calentar

To warm up; commonly used when starting a patient on the bicycle.

Tómese un descanso

Take a break; a polite/reflexive formal command for patients.

Venga aquí, por favor

Come here please; the default formal clinic phrasing for positioning.

Acuéstese boca arriba

Lie down face up; the Spanish clinical command for the supine position.

Acuéstese boca abajo

Lie down face down; the Spanish clinical command for the prone position.

Mirando hacia

Facing toward; used for gym/clinic orientation (e.g., facing the mirror or windows).

Dese la vuelta / Voltéese

Turn around; formal command for patient movement.

Muévase hacia adelante / Recórrase hacia adelante

Scoot forward; 'Recórrase' is specifically noted as a PT/medical phrasing.

Despacio

Slowly; identified as one of the highest value PT cues during exercises.

Relájese

Relax; a useful cue during guarding, passive range of motion (PROM), or manual therapy.

¿Le duele?

Does it hurt?; one of the most useful clinic phrases for pain assessment.

Avíseme

Let me know / Please tell me; used to encourage patient communication regarding pain or fatigue.

¿Le duele más que en la cita pasada?

Does it hurt more than at the last appointment?; progress-check question for symptoms.

Caminadora

Treadmill; a common Latin American Spanish term for the aerobic machine.

Cuídese

Take care; an excellent formal closing phrase for the end of a visit.

Resistencia

Resistance; used when checking if bands, cables, or machines are 'demasiada' (too much).

¿Está muy pesado?

Is it too heavy?; a natural way to check weight during exercise.

¿Cuántas repeticiones lleva?

How many reps are you at?; the full version for checking exercise progress.

Al

The contraction of 'a + el' (to the), used when directing a patient 'al gimnasio' or 'al paciente'.

Del

The contraction of 'de + el' (of/from the), used in phrases like 'después del trabajo'.

I have to work.

Tengo que trabajar.

I have to leave.

Me tengo que ir.

I started learning Spanish at the beginning of this year.

Empecé a aprender español a principios de este año.

I have been studying Spanish for six months.

Estudio español desde hace seis meses.

Before going to bed, I practice Spanish.

Antes de acostarme, practico español.

I want to stop making the same mistakes.

Quiero dejar de cometer los mismos errores.

I want to stop eating junk food.

Quiero dejar de comer comida chatarra.

I am running late.

Voy tarde.

I am in a hurry.

Tengo prisa.

I have class.

Tengo clase.

I like my coworkers.

Mis compañeros me caen bien.

That person does not really sit well with me.

Esa persona no me cae muy bien.

I am craving Mexican food.

Se me antoja comida mexicana.

Do you feel like going to the movies?

¿Se te antoja ir al cine?

Do you mind lending me your pen?

¿Te importa prestarme tu lápiz?

I do the exercises at home.

Hago los ejercicios en casa.

I go home after work.

Voy a casa después del trabajo.

Explain them to me again.

Explícamelos otra vez.

Send them to the patient tomorrow.

Mándaselos al paciente mañana.

Do not send them to her today.

No se los mandes hoy.