PT learning

Flexion (FLEX)

Bending a joint/decreasing the joint angle; usually bringing a body part forward.

Extension (EXT)

Straightening a joint/increasing the joint angle; usually bringing a body part backward.

Abduction (ABD)

Movement AWAY from the body's midline. Think: ABD = away.

Adduction (ADD)

Movement TOWARD the body's midline. Think: ADD it back in.

Internal Rotation (IR)

Rotating a body part inward/toward the body's midline.

External Rotation (ER)

Rotating a body part outward/away from the body's midline.

Dorsiflexion (DF)

Pulling the toes and foot UP toward the shin.

Plantarflexion (PF)

Pointing the toes/foot DOWN, like pressing a gas pedal.

Inversion (INV)

Turning the sole of the foot INWARD.

Eversion (EV/EVR)

Turning the sole of the foot OUTWARD.

Supination (SUP)

Rotating the forearm so the palm faces UP. Think: holding soup.

Pronation (PRO)

Rotating the forearm so the palm faces DOWN.

Scapular Retraction

Pulling the shoulder blades back toward each other; think "pinch shoulder blades."

Scapular Protraction

Moving the shoulder blades apart/forward; think reaching forward.

LAQ (Long Arc Quad)

Seated knee extension: sit in chair, straighten knee, then lower foot.

SAQ (Short Arc Quad)

Lie down with bolster/roll under knee and straighten the knee by lifting the foot.

TKE (Terminal Knee Extension)

Straightening the knee through the final part of its range; commonly performed standing with a band behind the knee.

Standing Knee Flexion

Stand and bend the knee, bringing the heel toward the buttocks.

Knee Extension Machine

Sit in machine and straighten the knees against resistance; works quadriceps.

Knee Flexion / Hamstring Curl Machine

Bend the knees against resistance; works hamstrings.

SLR (Straight Leg Raise)

Lie on back and raise one leg while keeping the knee straight.

Standing Hip Flexion / Standing Marching

Stand with support and bring the knee upward, then lower it.

Seated Marching / Seated Hip Flexion

Sit in chair and alternate lifting the knees.

Standing Hip Abduction

Stand with support and move the leg OUT to the side while keeping it relatively straight.

Hip Adduction

Move the leg IN toward the body's midline.

Ball Squeeze / Seated Hip Adduction

Sit with a ball between the knees and squeeze the knees inward.

Seated Hip Abduction

Sit with feet planted and move the knees OUT to the sides; may use resistance band.

Clamshell

Lie on side with knees bent and feet together; lift the top knee while keeping feet together.

Multi-Hip Machine

Machine used for resisted hip flexion, extension, abduction, and adduction.

Mini Squat

Hold support, push hips backward as if sitting into a chair, bend knees, then return to standing.

Step-Up

Step onto a raised surface using the prescribed/working leg and return according to the therapist's instructions.

Lateral Step-Up

Step onto a raised surface from the side, then return.

Step-Down

Stand on a step and slowly lower the opposite foot toward the floor, then return.

Side Steps / Lateral Walking

Step sideways repeatedly; may be performed with a resistance band.

Crab Walk

Side stepping, commonly with a resistance band around the thighs, knees, or ankles.

SLS (Single Leg Stance)

Balance while standing on one leg; often timed.

Heel Raise / Calf Raise

Rise onto the toes so the heels lift off the floor, then slowly lower.

Toe Raise

Keep heels down and lift toes/forefoot off the floor; ankle dorsiflexion.

AP (Ankle Pumps)

Alternate pulling toes UP and pointing toes DOWN; dorsiflexion and plantarflexion.

Ankle PRE

Progressive resistive ankle exercises, commonly DF, PF, inversion, and eversion with a resistance band.

Banded Dorsiflexion (DF)

Pull the foot/toes UP toward the shin against resistance.

Banded Plantarflexion (PF)

Point the foot DOWN against resistance, like pressing a gas pedal.

Banded Inversion (INV)

Turn the foot INWARD against resistance.

Banded Eversion (EV)

Turn the foot OUTWARD against resistance.

Gastroc Stretch

Calf stretch with the back knee STRAIGHT and heel down.

Soleus Stretch

Calf stretch with the back knee BENT and heel down.

Frozen Bottle Roll

Roll the bottom/arch of the foot over a frozen bottle; commonly used for the plantar fascia.

Towel Curls / Towel Scrunches

Use the toes to scrunch and pull a towel toward the body while keeping the heel down.

Rows

Pull resistance toward the body while squeezing the shoulder blades together.

Shoulder Extension

Pull the arms/band backward toward the hips or pockets.

Pallof Press

Stand sideways to a cable/band and press the handle straight out while resisting rotation of the trunk.

Posterior Pelvic Tilt

Lie on back with knees bent, tighten abdominals, and gently flatten the lower back against the table.

Dead Bug

Lie on back and move opposite arm and leg while maintaining core control.

Exercise Ball Marching

Sit on an exercise/stability ball and alternate lifting the legs while maintaining balance.

STS (Sit-to-Stand)

Rise from a seated position to standing and then sit back down with control.

Bridge

Lie on back with knees bent and lift hips upward by squeezing the glutes.

Side-Lying Hip Abduction

Lie on side with top leg straight and lift the top leg upward/away from the body.

Hamstring Stretch

Stretch targeting the back of the thigh/hamstring muscles.

Quad Stretch

Stretch targeting the front of the thigh; commonly bend knee and bring heel toward buttocks.

Piriformis / Figure-4 Stretch

Cross one ankle over the opposite knee to stretch the buttock/hip region.

Tandem Stance

Stand with one foot directly in front of the other, like standing on a tightrope.

Tandem Walking

Walk heel-to-toe in a straight line to challenge balance.

PRE (Progressive Resistive Exercise)

Exercise in which resistance is progressively used/increased to improve strength.

ROM (Range of Motion)

The amount of movement available at a joint.

AROM (Active Range of Motion)

The patient moves the body part through the range of motion independently.

AAROM (Active-Assisted Range of Motion)

The patient moves the body part with some assistance.

PROM (Passive Range of Motion)

The body part is moved for the patient without the patient actively producing the movement.

WB (Weight Bearing)

Putting body weight through an extremity.

NWB (Non-Weight Bearing)

No body weight is placed through the affected extremity.

PWB (Partial Weight Bearing)

Only a specified portion of body weight is placed through the affected extremity.

WBAT (Weight Bearing As Tolerated)

Patient may put as much weight through the extremity as tolerated.

FWB (Full Weight Bearing)

Full body weight may be placed through the extremity.

HEP (Home Exercise Program)

Exercises prescribed for a patient to perform at home.

PT

Physical Therapy or Physical Therapist, depending on context.

PTA

Physical Therapist Assistant.

UE (Upper Extremity)

Upper limb: shoulder, arm, elbow, forearm, wrist, and hand.

LE (Lower Extremity)

Lower limb: hip, thigh, knee, lower leg, ankle, and foot.

R

Right.

L

Left.

B / Bil

Bilateral; both sides.

Alt

Alternating.

MH (Moist Heat)

Moist heat treatment used according to the therapist's plan.

CP (Cold Pack)

Cold/ice treatment used according to the therapist's plan.

E-Stim

Electrical stimulation.

TENS (Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation)

Type of electrical stimulation commonly used for pain modulation.

NMES (Neuromuscular Electrical Stimulation)

Electrical stimulation used to produce or assist muscle contraction.

IFC (Interferential Current)

Type of electrical stimulation commonly used for pain management.

STM (Soft Tissue Mobilization)

Hands-on technique used to mobilize muscles and other soft tissues.

UT (Upper Trapezius)

Muscle of the upper back/neck region; often abbreviated UT.

LBP (Low Back Pain)

Pain in the lower back.

C-Spine

Cervical spine; neck region.

T-Spine

Thoracic spine; middle/upper back region.

L-Spine

Lumbar spine; lower back region.

RPE (Rating of Perceived Exertion)

Scale used to describe how hard an activity/exercise feels.

LEFS (Lower Extremity Functional Scale)

Questionnaire used to assess difficulty with lower-extremity activities.

Rep / Reps

Repetition(s); number of times an exercise movement is performed.

Set

A group of repetitions.

3 x 10

3 sets of 10 repetitions.

2 x 10

2 sets of 10 repetitions.

x10

Perform 10 repetitions.