List Of Physical Therapy Abbreviations
Physical therapy is the clinical practice focused on finding ways in which patients can overcome movement problems. The patient as a result, can maximize his or her quality of life. There are a number of different individuals involved with this type of therapy, including the physicians, physical therapist, other health care professionals, the patient, and their family and friends. The professional physical therapist typically helps patients to overcome movement difficulties related to the skeletal and muscular system. There are also other specialty areas in physical therapy that call for the services of a physical therapist.
One of these areas of specialty is the cardiopulmonary field. Physical therapists who solely work in this area will help patients who have undergone either pulmonary or cardiac surgeries. The physical therapist work personally with the patient and the physician help the patient to increase their functional independence, and to increase their heart and lung endurance after the surgical procedure.
The physical therapist need to have high communication skills as well as a service mentality in order to communicate with their patients and their families. Physical therapy jobs are involved in identifying and improving the quality of life and movement within the spheres of treatment, prevention, promotion and rehabilitation. By studying the patient medical history and bodily examination reports, the physical therapists establish a treatment procedure for the patients. To become a physical therapist people need to have special skill, education and thorough knowledge in the field. There are a number of abbreviations are generally used which are most specific to the field of physical therapy. Often these terms or abbreviations can be very much confusing to other health care professionals and students starting their training in physical therapy. Physical therapists generally use these physical therapeutic or medical abbreviations in their note or prescription writing. To the beginners or non-trained physical therapists, these abbreviations can often be perplexing. There is a list has been published for the help of these non medical people to make out the abbreviations easily. Following the list of commonly used therapy abbreviations people can understand their therapist's note by themselves!
A
a- before
AAROM- active assistive range of motion
Abd- abduction
ACJ- acromioclavicular joint
ACL- anterior cruciate ligament
Add- adduction
ADL- activities of daily living
AFO- ankle foot orthosis
AKA- above knee amputation
Amb- ambulation
AROM- active range of motion
B
B- bilateral
BID- twice a day
BKA- below knee amputation
C
C- with
CGA- contact guard assist
CKC- closed kinetic chain
CP- cold pack
CPM- continuous passive motion
CTx- cervical traction
D
DJD- degenerative disc disease
DF- dorsiflexion
E
E Stim- electrical stimulation
ER- external rotation
Ex- exercise
Ev- eversion
F
Flex- flexion
FIM score- functional independence level
FWB- full weight bearing
Fx- fracture
G
GHJ- glenohumeral joint
H
HEP- home exercise program
H/o- history of
HOB- head of bed
HP- hot packs
HVGS- high voltage galvantic stimulation
Hx- history
I
I- independent
Inv- inversion
IR- internal rotation
ITB- iliotibial band
K
KAFO- knee ankle foot orthosis
L
LAQ- long arc quad
LBQC- large base quad cane
LCL- lateral collateral ligament
LE- lower extremity
LTG- long term goals
M
MCL- medial collateral ligament
MFR- myofascial release
Mm- muscle
MMT- manual muscle test
Mobs- mobilization
N
NWB- non weight bearing
NDT- neuro developmental technique
O
OKC- open kinetic chain
P
PCL- posterior cruciate ligament
PF- plantar flexion
PFS- patellofemoral syndrome
PNF- proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation
PMHx- past medical history
Pro- pronation
PROM- passive range of motion
PT- physical therapist
PTA- physical therapy assistant
PWB- partial weight bearing
Q
Q- every
QC- quad cane
QD- every day
QID- four times a day
R
RICE- rest,ice,compression,elevation ROM- range of motion
Rot- rotation
Rx- treatment
S
SAC- short arc quad
SB- side bending
SBA- stand by assist
SBQC- small base quad cane
SC- straight cane
SLR- straight leg raise
STM- soft tissue mobilization
Sup- supination
T
TENS- transcutaneous electrical stimulation
THA- total hip arthroplasty
Ther Ex- therapeutic exercise
TID- three times a day
TKA- total knee arthroplasty
TLSO- thoracic lumbar sacral orthosis
TTWB- toe touch weight bearing
U
UE- upper extremity
US- ultra sound
W
W/c- wheel chair
WFL- within functional limit
WNL- within normal limits
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