[return to top]
accessory movement - joint movements that cannot be performed voluntarily or in isolation by the patient.
Achilles tendonitis - Inflammation of the Achilles tendon.
activities of daily living (ADLs) - personal care activities necessary for everyday living, such as eating, bathing, grooming, dressing, and toileting; a term often used by healthcare professionals to assess the need and/or type of care a person may require.
akinesia - no movement.
amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) - a terminal neurological disorder characterized by progressive degeneration of motor cells in the spinal cord and brain. It is often referred to as "Lou Gehrig's disease."
aneurysm - a weakened, pouched area on the wall of an artery.
ankle sprain - overstretched lateral (outside) ligament of the ankle joint.
arrhythmia - an abnormal heart rhythm.
arthralgia - pain in a joint, usually due to arthritis or arthropathy.
arthritis - inflammation of a joint, usually accompanied by pain, swelling, and sometimes change in structure.
arthroscopy - a minimally-invasive diagnostic and treatment procedure used for conditions of a joint. This procedure uses a small, lighted, optic tube (arthroscope) which is inserted into the joint through a small incision in the joint. Images of the inside of the joint are projected onto a screen; used to evaluate any degenerative and/or arthritic changes in the joint; to detect bone diseases and tumors; to determine the cause of bone pain and inflammation.
articular cartilage - covers the ends of bones and allows the distribution of compressive loads over the cross section of bones; provides frictionless and wear-resistant surface for joint movement.
assistive device - a tool that assists a person with a disability to complete a task (such as a reacher, grabber, special eating utensil, or button-hooker).
atrophy - wasting, shrinkage of muscle tissue or nerve tissue.
avascular necrosis - death of tissue due to depletion of blood supply.
avulsion - when a muscle is forcefully stretched beyond its freely-available range of motion, or when it meets a sudden unexpected resistance while contracting forcefully.
[return to top]
biarthrodial muscles - muscles that span over two joints and have a function over those joints.
bradykinesia - slowness of movement.
bradyphrenia - slowness of thought processes.
brain attack (Also called stroke.) - happens when brain cells die because of inadequate blood flow to the brain.
bursa - a sac filled with fluid located between a bone and a tendon or muscle.
bursitis - repeated small stresses and overuse that cause the bursa to swell and become irritated.
[return to top]
cardiac - pertaining to the heart.
carpal tunnel syndrome - a condition in which the median nerve is compressed as it passes through the carpal tunnel in the wrist, a narrow confined space. Since the median nerve provides sensory and motor functions to the thumb and three middle fingers, many symptoms may result.
cartilage - a smooth material that covers bone ends of a joint to cushion the bone and allow the joint to move easily without pain.
central nervous system - the brain and the spinal cord.
cervical spine - the area of the spinal cord located in the neck.
coccydynia - pain around the coccyx.
cognition - mental functions such as the ability to think, reason, and remember.
computed tomography scan (Also called a CT or CAT scan.) - a diagnostic imaging procedure that uses a combination of x-rays and computer technology to produce cross-sectional images (often called slices), both horizontally and vertically, of the body. A CT scan shows detailed images of any part of the body, including the bones, muscles, fat, and organs. CT scans are more detailed than general x-rays.
congenital - present at birth.
contracture - inability to move a joint due to a permanent rigidity or contraction of a muscle.
contusion - bruise.
corticosteroids (Also called glucocorticoids.) - potent anti-inflammatory hormones that are made naturally in the body or synthetically for use as drugs; most commonly prescribed drug of this type is prednisone.
crepitus - grinding noise or sensation within a joint.
[return to top]
deep vein thrombosis (DVT) - blockage of the deep veins; particularly common in the leg.
dementia - not a disease itself, but group of symptoms that characterize diseases and conditions; it is commonly defined as a decline in intellectual functioning that is severe enough to interfere with the ability to perform routine activities.
diffuse axonal injury (DAI) - the shearing (tearing) of the brain's long connecting nerve fibers (axons) that can occur with severe brain injury.
disability - the inability to perform an activity in a normal way as a result of an impairment, such as not being able to walk due to a weakness or paralysis in a leg.
disc herniation (Also called disc prolapse, disc bulge, slipped disc.) - a protruding or bulging of the padded areas , called discs, between the vertebrae in the spine.
dislocation - a dislocation occurs when extreme force is put on a ligament causing the two bone ends to separate. Dislocations can also affect a joint, the point where two or more bones come together. The joint is created as a "ball-and-socket" joint. A dislocated joint causes the head of the bone (ball) to partially or completely come out of the socket.
[return to top]
embolus - a "wandering" blood clot.
endorphins - biochemical substances made by the body that may help reduce the level of pain.
epilepsy (Also called seizure disorder.) - a brain disorder involving recurrent seizures.
ergonomics - the science of obtaining a correct match between the human body, work-related tasks, and work tools.
[return to top]
femur - thighbone.
fibromyalgia (Also called fibrositis.) - a chronic, widespread pain in muscles and soft tissues surrounding the joints throughout the body.
fracture - a break in a bone.
frozen shoulder (Also called capsulitis.) - a shoulder injury which has four stages: pain, pain and stiffness, stiffness, and resolution.
[return to top]
gait - pattern of walking or locomotion.
genu valgum - commonly known as "knock knees."
genu varum - commonly known as "bowed legs."
gluteus maximus - large, superficial, buttock muscle.
gout - a result of a defect in body chemistry (such as uric acid in the joint fluid), this painful condition most often attacks small joints, especially the big toe. It can usually be controlled with medication and changes in diet.
grades of movement - standardized means of documenting techniques of mobilization, relating it to the true feel of joint movement.
Guillain-Barré syndrome - A disorder in which the body's immune system attacks part of the nervous system.
[return to top]
hamstrings - muscles located in the posterior compartment of the thigh.
handicap - barriers imposed by society, the environment, or attitudes that prevent a person with a disability from performing a role that is normal for that person.
humerus - the bone of the upper arm.
hydrotherapy - rehabilitation exercises performed in water.
hyperextension - active or passive force which takes the joint into extension, but beyond its normal range.
hypertrophy - an increase in the size of tissue.
hypomobility - a decrease in the normal range of joint movement.
hypoxia - decreased level of oxygen in the blood or tissues.
[return to top]
ice therapy - cooling of deeper tissues.
idiopathic - of unknown origin.
immobilization - preventing movement to allow for natural healing to take place.
impairment - loss of normal function of part of the body due to disease or injury, such as paralysis of the leg.
inflammation - a normal reaction to injury or disease, which usually results in swelling, pain, and stiffness.
intercostal muscles - muscles lying between ribs; often injured by muscle strain.
intervertebral disc - disc that forms a cartilaginous joint between the vertebrae to provide shock absorption.
intra-articular - within the joint.
ischemia - lack of oxygen.
isometric - muscle contraction without movement at the joint.
[return to top]
joint - where the ends of two or more bones meet.
joint locking - extremely painful condition usually caused by entrapment of a loose body within the joint.
Jordan frame - Specialized stretcher developed for transport of suspected spinal injured patients.
jumper's knee (Also called patellar tendonitis.) - a condition characterized by inflammation of the tendons in the knee area that causes local pain and tenderness.
[return to top]
knee reconstruction - surgical restoration of the knee.
kyphosis - exaggerated outward curvature of the spine.
[return to top]
laminectomy - surgical procedure, which includes removal of a portion of the lamina, to provide more room in the vertebral canal; usually done for disc herniation or spinal canal stenosis.
ligaments - a white, shiny, flexible band of fibrous tissue that binds joints together and connects various bones and cartilage.
loose body - name given to an object, located within a joint, that has become detached.
lordosis - curve of the spine.
lower back (Also called lumbar spine.) - a complex structure that connects the upper body to the lower body; consists of vertebrae, disks, spinal cord, and nerves.
[return to top]
magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) - a diagnostic procedure that uses a combination of large magnets, radiofrequencies, and a computer to produce detailed images of organs and structures within the body.
manual therapy - passive movement techniques.
massage - mechanical form of therapy in which the soft tissues are made more pliable, promoting increased blood flow and healing.
medial epicondylitis (Also known as golfer's elbow, baseball elbow, suitcase elbow, or forehand tennis elbow.) - pain caused by damage to the tendons that bend the wrist toward the palm.
median nerve - large nerve, comprising segments from the cervical spine, that is involved in nerve function of the upper limb; commonly compressed in the carpal tunnel of the wrist.
meninges - the thin layers of tissue that cover the brain. The three layers are the dura mater, the arachnoid, and the pia mater.
menisci - two crescent-shaped discs of connective tissue between the bones of the knees that act as shock absorbers to cushion the lower part of the leg from the weight of the rest of the body.
mobility - movement.
Morton's neuroma - A pinched nerve that usually causes pain between the third and fourth toes.
multifidus - deep lumbar spine muscle that stabilizes the lumbar spine.
multiple sclerosis (MS) - a disease of the central nervous system that is an unpredictable condition that can be relatively benign, disabling, or devastating, leaving the patient unable to speak, walk, or write.
muscular dystrophy - the name given to a group of diseases that are, for the most part, genetically determined and cause gradual wasting of muscle with accompanying weakness and deformity.
musculoskeletal system - the complex system involving the body's muscles and skeleton, and including the joints, ligaments, tendons, and nerves.
myofascial pain - an aching pain in muscles that tends to be associated with poor posture; patients can become sore in different parts of the body, such as the neck and arms, and often report they have difficulty sleeping or feeling restored from sleep.
myofascial trigger point - areas of focal muscle tenderness and spasm.
[return to top]
nerve conduction tests - procedure to determine nerve impulse generation.
neuralgia - pain in distribution of nerve or nerves.
neuritis - inflammation of a nerve or nerves.
neurogenic - of nerve origin.
neurological - pertaining to the nervous system.
nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) - medication that produces fever reducing, analgesic (pain relieving), and anti-inflammatory effects.
[return to top]
orthosis - a brace or splint used to strengthen or stabilize part of the body, usually an arm or leg.
osteophyte - outgrowth of bone.
osteoporosis - a condition that develops when bone is no longer replaced as quickly as it is removed.
overuse conditions - injuries due to minor trauma involving soft-tissue injuries - injuries that affect the bone, muscles, ligaments, and/or tendons.
[return to top]
