Start your pain-free journey today!

27 Best Holiday Gifts for the Physical Therapist in Your Life This Season (2023)

Who is the one person you can always trust to come up with the best gift ideas? Moms, of course! So we recruited the mom of a physical therapist and the mother-in-law of a physical therapist to help us come up with the best gift ideas for the physical therapist in your life for the 2023 holiday season.
gift, christmas gift, wrapped up-3030693.jpg

Quick Guide: Best Gifts for Physical Therapists for the Holidays 2023

1. Our top pick: Best holiday gift for your physical therapist

  • Stanley Quencher H2.0
  • Your physical therapist is running around all day and barely has time to stop for a drink of water. Help them to keep their drinks hot or cold all day long and stay hydrated with this tumbler.
  • The Stanley Quencher can be found in the link below.

2. Our top pick: Best holiday gift for the new grad physical therapist

  • Massaging Tool Set
  • The newly graduated physical therapist is going to be using their hands, a lot! Help them to save their thumbs with this set of instruments that are designed to work into soft tissues throughout the body.
  • The Massage Tool Set can be found in the link below.

3. Our top pick: Best holiday gift for your son that’s a physical therapist

  • Adjustable Dumbbells
  • Physical therapists generally like to stay in shape. Help your son that’s a physical therapist in his fitness efforts with these sleek adjustable dumbbells that can give him a full body workout!
  • The Adjustable Dumbbells can be found in the link below.

4. Our top pick: Best holiday gift for your daughter that’s a physical therapist

  • Dyson Hair Dryer
  • Your physical therapist daughter is a busy woman and needs to look presentable for all of her patients. This Dyson hair dryer is all the rage for busy professionals because it dries your hair faster than anything else on the market!
  • The Dyson Hair Dryer can be found in the link below.

5. Our top pick: Best holiday gift for your son-in-law that’s a physical therapist

  • Beats Studio Buds
  • Your son-in-law physical therapist wants to come home from work and decompress or workout. These Beats wireless earbuds are sweat resistant and noise cancelling, giving him a chance to relax as well as get his fitness on.
  • The Beats Studio Buds can be found in the link below.

6. Our top pick: Best holiday gift for your daughter-in-law that’s a physical therapist

  • Silk Pillowcase
  • Your daughter-in-law physical therapist is a busy woman, taking care of patients all day and then coming home and taking care of her family. She deserves the best sleep she can get with this silk pillowcase so she can wake up rejuvenated!
  • The Silk Pillowcase can be found in the link below.

7. Our top pick: Best holiday gift for the student physical therapist

  • Foam Roller Set
  • The student physical therapist spends hours every day bent over and studying. They need to do some mobility work of their own and there is no better way than with this full set of mobility devices.
  • The Foam Roller Set can be found in the link below.

8. Our top pick: Best holiday gift for your brother that’s a physical therapist

  • Pickleball Set
  • Pickleball is catching on like wildfire. There’s a good chance your brother that is a physical therapist has treated patients that play this fun sport and just as good of a chance he would enjoy playing too!
  • The Pickleball Set can be found in the link below.

9. Our top pick: Best holiday gift for your sister that’s a physical therapist

  • Estee Lauder Night Repair
  • Treating patients all day can be stressful! I know some days I feel like I’ve aged 10 years.  This advanced night repairing cream will fight any signs of aging your sister that’s a physical therapist may have and keep her looking young and vibrant.
  • The Estee Lauder Night Repair can be found in the link below.

Disclaimers and Disclosures:  All information in this article is for informational and educational purposes only and should not be taken as individual medical advice. Additionally, this article contains affiliate links, meaning when you make a purchase, we make a small commission at no additional cost to you. For more information, see our full Disclaimers and Disclosures.

Are you looking for the best gift to give the physical therapist in your life this holiday season of 2023?

If you are looking for the best holiday gift for the physical therapist in your life this season, then you have come to the right place!  Gift giving ideas are always challenging, especially for people as altruistic as physical therapists.  They are generally selfless individuals that focus on helping other people and taking care of other’s needs.  They deserve a great gift that is thoughtful and will bring a little joy to their life.

 

In this article, we have broken down the gift giving ideas based on your relationship with the physical therapist in your life.  If you go to physical therapy or have a son, daughter, brother, sister, student, new grad, son-in-law, or daughter-in-law that is a physical therapist, then we have the best holiday gift idea for you.

How we selected the gifts for physical therapists.

I am a physical therapist and my wife is a physical therapist, so we scoured the internet and found some gift ideas that each of us would really enjoy.  Then we went to our parents and siblings, who have been buying gifts for physical therapists for years now, and asked them what some of their favorite gift ideas were.  Then we looked at prices and reviews and winnowed the list down to our top three choices for each category.

The Best Holiday Gifts for Physical Therapists in 2023

Best holiday gifts for your physical therapist

1. Stanley Quencher H2.0

Why the Stanley Quencher H2.0 is a good holiday gift for your physical therapist.

Your physical therapist is running around all day long, treating patients and trying to stay caught up on their notes.  Sometimes it’s hard to even find time to grab a cup of water.  This Stanley tumbler will help to keep your physical therapist hydrated all day long.  It’s 40 ounces so they won’t have to refill it throughout the day.  Also, it keeps cold drinks cold for 11 hours and hot drinks hot for 7 hours.  The Stanley Quencher H2.0 can be found in the link below.

2. JBL On-Ear Headphones

Why the JBL On-Ear Headphones is a good holiday gift for your physical therapist.

After a long day in the office, your physical therapist wants to go home and decompress.  The JBL headphones are a great option that are lightweight, noise canceling, and foldable so they can easily store them in a gym bag.  They are wireless and connect through blue tooth so they can listen to music and podcasts on the phone or even use them to listen to lectures and videos on their computer.  The JBL On-Ear Headphones can be found in the link below.

3. Theragun Mini Massage Gun

Why the Theragun Mini Massage Gun is a good holiday gift for your physical therapist.

Your physical therapist is using their hands all day long to treat patients and work into hard/knotted muscles.  The Theragun Mini can help your therapist so they don’t have to work their hands raw. Or, better yet, they can use the Mini Massage Gun on their own tense muscles to relieve some of their own aches and pains.  The Theragun Mini Massage Gun can be found in the link below.

Best holiday gifts for the newly graduated physical therapist

4. Massaging Tool Set

Why the Massaging Tool Set is a good holiday gift for the new grad physical therapist.

One of the most popular instrument assisted soft tissue massaging devices is Graston.  A Graston tool set can cost upwards of $3,000.  The massaging tool set here resembles a lot of the graston tools, is made out of stainless steel, and is about 100 times less.  These tools will help the newly graduated PT    to perform soft tissue massage on all of their patients without the wear and tear on their hands.  The Massaging Tool Set can be found in the link below.

5. Hypervolt Go 2

Why the Hypervolt Go 2 is a good holiday gift for the new grad physical therapist.

The hypervolt Go 2 is definitely the next level up in massaging devices to help out the newly graduated physical therapist.  The hypervolt is a percussion massager which means it does all of the work for you!  In addition to using it on their patients, the new physical therapist can use it on their own aching muscles after a long day on their feet and running between patients.  The Hypervolt Go 2 can be found in the link below.

6. Barista Coffee and Espresso Machine

Why the Barista Coffee and Espresso Machine is a good holiday gift for the new grad physical therapist.

It is time for an upgrade in coffee and espresso making capabilities when you get that first full-time job as a physical therapist.  There’s a good chance the newly graduated physical therapist is going to have to hustle and work some long hours.  A high-quality coffee and espresso machine will go a long way in keeping a pep in their step so they can provide high-quality care to all of their patients.  The Barista Coffee and Espresso Machine can be found in the link below.

Best holiday gifts for your son that is a physical therapist

7. Adjustable Dumbbells

Why the Adjustable Dumbbells are a good holiday gift for your son that is a physical therapist.

Physical therapists know how important it is to stay in shape.  These adjustable dumbbells are a great way to help your physical therapist son meet all of his fitness goals.  They adjust from 11 pounds all the way up to 55 pounds in increments of 11 pounds.  The dumbbells weight is easily adjustable with just the turn of a dial and you save space without having to buy a full set of dumbbells.  The Adjustable Dumbbells can be found in the link below.

8. Hoka One One Sneakers

Why the Hoka One One Sneakers are a good holiday gift for your son that is a physical therapist.

Your son is spending a lot of time on his feet all day as a physical therapist and he needs some supportive and comfortable footwear.  The Hoka One One Sneakers have been gaining popularity for years now.  Patients are always asking me what the best shoes to wear are, and I have not heard a single bad review about the Hokas.  These will give your son an extra spring in his step and relieve is aching arches.  The Hoka One One Sneakers can be found I the link below.

9. Nutribullet Blender

Why the Nutribullet Blender is a good holiday gift for your son that is a physical therapist.

Physical therapists know the importance of eating healthy to support energy levels throughout the day.  However, it can take a lot of time to prepare healthy meals.  This high-powered blender solves that problem by quickly preparing shakes and smoothies.  The Nutribullet Blender is the most powerful single serve blender, is dishwasher safe, BPA free, and has 2 lids so you can take it on the go!  The Nutribullet Blender can be found in the link below.

Best holiday gifts for your daughter that is a physical therapist

10. Dyson Hair Dryer

Why the Dyson Hair Dryer is a good holiday gift for your daughter that is a physical therapist.

Your physical therapist daughter is a busy woman and needs to look presentable for all of her patients.  This Dyson hair dryer is all the rage for busy professionals because it dries your hair faster than anything else on the market!  This hair dryer is expensive, I know I was confused by the price tag at first, but people say this thing is truly life-changing and worth the money.  The Dyson Hair Dryer can be found in the link below.

11. Oral-B Electric Toothbrush

Why the Oral-B Electric Toothbrush is a good holiday gift for your daughter that is a physical therapist.

Physical therapy patients love to see a bright, shining smile greeting them at all of their appointments.  Also, as a physical therapist I know how important it is to have fresh breath with how closely we have to work with patients.  The Oral-B Electric Toothbrush will make sure your daughter’s pearly whites stay white and her breath is fresh so she can focus on what matters.  The Oral-B Electric Toothbrush can be found in the link below.

12. Solowave Facial Skincare Wand

Why the Solowave Facial Skincare Wand is a good holiday gift for your daughter that is a physical therapist.

I think it is a consensus right now that all healthcare workers are stressed out.  Stress can lead to acne, blemishes, dark circles, and make you feel like you are aging at a rapid rate.  The last thing your daughter physical therapist needs is to feel like her profession is aging her.  The Solowave Wand helps with fine lines, dark spots, blemishes, and dark circles all in 3 minutes per day.  The Solowave Facial Skincare Wand can be found in the link below.

Best holiday gifts for your son-in-law that is a physical therapist

13. Beats Studio Buds

Why the Beats Studio Buds are a good holiday gift for your physical therapist son-in-law.

Your son-in-law physical therapist wants to come home from work and decompress or possibly get a good workout in.  These Beats wireless earbuds are sweat resistant and noise cancelling, giving him a chance to relax as well as get his fitness on.  These Beats also come in a charging case so they charge on the go and you can get up to 24 hours of listening time before recharging the case.  The Beats Studio Buds can be found in the link below.

14. O’Keeffe’s Working Hands

Why the O’Keeffe’s Working Hands is a good holiday gift for your physical therapist son-in-law.

Your son-in-law physical therapist is using his hands to work on patients all day long.  This also means he is going to be washing his hands dozens of times per day, which will dry out his skin.  There isn’t much worse than taking a shot of sanitizer on cut and cracked hands, ouch!  O’Keeffe’s Working Hands with gloves will help heal his cracked, dry skin and provide him with some much needed relief.  The O’Keeffe’s Working Hands can be found in the link below.

15. Adjustable Kettlebell

Why the Adjustable Kettlebell is a good holiday gift for your physical therapist son-in-law.

A kettlebell is a great way to workout and stay in shape.  You can do all sorts of different workouts with kettlebells and this adjustable one has 4 different levels of adjustment from 18 to 35 pounds.  This saves space so you son-in-law physical therapist can do a variety of exercises without the clutter.  The Adjustable Kettlebell can be found in the link below.

Best holiday gifts for your daughter-in-law that is a physical therapist

16. Silk Pillowcase

Why the Silk Pillowcase is a good holiday gift for your physical therapist daughter-in-law.

Your daughter-in-law physical therapist is a busy woman taking care of patients all day and then coming home and taking care of her family.  She deserves the best sleep she can get with this silk pillowcase so she can wake up rejuvenated!  The silk reduces frictions which reduces creases on her face and limits the amount of bed head, which will actually save her time getting ready in the morning.  The Silk Pillowcase can be found in the link below.

17. Lululemon Belt Bag

Why the Lululemon Belt Bag is a good holiday gift for your physical therapist daughter-in-law.

The Lululemon Belt Bag is very trendy and fashionable as well as comfortable.  It’s the perfect bag for the woman on the go and despite its small size it can fit quite a bit.  There are some similar bags on the market but this one is durable and with Lululemon you know you are getting a quality product.  The Lululemon Belt Bag can be found in the link below.

18. Laneige Lip Glowy Balm

Why the Laneige Lip Glowy Balm is a good holiday gift for your physical therapist daughter-in-law.

When you are talking to patients all day long, you can’t have dry and cracked lips.  The Laneige Lip Glowy Balm helps keep lips hydrated throughout the day.  Chapstick and Carmex lip balms may have similar effects, but your daughter-in-law physical therapist deserves to be treated this holiday season.  The Laneige Lip Glowy Balm can be found in the link below.

Best holiday gifts for the student physical therapist

19. Foam Roller Set

Why the Foam Roller Set is a good holiday gift for the student physical therapist.

The student physical therapist spends hours every day bent over text books and sitting in front of computers studying.  They need to do some mobility work of their own and there is no better way than with this full set of mobility devices.  It has two different types of foam rollers, a massage roller, and a trigger point ball so they can release all of their tension after a long cramming session.  The Foam Roller Set can be found in the link below.

20. A Goniometer Set

Why the Goniometer Set is a good holiday gift for the student physical therapist.

A Goniometer is a device used to measure the angle of joints, and I use one every single day in the clinic.  In fact, I work in a busy clinic and we often have to fight each other over goniometers because sometimes they’ll go missing.  This goniometer set has all of the different sizes the student physical therapist will need for every joint in the body.  it also has other useful devices such as a reflex hammer, a tuning fork, and a gait belt.  The Goniometer Set can be found in the link below.

21. Keurig Coffee Maker

Why the Keurig Coffee Maker is a good holiday gift for the student physical therapist.

If the student physical therapist in your life is anything like me, they will be spending some pretty late nights studying for exams and boards.  Physical therapy school is where I started drinking coffee and it was out of necessity.  A nice cup of coffee can go a long way to making sure the student physical therapist has all the energy they need to prepare for a big exam.  The Keurig Coffee Maker can be found in the link below.

Best holiday gifts for your brother that is a physical therapist

22. Pickleball Set

Why the Pickleball Set is a good holiday gift for your brother that is a physical therapist.

Pickleball is catching on like wildfire.  There’s a good chance your brother that is a physical therapist has treated patients that play this fun sport and just as good of a chance he would enjoy playing too!  This pickle ball set is highly rate, comes with 4 paddles, 4 balls, and a nice carrying case.  The Pickleball Set can be found in the link below.

23. Back/Neck Massager

Why the Back/Neck Massager is a good holiday gift for your brother that is physical therapist.

After working with patients and being on his feet all day, your physical therapist brother likely has some aches and pains in his neck and back.  This is especially true if he has to help transfer patients or spends as much time as I do in front of a computer typing up notes.  This shiatsu massager is great for back and neck pain and also has a nice heating feature to help loosen tight muscles.  The Back/Neck Massager can be found in the link below.

24. Garmin Watch

Why the Garmin Watch is a good holiday gift for your brother that is physical therapist.

A nice watch is a must-have as a physical therapist.  I wear my Garmin watch in the clinic every day so I can keep track of patient’s exercise as well as keep track of the time for proper billing.  This watch has GPS so your brother can use it to track his hikes and runs.  It also has a heart rate monitor, a compass, Bluetooth connectivity, and a long-lasting rechargeable battery.  The Garmin Watch can be found in the link below.

Best holiday gifts for your sister that is a physical therapist

25. Estee Lauder Night Repair

Why the Estee Lauder Night Repair is a good holiday gift for your sister that is a physical therapist.

Treating patients all day can be stressful!  I know some days I feel like I’ve aged 10 years.  This advanced night repairing cream will fight any signs of aging your sister physical therapist sister may have and keep her looking young and vibrant.  Estee Lauder is one of the most trusted names in skincare and this night repair complex helps to fight all signs of aging.  The Estee Lauder Night Repair can be found in the link below.

26. Bala Bangles

Why the Bala Bangles are a good holiday gift for your sister that is a physical therapist.

One of the best ways to de-stress after a long day of treating patients is getting in a good workout.  I’m sure your sister that is a physical therapist likes to prioritize her health.  These Bala Bangles are a great way to mix form and function with trendy and fashionable.  They comfortably wrap around your wrists and ankles and allow you to get an even better workout when doing Barre, Pilates, Yoga, and even walking. The Bala Bangles can be found in the link below.

27. Hoka One One Shoes

Why the Hoka One One Shoes are a good holiday gift for your sister that is a physical therapist.

Your sister that is a physical therapist will be so impressed when you buy her these Hoka One Ones.  I have almost a complete consensus from my patients that these are the best shoes on the market.  They relieve foot pain and aching arches and even feel like they put an extra spring in your step.  These will be a welcomed gift for the physical therapist that spends all day on their feet.  The Hoka One One Shoes can be found in the link below.

The best holiday gifts and presents for physical therapists final thoughts

You now have the best gifts ideas to choose from for the physical therapist in your life this holiday season.  I hope this list was helpful and you can now feel confident you are going to make a physical therapist very happy this year.  I hope you all have a fun, safe, and happy holiday season!

Why you should trust us for physical therapist gift giving ideas.

At Physical Therapy Simplified, our mission is to provide an easily accessible and highly reputable source of physical therapy information that anyone can understand, follow, and benefit from.  We want you to feel confident that you are getting the best content and information that will help you on your journey.

 

For almost all of the gifts, one of us or our family members has either tried it specifically or a product very similar to it.  We have used the product many times or have spoken with people  and patients that have used it.  The author of this article Andrew Harkins, DPT, is a physical therapist with years of experience with receiving and giving gifts to other physical therapists.

Related Articles

best supplements after knee replacement surgery

Best Vitamins and Supplements After Knee Replacement Surgery to Speed Healing

Are you looking to expedite and maximize your recovery after knee replacement surgery with some supplementation? Rest assured, we have the best recommendations for you. In this article, Doctor of Physical Therapy Andrew Harkins gives you a list of the best vitamins and supplements after knee replacement surgery for optimal outcomes.

dumbbells, shoes, sneakers-2465478.jpg

Five Game Changing Habits I Learned From My Physical Therapist

Physical therapists are a wealth of knowledge when it comes to human movement and taking care of their body. Sometimes it takes an outsider to notice and appreciate the little actions they do that make a big difference in one’s quality of life. In this article, physical educator and wellness enthusiast, Melissa Holsinger, outlines the five habits that she learned from her physical therapist.