Physical Therapy Glossary

noun the action of surgically removing a limb or other part of the body

• The doctor recommended amputation as the only solution to prevent the infection from spreading.
• I heard that John had to undergo amputation after his accident.
• Losing a limb is no joke, it's like getting a forced amputation.
• She felt like a part of her soul underwent amputation when she lost her best friend.

noun a structure or body part that is located towards the front or forward position

adjective referring to the front or forward position of something

• The anterior part of the brain is responsible for higher cognitive functions.
• I bumped into the anterior wall and hurt my shoulder.
• I always sit in the anterior row in class to avoid distractions.
• The anterior approach to problem-solving involves looking at the issue from a different angle.

verb to force something out of its usual position

adjective having been forced out of its usual position

• The patient suffered a dislocated shoulder after a fall.
• I heard Sarah dislocated her knee during the soccer game.
• Dude, I totally dislocated my thumb trying to open that jar.
• The team's chemistry was dislocated after the star player was traded.

noun the state of not being able to move or be moved easily

• The patient experienced immobility due to a spinal cord injury.
• She felt frustrated by her immobility after breaking her leg.
• I hate being stuck in immobility, it's so boring!
• His fear of failure resulted in a state of immobility, preventing him from taking any risks.

noun a sharp tingling sensation in a limb experiencing reduced circulation

conjunction used to connect the two separate sensations of 'pins' and 'needles'

• After sitting in an awkward position for too long, I started to experience pins and needles in my legs.
• I must have slept on my arm funny because now I have pins and needles.
• I hate that feeling of pins and needles when your foot falls asleep.
• As the suspense built during the movie, I felt like I was on pins and needles waiting to see what would happen next.

noun the process of regaining strength or health

• The patient is currently undergoing a period of rest and recuperation after the surgery.
• After the marathon, I took a week off for some much-needed recuperation.
• I'm feeling so drained, I need some serious R&R for some good old-fashioned recuperation.
• After a long week of work, a relaxing weekend is like a form of mental and emotional recuperation.

noun a rounded prominence or protuberance, especially a bony bump on a bone

• The tuberosity of the tibia is an important anatomical landmark for orthopedic surgeons.
• I think I may have injured the tuberosity on my elbow from that fall.
• My tuberosity is killing me after that intense workout at the gym.
• The tuberosity of her personality was her unwavering determination.

noun a gradual process of deterioration or weakening

verb to gradually reduce or diminish in strength or effectiveness

• Over time, the constant friction can wear down the surface of the metal.
• If you keep using that old pair of shoes, they're going to wear down pretty quickly.
• I need to get some new tires for my car, these ones are starting to wear down.
• The stress of work and family responsibilities can wear down even the strongest individuals.

noun a person who has hypermobility

adjective describing a person or joint that has an unusually large range of motion

• Individuals with hypermobile joints may experience joint pain and instability.
• My cousin is hypermobile and can bend her fingers in ways that seem impossible.
• Dang, that girl is so hypermobile, she can practically do the splits without warming up!
• His hypermobile mind was always racing with new ideas and possibilities.

noun a period of time during which a disease is in remission or inactive

• The patient's condition worsened due to abasis of the nervous system.
• She couldn't move properly because of abasis in her legs.
• I feel like my brain is experiencing abasis today.
• The team's abasis in strategy led to their defeat in the match.