Rehabilitation
The process of restoring a person to good health and to the activities of daily living.
Physical therapist(PT)
One who must have a master's degree(now its doctorate) in physical therapy and be licensed by the state in which he/she practice.
Physical therapy assistant
One who must have a two yr associate degree. work under supervision of a PT to carry out treatments and assist patients.
Hydrotherapy
Uses water-including whirlpools, showers, and soaks to relax and improve circulation.
Wound care
Includes burns, ulcers, bites, and diabetic sores hydrotherapy is sometimes used for wound care
cyanosis
A condition in which a newborn has a bluish color due to circulatory difficulties. (it does not have to be a newborn)
Decubitus ulcer
These are often caused by not being moved from one position to another. Bedsore, pressure ulcer
Debridement
The removal of dead skin
Cryotherapy
A cold application such as an ice compression on a body part that prevents swelling, reduces body temperature and control bleeding.
Edema
Swelling caused by fluid retention
vascoconstriction
This occurs when blood vessels become smaller and often produces a numbing effect that may decrease pain.
Thermotherapy
A hot application that relieves pain by allowing the blood to carry away fluids that cause inflammation.
Electric muscle stimulator
A device that sends shock impulses into the body that cause the area to contract.
Gait belt
A band of fabric that is placed around the patient's waist that the nurse holds to provide support for the patients.
Walker
A four legged device fitted to the patients by having the walker's handgrips level with the top of the patient's hip joint and 25 degrees of flexion in the elbow.
Two point gait
The patient walks with two feet, with cutch assistance in the two-point gait.
Three point gait
A patient uses this when he/she can bear weight on one leg only
Four point gait
This is slow and used when both legs can bear some weight.
Swing to gait
The patient places both crutches forward, and then uses both shoulders and arms to swing feet forward until parallel with the crutches in the swing to gait.
Swing thru gait
The patient advances both crutches, and then uses his/her arm and shoulder strength to cause the legs to go forward, stopping in front of the crutches in the swing thru gait/
Braces
Devices that are uses to give additional support to weak muscles at the joints or to immobilize an injured joint.
Prosthesis
An artificial body part that aids the patient in his/her normal appearance and movement.
Contracture
The tightening and shortening of muscles
Range of Motion(ROM)
Its exercises can include the movement of all joints and muscles in the body. It can done to maintain the health of the musculoskeletal system of patients who have a limited ability to move.
Active ROM
Accomplished when the patient moves the body part without help.
Active Assist ROM
This requires the patient to use muscles to move a joint with the assistance of the therapist.
Passive ROM
It occurs when the therapist moves the body part for the patient
Resistive ROM
Performed against resistance provided by the therapist
Atrophy
The wasting away of muscles
Thera-ban/T-band
Used to do stand-up exercises. Wide piece of elastic for exercising.
Abductions
Moving a part of the body away from the midline of the body
Adduction
Moving a part of the body towards the midline of the body
Flexion
Bending of the body part
Extension
Straighten a body part
Circumduction
Circular movement
Rotation
Turning on an axis
Pronation
Turning a body art downward(wrist)
Supination
Turning a body part upward(wrist)
Inversion
Turning a body part inward(foot)
Eversion
Turning a body part outward(foot)
Arthritis
Inflammation of joints.
Cerebrovascular accident(CVA)
Rupture of the blood vessels in the brain causing stroke.
Arthroscope
An instrument that contains magnifying lenses and coated glass fibers that beam an intense cool light into the knee(or other) joint.
Orthopedic surgeon
A physician who specialized in bone and joints.
Discs
The shock absorbers of the spine
Kyphosis
A condition in which the thoracic vertebrae round outward. Hutchback.
Lordosis
Commonly referred to as swayback. Lumber vertebrae curve inward to an abnormal degree.
Scoliosis
A lateral curvature of the spine that can often be corrected with exercise but sometimes may require bracing or surgery.
Transcutaneous electrical nerve simulation(TENS)
A device that reduces pain by stimulating sensory and pain signaling nerves.