Physical Therapy

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.