General PTA Terms

Kinesiology

The study of movement through the application of anatomy, physiology, physics, and mechanics

Biomechanics

Used when applying mechanics (the study of force exerted on an object) to the study of human movement

Kinematics

The branch of mechanics that describes the motion of objects without considering the forces that cause the motion.

Osteokinematics

The movement of bones in space about a joint axis (ex include flexion and extension)

Arthrokinematics

The movement of bone surfaces during joint movement

ex include roll and glide

Kinetics

The branch of mechanics describing how forces and torques affect the body

Anatomical Position

The standardized position and is defined as the human body standing in an upright position, eyes level and facing forward, feet parallel and close together, and arms at the sides of the body with palms facing forward

Medial

toward the midline of the body

Lateral

Refers to a location or position farther from the midline

Anterior

Refers to the front of the body or to a position closer to the front

Posterior

Refers to the back of the body or to a position closer to the back

Ventral

-synonym of anterior

-the front of the body or to a position closer to the front

Dorsal

-Synonym of posterior

-The back of the body or to a position closer to the back

Distal

-Away from the trunk

-Used to describe locations on extremeties

Proximal

-Toward the trunk

-Used to describe locations on extremeties

Superior

Used to indicate the location of a body part that is above another or to refer to the upper surface of an organ or a structure

Inferior

Indicates that a body part is below another or refers to the lower surface of an organ or a structure

Cranial (or cephalad)

Refers to a position or structure closer to the head

Caudal

Refers to a position or structure closer to the feet

Superficial

closer to the surface of the body

Deep

Further from the surface of the body

Supine

-The anterior of the body faces upward

-The posterior surface of the body is in contact with a supporting surface

Prone

-The anterior surface of the body faces downward in contact with a supporting surface

-The posterior surface of the body faces upward

Bilateral

2 or both sides

Contralateral

opposite side

Ipsilateral

Same side of the body

Closed Kinetic Chain

-Occurs when the distal segment is fixed (closed) and the proximal segment is free to move

Open Kinetic Chair

Occurs when the distal segment is not fixed (open) and the proximal segment is fixed

Sagittal Plane

Passes through the body vertically from anterior to posterior dividing the body into left and right portions

Frontal Plane

-Passes through the body vertically from side to side dividing the body into anterior and posterior portions

-aka coronal plane

Transverse (horizontal) plane

Passes through the body horizontally and divides the body into superior and inferior portions

Flexion

-Brings 2 anterior limb segment surfaces toward each other (except for the knee)

-Movement of one limb segment on another about a joint axis

-occurs within a sagittal plane and about a front axis

Extension

-Moving the anterior limb segment surfaces away from each other

-is movement of one limb segment on another about a joint axis

-occurs within a sagittal plane and about a frontal axis

Hyperextension

Extension of a joint beyond its nonpathological (expected normal without injury or disease) extension range of motion

Abduction

movement away from the midline of the body

Adduction

Movement toward the midline

Horizontal Abduction

When the shoulder has been abducted initially shoulder movement laterally

Horizontal Adduction

When the shoulder has been abducted initially shoulder movement medially

Radial Deviation

Occurs when the hand moves laterally or toward the radial/thumb side of the hand

Ulnar Deviation

Occurs when the hand moves medially or toward the ulnar/little finger side of the hand

Lateral Flexion

-Used when the trunk bends to the side moving the shoulder towards the ipsilateral hip

-with lateral flexion of the neck the ear moves toward the ipsilateral shoulder

Circumduction

Triplanar movement, producing a circular cone-shaped pattern in which distal segments move through larger arcs of movement than proximal segments

Medial Rotation

Occurs when the anterior surface of a limb segment turns toward the midline

aka internal rotation

Lateral Rotation

-occurs when the anterior surface of a limb segment turns away from the midline

-aka external rotation

Supination

Rotation of the forearm with the palm of the hand oriented anteriorly

Pronation

Rotation of the forearm with the palm oriented posteriorly

Inversion

Moving the ankle so that the sole of the foot faces medially

Eversion

Moving the ankle so that the sole of the foot faces laterally

Opposition

Movement of the thumb such that the pad of the thumb faces the pads of the other 4 fingers

Reposition

Movement that returns the thumb to the anatomical position

Scapular Protraction

Movement of the scapula laterally along the posterior chest wall

Scapular Retraction

Movement of the scapula medially along the posterior chest wall

Scapular Elevation

Movement of the scapula superiorly along the posterior chest wall

Scapular Depression

Movement of the scapula inferiorly along the posterior chest wall

Range of Motion

-The amount of movement a joint can move in any of its possible directions

-measured using a goniometer