General Rehabilitation Abbreviations

The list provides abbreviations most commonly used by rehabilitation professionals. it is divided into the categories of general, professional, medical diagnosis, and symbols. In addition, the entire list is organized alphabetically by name.

A or Ⓐ

assistance

A

Assessment

AAA

Abdominal aortic aneurysm

AAFO

Articulating ankle foot orthosis

AAROM

Active Assistive range of motion

Abd or ABD

Abduction

ABG

Arterial blood gases

abn

abnormal

AC

alternating current

ACA

anterior cerebral artery

ACL

anterior cruciate ligament

AD

Assistive device

Add or ADD

adduction

ADL

Activities of daily living

ad lib

at discretion

Afib

atrial fibrillation

AFO

ankle foot orthosis

AG

against gravity

AK

above knee

amb

ambulatory, ambulation

ant

anterior

AP

anteroposterior

approx

approximate, approximately

appt

appointment

A&O

alert and oriented

AROM

active range of motion

ASIA

American Spinal Injury Association

ASIS

anterior superior iliac spine

assist

assistant, assistance

ATNR

assymetrical tonic neck reflex

AV

atrioventricular

B or Ⓑ

bilateral

B&B

bowel and bladder

bal

balance

BE

below elbow

b.i.d.

twice a day

bil

bilateral

b.i.w.

biweekly

BK

below knee

BM

bowel movement

BNL

below normal limits

BOS

base of support

BP

blood pressure

bpm

beats per minute

BS

breath sounds

c̄

with

CA

cancer, cardiac arrest

CICU

cardiac intensive care unit

CG

contact guarding

CM

centimeter

CNS

central nervous system

clo

complained of, complains of

cont’d

continued

CO₂

carbon dioxide

CPAP

continuous positive airway pressure

CPT

chest physical therapy

CS

close supervision

CSF

cerebrospinal fluid

CT

computed tomography

d

day

D or Ⓓ

dependent

DAI

diffuse axonal injury

DBE

deep breathing exercise

D/C

discharge; discontinue

Dep

dependent

DF

dorsiflexion

DIP

distal interphalangeal (joint)

dist

distance, distant

DME

durable medical equipment

DS

distant supervision

DTR

deep tendon reflex

dx

diagnosis

ECF

extended care facility

ECG

electrocardiogram

EEG

electroencephalogram

EMG

electromyogram

ENT

ear, nose, throat

equlp

equipment

ER

emergency room; external rotalion

e-stim

electrical stimulation

eval

evaluation

ex

exercise

exam

examination

ext

external; extension

ext rot, ER

external rotation

F

fair (muscle grade)

FES

functional electric stimulation

flex

flexion

freq

frequently, frequency

FT

full time

F/U

follow-up

FWB

full weight bearing

Fx

function, fracture

G

good (muscle grade.)

GCS

Glasgow Coma Scale

GE

gravity eliminated

GI

gastrointestinal

G-tube

gastrostomy tube

h

hour

HA

headache