Physical Therapy Jargon

noun the branch of science concerned with the bodily structure of humans, animals, and other living organisms, especially as revealed by dissection and the separation of parts

• The study of human anatomy is essential for medical students.
• I find learning about anatomy fascinating.
• I aced my anatomy exam, no sweat!
• The anatomy of a successful business includes strong leadership and innovation.

noun a condition of being distended, especially an abnormal swelling or increase in size

• The doctor noted the presence of abdominal distension in the patient's physical examination.
• She complained of feeling bloated and experiencing distension after eating a large meal.
• I can't believe how much distension I have after all that junk food.
• The distension of the truth in his story was evident as inconsistencies began to surface.

noun the pattern of steps of a horse or other quadruped

• The physical therapist observed the patient's gait to assess any abnormalities.
• She noticed his awkward gait as he walked across the room.
• His gait was so off, it looked like he was doing a funny dance.
• The politician's confident gait as he entered the room showed his readiness to take charge.

verb to exert (oneself) too much or to an excessive degree

• It is important not to overexert yourself while exercising to prevent injury.
• Don't overexert yourself at the gym or you'll be too sore to move tomorrow.
• I always end up overexerting at work and then I'm too tired to do anything else.
• She overexerted herself trying to please everyone and ended up feeling burnt out.

noun the combination of two words 'pain' and 'killer' used together to refer to a type of medication

• The doctor prescribed a strong pain killer to manage the patient's chronic back pain.
• I always keep a pain killer in my bag just in case I get a headache.
• I need to pop a pain killer before this headache gets any worse.
• Music has always been my pain killer during tough times.

adjective characterized by or requiring a sitting posture

• The doctor advised the patient to avoid a sedentary lifestyle to prevent health issues.
• I need to stop being so sedentary and start moving around more.
• Sitting around all day is not cool, I need to be less sedentary.
• Her mind was like a sedentary pond, stagnant and devoid of new ideas.

noun a sudden, sharp pain or emotion

• She felt a twinge of pain in her shoulder after lifting the heavy box.
• I get a twinge in my knee whenever it's about to rain.
• Every time I see her, I get this weird twinge in my stomach.
• As she watched her ex-boyfriend with his new girlfriend, a twinge of jealousy crept into her heart.

noun The back limb of a four-legged animal, such as a hind leg of a dog or a cat.

• The hindlimb of the frog is used for jumping and swimming.
• The back leg of the frog helps it hop around.
• The frog's booty is powered by its hindlimbs.
• Just like a hindlimb propels a frog forward, determination propels us towards our goals.

verb to turn or rotate (the hand or foot) so that the palm or sole is facing downward or inward

• It is important to assess the degree of pronation in patients with foot problems.
• My physical therapist told me I pronate too much when I run.
• Dude, you pronate like crazy when you walk!
• She tends to pronate towards negative thinking when faced with challenges.

adjective relating to or affecting the position of the body

• The physical therapist assessed the patient's postural alignment during the session.
• She always reminds me to watch my postural when sitting at my desk.
• I need to work on my postural game if I want to improve my tennis skills.
• His postural demeanor exuded confidence and authority in the boardroom.

noun a treatment that involves the use of extreme cold to freeze and destroy abnormal tissue, such as tumors

• Cryotherapy is a medical treatment that involves exposing the body to extremely cold temperatures for therapeutic purposes.
• I tried cryotherapy last week and it was so cold but refreshing at the same time.
• I heard cryotherapy is like being in a freezer for your whole body, but it's supposed to be good for you.
• After a long day at work, a hot shower feels like cryotherapy for the soul.