The prevalence of chronic degenerative diseases and life expectancy has increased, which is associated with the higher number of hospitalizations among the elderly. In this sense, physical therapy is an alternative treatment in this population and has several rehabilitation alternatives in order to favor the patient's functionality. The objective of this study was to characterize the profile of hospitalized patients and to point out the physiotherapeutic techniques used. This study is retrospective, with an analysis of records with physical therapy prescription of a public hospital in the period from 2015 to 2017. It was observed that the majority of the patients are men, elderly, with hypertension or more than one risk factor, smokers/ex-smokers, alcoholics, with normal BMI, mean hospital stay of 8 to 19 days and diagnosis in specialty oncology. The most used techniques are exercises breathing, diaphragmatic reeducation, active mobilization and walking. The most frequently used techniques depend on the active participation of the patient, which allows us to conclude the importance of the physiotherapist in hospital units, given their incentive profile to promote activities that can reestablish the patients' functionality