At Physical Therapy in Brazil: Ask About Movements and Sessions — Practice

Check in and confirm the session

Fisioterapia means physical therapy, and sessão is a session. State your name and appointment time when you arrive. If you are unsure where to wait, ask at the reception rather than assuming the practitioner is ready.

A frequência can mean how often sessions are scheduled. Ask the clinic to confirm the appointment plan and any changes; the provider sets the schedule for your care.

Ask for a movement to be explained again

Movimento is movement, and exercício is exercise. If you did not understand the demonstration, ask the physiotherapist to show it again or explain one step at a time. You can also say that you did not understand a direction.

Use devagar for ‘slowly’ and mais uma vez for ‘one more time.’ These phrases help you communicate without pretending you understood an instruction.

Describe what you feel and clarify the schedule

If a movement causes discomfort, tell the professional what you feel and where. Minha perna está desconfortável is a general description; name the area if you can. Follow the professional’s guidance about what to do next.

Before leaving, confirm the next session, date, and time. If you need to change an appointment, contact the clinic and ask what options are available.

Remember: Use these phrases to ask for clarification and communicate what you notice. A physiotherapist is the right person to explain exercises and care decisions.

Check your understanding

Choose the English meaning of each Portuguese example. Answer before looking back at the tables. These questions check the written examples in this guide; they are not a listening or proficiency test.

Recall the Portuguese, then say it

Read the English prompt and say a Portuguese version before opening the answer. The answer shows the example from the lesson; other natural translations may also work. Compare the meaning and the situation rather than counting a different word as automatically wrong.

1. I have a physical therapy session at ten under the name…

   Show a Portuguese answer

   Tenho uma sessão de fisioterapia às dez, no nome de…

2. Where should I wait?

   Show a Portuguese answer

   Onde devo esperar?

3. Could you demonstrate that movement one more time?

   Show a Portuguese answer

   Você pode demonstrar esse movimento mais uma vez?

4. I didn’t understand the last instruction. Could you explain it another way?

   Show a Portuguese answer

   Não entendi a última instrução. Pode explicar de outro jeito?

5. I feel discomfort during this movement.

   Show a Portuguese answer

   Sinto desconforto neste movimento.

6. What is the date of the next session?

   Show a Portuguese answer

   Qual é a data da próxima sessão?

Make the phrase useful to you

Choose one example you could actually use. Say it once from memory, then change one detail that fits your life, such as the person, place, time, or object. Check whether your change also needs a different verb form, article, or adjective ending. If it does, compare it with the pattern in the explanation.

Use these phrases to ask for clarification and communicate what you notice. A physiotherapist is the right person to explain exercises and care decisions.

Return to two prompts tomorrow without opening the answers first. If a phrase still feels difficult, shorten it to a useful chunk and build the complete sentence again.

Sources and your next lesson

This I Speak Portuguese practice guide builds on our At Physical Therapy in Brazil: Ask About Movements and Sessions lesson on Real Life Portuguese, with written recall tasks and additional speaking practice. The explanations and examples are teaching material; the practice questions are exercises, not a transcript of a recording.

To add Brazilian audio to your routine, choose a lesson in the Real Life Portuguese app. The app offers its own lessons and practice; this page does not imply that every example here has an app recording.