Physiotherapists use English to assess patients, explain exercises, write treatment notes and work with doctors and the rest of the rehabilitation team. This glossary covers the words you will meet every week, from range of motion and gait to manual therapy, electrotherapy and neurological rehabilitation, together with the plain phrases you need to give patients clear instructions. Each entry explains what the word means, how physiotherapists really use it and how it is said in Turkish.
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41 core terms
200 example sentences
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Assessment and Examination
assessment
noun
Meaning
The process of collecting information about a patient's problem through questions, observation, measurement and tests, in order to understand it and plan treatment.
Where you use it
Every new patient starts with an initial assessment, usually split into a subjective part (the patient's story) and an objective part (the physical examination). Physiotherapists carry out, complete and document an assessment and later do a reassessment to check progress. The word is also the A in SOAP notes: your interpretation of the findings.
Examples
Your first appointment will be a full assessment, so please bring a pair of shorts.
I completed the initial assessment and found reduced shoulder movement and weakness.
Common phrases
initial assessment · carry out an assessment · falls assessment · reassessment · assessment findings
The position in which a person holds their body when sitting, standing or lying, especially the alignment of the head, shoulders, spine and hips.
Where you use it
Used with patients and in notes. Physiotherapists observe, assess and correct posture and may describe it as forward head posture or slumped sitting. Many now avoid calling a posture simply 'good' or 'bad' and talk instead about changing position often.
Examples
If you sit at your desk all day, try to change your posture every half an hour.
On observation, he stands with a forward head posture and rounded shoulders.
Common phrases
poor posture · correct your posture · postural assessment · sitting posture · forward head posture
An increase in the size of a part of the body caused by extra fluid in the tissues, often after an injury, an operation or inflammation.
Where you use it
The everyday word that both patients and staff use; the medical word is oedema (US edema). Physiotherapists measure swelling with a tape measure, note whether it is getting better or worse and give advice such as raising the limb. Swelling 'goes down' or 'settles'.
Examples
The swelling around your knee has gone down a lot since last week.
There is mild swelling over the outside of the ankle.
Common phrases
reduce swelling · the swelling goes down · mild swelling · measure swelling · joint swelling
A simple tool that asks patients to rate how strong their pain is, most often as a number from 0 (no pain) to 10 (the worst pain imaginable).
Where you use it
Used at the first visit and at every follow-up. The 0–10 version is the numeric rating scale (NRS); the visual analogue scale (VAS) uses a 10 cm line. Physiotherapists ask 'On a scale of 0 to 10, how bad is your pain?' and record answers such as 'NRS 6/10 at rest'.
Examples
On a pain scale of zero to ten, where would you put your pain today?
Her score on the pain scale dropped from 7 to 3 after two weeks.
Common phrases
on a scale of 0 to 10 · pain score · numeric rating scale · visual analogue scale · rate your pain
Examining the body by feeling it carefully with the hands, to find tenderness, swelling, muscle tightness, temperature changes or the position of structures.
Where you use it
Part of the objective assessment. Physiotherapists palpate a joint, tendon or muscle and record findings such as 'tender on palpation of the lateral epicondyle'. Before palpating, it is polite to warn the patient: 'I'm just going to feel around your knee'.
Examples
On palpation there is tenderness over the Achilles tendon.
Palpation of the lower back muscles showed increased tone on the left.
Common phrases
on palpation · tender on palpation · palpate a muscle · soft tissue palpation
Pain or discomfort that appears when a particular area of the body is pressed or touched.
Where you use it
A finding the physiotherapist detects by palpation, unlike pain the patient feels without being touched. Notes say 'tenderness over the medial joint line' or 'point tenderness'. The adjective is tender: 'Is it tender here?'
Examples
There is marked tenderness over the outside of the elbow.
Tell me if you feel any tenderness when I press here.
Common phrases
point tenderness · marked tenderness · tenderness on palpation · joint line tenderness
The first part of a physiotherapy assessment, in which the patient describes their problem, symptoms, history and goals in their own words.
Where you use it
Also called the subjective examination or simply 'the subjective'. It covers the history of the problem, how the pain behaves, past medical history, medication, social situation and red flag questions. It is the S in SOAP notes. Physiotherapists 'take' or 'do' a subjective.
Examples
During the subjective assessment she mentioned that the pain wakes her at night.
Spend more time on the subjective assessment; the history often points you to the diagnosis.
Common phrases
take a subjective history · subjective findings · do the subjective · subjective examination
The part of a physiotherapy assessment in which the physiotherapist observes, measures and tests the patient's body, for example movement, strength and special tests.
Where you use it
Also called the objective examination or physical examination. It follows the subjective part and includes observation, range of motion, muscle strength, palpation, neurological tests and special tests. It is the O in SOAP notes. Findings should be measurable so that they can be compared later.
Examples
The objective assessment showed weak hip muscles and reduced ankle movement.
I'll start the objective assessment by watching you walk.
Common phrases
objective findings · objective examination · carry out an objective assessment · objective markers
A measuring tool with two arms joined at a hinge, used to measure the angle of a joint in degrees.
Where you use it
Physiotherapists line up the centre of the goniometer with the joint and its arms with the bones, then read the angle. They record results such as 'knee flexion 0–115° measured with a goniometer'. Smartphone apps and inclinometers are sometimes used instead. Measuring joint angles is called goniometry.
Examples
Can you pass me the goniometer? I want to measure his elbow extension.
We measure knee range with a goniometer at every session after the operation.
Common phrases
measure with a goniometer · goniometer reading · long-arm goniometer · goniometry
A way of grading muscle strength by asking the patient to move or hold against gravity and against the physiotherapist's resistance, usually scored from 0 to 5.
Where you use it
Often shortened to MMT. The common 0–5 grading is also called the Oxford or MRC scale: 0 means no contraction, 3 means full movement against gravity and 5 means normal strength. Notes read like 'quadriceps 4/5'.
Examples
Manual muscle testing showed 3/5 strength in the right ankle dorsiflexors.
For manual muscle testing, keep your arm here and don't let me push it down.
Common phrases
perform manual muscle testing · Oxford scale · MRC scale · grade 4 out of 5
A standard test or questionnaire used to measure a patient's condition at the start of treatment and again later, to show whether things are changing.
Where you use it
Physiotherapists choose validated outcome measures, such as the Oswestry Disability Index for back pain, the Berg Balance Scale or the Timed Up and Go test, and repeat them at reassessment and discharge. Services also use outcome measures to report their results.
Examples
We record two outcome measures at the first visit and repeat them at discharge.
The Timed Up and Go is a quick outcome measure of mobility and falls risk.
Common phrases
validated outcome measure · patient-reported outcome measure · use an outcome measure · baseline score
A specific physical test used to check whether a particular structure, such as a ligament or tendon, is likely to be the source of the problem.
Where you use it
Part of the objective assessment. Examples include the Lachman test for the anterior cruciate ligament and the straight leg raise for nerve irritation. Physiotherapists say a test is positive or negative, and know that no single special test is perfect, so they combine results with the history.
Examples
Special tests for the meniscus were negative.
Which special test would you use to check the rotator cuff?
Common phrases
positive special test · perform special tests · special tests were negative · orthopaedic special tests
Signs or symptoms that suggest a possibly serious medical problem, such as cancer, infection, fracture or nerve compression, which needs urgent medical review.
Where you use it
Physiotherapists screen for red flags in every subjective assessment, for example unexplained weight loss, constant night pain, a history of cancer, or numbness around the saddle area with bladder changes. If red flags are present, the patient is referred on for medical review. 'Yellow flags' are psychological and social factors that can slow recovery.
Examples
I screened for red flags and found nothing worrying.
Night sweats and weight loss are red flags, so I've asked the GP to see him today.
Common phrases
screen for red flags · red flag questions · no red flags · yellow flags
Pain felt in a different part of the body from where the problem actually is, for example hip problems felt in the knee.
Where you use it
Physiotherapists think of referred pain when the painful area does not behave like the true source. Well-known examples are neck problems felt around the shoulder blade and heart pain felt in the left arm. It is different from radicular pain, which comes from an irritated nerve root.
Examples
His knee pain might be referred pain from the hip, so I'll check his hip too.
Referred pain from the neck often appears around the shoulder blade.
Common phrases
referred pain from the hip · pattern of referred pain · somatic referred pain · refer pain into the leg
The quality of resistance the physiotherapist feels at the very end of a joint's passive movement, described as hard, firm, soft or empty.
Where you use it
A manual assessment term. Normal end feels include hard (bone meeting bone, as in elbow extension), soft (tissues pressing together, as in knee flexion) and firm (capsule or ligaments being stretched). An abnormal end feel, such as an empty one where pain stops the movement before any resistance is felt, can point to a problem.
Examples
Passive shoulder rotation had a firm end feel with no pain.
An empty end feel is unusual and worth discussing with a senior colleague.
Common phrases
firm end feel · hard end feel · empty end feel · assess end feel
How far a joint can move in each direction, usually measured in degrees from a starting position.
Where you use it
One of the most common phrases in notes and handovers, often written ROM. Range of motion can be full, limited, reduced, painful or restored. Physiotherapists measure it with a goniometer and talk about active and passive range. Exercises that keep a joint moving are called range of motion exercises.
Examples
Her knee range of motion has improved from 0–90 to 0–120 degrees.
Shoulder range of motion is limited in flexion and external rotation.
Usage note
Say 'range of motion' or 'range of movement' (common in the UK), not 'motion range'. The last part of a movement is called 'end of range'.
Common phrases
full range of motion · limited range of motion · measure range of motion · range of motion exercises · regain range of motion
A bending movement that makes the angle between two parts of the body smaller, such as bending the elbow or the knee.
Where you use it
Used constantly in notes, measurements and reports, together with extension: 'knee flexion is 110 degrees', 'pain on lumbar flexion'. With patients, physiotherapists use everyday words instead: 'bend your knee', 'bend forward'. The verb is flex.
Examples
Hip flexion is limited to 90 degrees and painful at the end of range.
Bring your knee towards your chest to work on hip flexion.
Usage note
At the ankle, the up and down movements have their own names: dorsiflexion (toes up) and plantarflexion (toes pointed down).
Common phrases
knee flexion · hip flexion · lumbar flexion · pain on flexion · full flexion
A straightening movement that makes the angle between two parts of the body larger, such as straightening the knee or leaning the trunk backwards.
Where you use it
The partner word of flexion. Physiotherapists write notes such as 'knee extension lacks 10 degrees' (it cannot fully straighten) or 'lumbar extension eases the pain'. With patients they say 'straighten your knee' or 'lean back'.
Examples
Getting full knee extension back is the first goal after this operation.
Lying on his front and pushing up into extension seems to ease his back pain.
Usage note
'Extension lag' means the knee can be fully straightened passively, but the patient cannot fully straighten it with their own muscles. It is common after knee surgery.
Common phrases
full extension · knee extension · lumbar extension · lack of extension · extension lag
A movement that takes a limb away from the midline of the body, such as lifting the arm out to the side.
Where you use it
Used in notes and measurements: 'shoulder abduction 0–160 degrees', 'hip abduction strength 4/5'. With patients, say 'lift your arm out to the side'. A muscle that does this movement is an abductor, and the verb is abduct.
Examples
He has pain between 70 and 120 degrees of shoulder abduction.
Side-lying hip abduction is a simple way to strengthen the gluteal muscles.
Usage note
Because abduction and adduction sound almost the same, many clinicians spell out the start when speaking: 'A-B-duction' and 'A-D-duction'.
A movement that brings a limb back towards or across the midline of the body, such as bringing the arm down to the side.
Where you use it
The opposite of abduction, used for the shoulder, hip, fingers and toes; squeezing the legs together, for example, is hip adduction. The muscles that do this at the hip are the adductors, a common place for groin strains in football.
Examples
Squeeze the ball between your knees to work on hip adduction.
Adduction strength was reduced on the injured side.
A turning movement of a part of the body around its own long axis, such as turning the head or turning the arm inwards or outwards.
Where you use it
Physiotherapists usually say which direction: internal (medial) or external (lateral) rotation for the shoulder and hip, and rotation to the left or right for the neck and trunk. A typical note is 'cervical rotation to the right is limited and painful'.
Examples
In frozen shoulder, external rotation is usually the most limited movement.
Turn your head to the right as far as you can. Good, rotation looks normal.
How far a joint can move when the patient moves it with their own muscles, without any help.
Where you use it
Written AROM in notes. Physiotherapists usually test active range first ('show me how far you can lift your arm') and then compare it with passive range. If active range is much smaller than passive range, weakness or pain may be limiting the movement.
Examples
Active range of motion of the knee is 5 to 100 degrees.
Her active range of motion is much less than her passive range, so we think weakness is the main problem.
Common phrases
active range of motion exercises · full active range · measure active range · active-assisted range
How far a joint can move when someone else, usually the physiotherapist, moves it while the patient's muscles stay relaxed.
Where you use it
Written PROM in notes. It shows how much movement the joint and soft tissues allow, whatever the muscle strength. Physiotherapists feel the end feel while testing it, and use passive range of motion exercises with patients who cannot move a limb themselves, for example after a stroke or in intensive care.
Examples
Relax your arm and let me move it. I'm checking your passive range of motion.
Passive range of motion exercises help to stop the paralysed arm from getting stiff.
Common phrases
passive range of motion exercises · full passive range · test passive range · passive movement
The body's sense of where its joints and limbs are and how they are moving, even with the eyes closed.
Where you use it
Physiotherapists talk about proprioception after ankle and knee injuries, which can reduce it, and train it with balance work such as standing on one leg or on a wobble board. The adjective is proprioceptive: 'proprioceptive training'.
Examples
After repeated ankle sprains, her proprioception on that side is poor.
Wobble boards are a good way to train proprioception.
Common phrases
proprioceptive training · poor proprioception · improve proprioception · joint position sense
An injury to a ligament, the strong band of tissue that joins bones together, usually caused by suddenly twisting or overstretching a joint.
Where you use it
Most often heard as 'ankle sprain' or 'sprained ankle'. Sprains are graded from 1 (mild stretching) to 3 (a complete tear). Both patients and clinicians use the word, and it is also a verb: 'I sprained my wrist'.
Examples
She has a grade 2 sprain of the lateral ankle ligaments.
I sprained my ankle playing football last weekend.
Usage note
A sprain affects a ligament; a strain affects a muscle or tendon. Turkish speakers often mix them up because both can be translated as 'zorlanma'.
An injury to a muscle or tendon in which fibres are overstretched or torn, often during a quick, powerful movement.
Where you use it
Common in sport and in physiotherapy notes: hamstring strain, calf strain, back strain. Patients also say 'I pulled a muscle'. Strains are graded 1 to 3 by severity. The verb is 'to strain a muscle'.
Examples
He felt a sharp pain in his thigh while sprinting, which sounds like a hamstring strain.
Mild muscle strains often settle within a few weeks.
A feeling that a joint or muscle is tight and hard to move, often worse after rest or first thing in the morning.
Where you use it
Patients describe it as 'my back feels stiff' or 'my knee is stiff in the morning'. Physiotherapists ask how long morning stiffness lasts, because long-lasting morning stiffness can point to an inflammatory condition rather than wear and tear. The adjective is stiff.
Examples
How long does the stiffness last when you get up in the morning?
Some joint stiffness after the plaster cast comes off is normal and usually improves with exercise.
Pain felt in the lower part of the back, between the bottom of the ribs and the buttocks, sometimes spreading into the leg.
Where you use it
One of the most common reasons people see a physiotherapist; notes often say LBP. Most cases are called non-specific low back pain, which means no single structure can be identified as the cause. Physiotherapists screen for red flags and usually encourage patients to stay active.
Examples
He has had low back pain on and off for about five years.
Most people with acute low back pain improve within a few weeks.
Common phrases
chronic low back pain · acute low back pain · non-specific low back pain · suffer from low back pain
A long-term joint condition in which the cartilage covering the ends of the bones gradually wears down, causing pain, stiffness and sometimes swelling.
Where you use it
Most common in the knees, hips and hands, and often shortened to OA. Patients may call it 'wear and tear' or simply 'arthritis'. Physiotherapy focuses on exercise, education and, where needed, walking aids; strengthening and staying active are central to most guidelines.
Examples
The X-rays show moderate osteoarthritis in both knees.
Exercise is one of the core treatments for hip osteoarthritis.
Usage note
Do not confuse osteoarthritis with rheumatoid arthritis, an autoimmune disease, or with osteoporosis, a loss of bone density.
Common phrases
knee osteoarthritis · hip osteoarthritis · severe osteoarthritis · manage osteoarthritis
A break or crack in a bone, caused by an injury or, when bones are weak, by a smaller force than usual.
Where you use it
Clinicians say fracture; patients usually say 'broken bone'. Before starting rehab, physiotherapists need to know how the fracture was treated (a cast, or surgery with plates and screws) and what weight-bearing is allowed. Common phrases: 'fractured neck of femur', 'wrist fracture', 'the fracture has healed'.
Examples
She fractured her wrist when she slipped on the ice.
After a hip fracture, getting the patient up early is a priority.
Common phrases
hip fracture · wrist fracture · fracture healing · stress fracture · fractured neck of femur
The body's natural response to injury or infection, which brings redness, heat, swelling and pain to the affected area.
Where you use it
Physiotherapists explain it to patients as a normal part of healing after an injury. The adjectives are inflamed ('the tendon is inflamed') and inflammatory ('inflammatory arthritis'). The ending '-itis', as in bursitis, means inflammation.
Examples
Some inflammation after a sprain is normal and part of healing.
The joint shows signs of inflammation: it is warm, red and swollen.
Usage note
Turkish 'iltihap' is often used for both inflammation and infection, but in English an infection (caused by germs) and inflammation (the body's response) are different things.
Describes a problem that started recently and suddenly, such as a new injury or a sudden attack of pain.
Where you use it
Used to describe the stage of an injury or condition: acute injury, acute low back pain, the acute phase. Physiotherapists choose different treatments for the acute stage, when tissues are still reacting, than for later stages. Acute does not mean 'very severe'; it means new and sudden.
Examples
In the acute stage we focus on protecting the ankle and controlling the swelling.
He was admitted with an acute episode of back pain.
Describes a condition or pain that has lasted a long time, usually more than three months, or that keeps coming back.
Where you use it
Physiotherapists talk about chronic pain, chronic conditions and chronic low back pain. Chronic does not mean severe; it refers to how long the problem has lasted. Treatment of chronic pain usually focuses on activity, pacing and understanding pain rather than on finding one damaged structure.
Examples
She has had chronic neck pain for over two years.
Our chronic pain group meets once a week for exercise and education.
A painful tendon problem, often linked to more load than the tendon could cope with, which leads to pain and reduced function.
Where you use it
The preferred modern term, often replacing 'tendinitis' because inflammation is not always the main process. Common sites are the Achilles, patellar, gluteal and rotator cuff tendons. Physiotherapy usually centres on gradually loading the tendon with exercise.
Examples
He developed Achilles tendinopathy after increasing his running too quickly.
Rest alone rarely fixes tendinopathy; the tendon needs the right amount of load.
Usage note
You will still hear 'tendinitis' (also spelled 'tendonitis') from patients and some doctors; they usually mean the same painful tendon problem.
A group of four muscles and their tendons around the shoulder joint, which keep the top of the arm bone centred in the joint and help to rotate and lift the arm.
Where you use it
The four muscles are supraspinatus, infraspinatus, teres minor and subscapularis. Physiotherapists treat rotator cuff tendinopathy, tears and repairs after surgery, and often prescribe rotator cuff strengthening with a resistance band. Patients may just say 'my shoulder'.
Examples
The scan showed a small rotator cuff tear.
These rotator cuff exercises will help you control your shoulder better.
A condition in which the soft inner part of a spinal disc pushes out through its outer layer and may press on a nearby nerve.
Where you use it
Also called a disc herniation, disc prolapse or, informally, a 'slipped disc'. Physiotherapists often explain that many herniated discs seen on scans cause no pain and that many painful ones improve over time. It can cause sciatica if it irritates a nerve root. The US spelling is disk.
Examples
The MRI shows a herniated disc at L5/S1 pressing on the S1 nerve root.
Many people with a herniated disc get better without surgery.
Usage note
'Slipped disc' is common in everyday speech, but discs do not actually slip, so avoid the phrase in clinical notes.
Pain that travels from the lower back or buttock down the back of the leg along the path of the sciatic nerve, sometimes with numbness or tingling.
Where you use it
Patients use the word for almost any leg pain, so physiotherapists check exactly where the pain goes and whether there are neurological signs. Clinicians may say lumbar radicular pain instead. A common cause is a herniated disc irritating a nerve root, and pain spreading below the knee is a typical feature.
Examples
I've had sciatica down my left leg for three weeks.
The straight leg raise reproduced his sciatica at 40 degrees.
Common phrases
suffer from sciatica · sciatica down the leg · sciatic nerve · radicular pain
An operation in which a damaged joint, most often a hip or knee, is replaced with an artificial one made of metal, plastic or ceramic.
Where you use it
Common phrases are total knee replacement (TKR) and total hip replacement (THR); surgeons may say arthroplasty. Physiotherapists usually get patients walking soon after surgery and work on range of motion, strength and confidence. After some hip replacements, patients follow movement precautions for a period.
Examples
After a joint replacement, most patients are up and walking within a day or two.
Our joint replacement class teaches patients their exercises before the operation.
Common phrases
total knee replacement · total hip replacement · joint replacement surgery · hip precautions
A condition in which the shoulder capsule becomes thick and tight, causing pain and a gradual, severe loss of movement, especially rotation.
Where you use it
The medical name is adhesive capsulitis. It is more common in middle age and in people with diabetes. It often moves through painful, stiff and recovery stages ('freezing, frozen, thawing') and can take a year or more to settle. Physiotherapists explain the natural course and help with pain and movement.
Examples
With her frozen shoulder, she can't reach behind her back to do up her bra.
Frozen shoulder usually gets better on its own, but it can take a long time.
A sudden, involuntary tightening of a muscle that can be painful and make movement difficult.
Where you use it
Patients often say their back has 'gone into spasm' or describe it as a cramp. Physiotherapists may feel protective muscle spasm around an injured joint, which guards it against movement. In neurology, spasms can also be part of spasticity.
Examples
He bent down to lift his son and his back muscles went into spasm.
There is muscle spasm around the neck, so movement is very limited.
Common phrases
go into spasm · protective muscle spasm · back spasm · ease the spasm
A loss of muscle size and strength, most often because a muscle has not been used, for example after time in a cast or in bed.
Where you use it
Physiotherapists talk about disuse atrophy, quadriceps atrophy after a knee injury and muscle wasting in some neurological conditions. Patients more often say 'my leg has got thinner'. Measuring the circumference of both limbs and comparing the sides helps to show it.
Examples
Six weeks in a cast has left some atrophy in his calf.
We'll work on the quadriceps atrophy with strengthening and electrical stimulation.
Damage to part of the brain caused when its blood supply is blocked or a blood vessel bursts, often leading to weakness and problems with speech or balance.
Where you use it
One of the main conditions in neurological physiotherapy. Doctors distinguish ischaemic stroke (a blocked artery) from haemorrhagic stroke (bleeding). Older notes may say CVA (cerebrovascular accident). Weakness usually affects the side of the body opposite the damaged side of the brain.
Examples
She had a stroke three weeks ago and has weakness in her left arm and leg.
On the stroke unit, physiotherapists start working with patients within a day or two of admission.
Usage note
Turkish 'felç' can mean a stroke or paralysis. In English, stroke is the event in the brain; paralysis or weakness is one of its possible results.
Common phrases
have a stroke · stroke rehabilitation · stroke unit · stroke survivor · acute stroke
The ability to keep the body steady and upright, whether standing still or moving, without falling.
Where you use it
Physiotherapists assess, challenge and improve balance, for example with single-leg standing or the Berg Balance Scale. Static balance means staying steady in one position; dynamic balance means staying steady while moving. Patients often say 'I feel unsteady on my feet'.
Examples
Her balance is poor, so she should walk with a frame for now.
Try standing on one leg while you brush your teeth to practise your balance.
Common phrases
balance training · poor balance · static balance · dynamic balance · lose your balance
Increased stiffness and tightness in muscles caused by damage to the brain or spinal cord, which gets stronger the faster the muscle is stretched.
Where you use it
Seen after stroke and spinal cord injury and in multiple sclerosis and cerebral palsy. Physiotherapists assess it, often with the Modified Ashworth Scale, and manage it with positioning, stretching, splints and exercise, sometimes alongside medication. Use the noun about patients: the adjective 'spastic' is offensive when used about people.
Examples
Spasticity in his calf is making it hard to put his heel on the floor.
We measured elbow flexor spasticity with the Modified Ashworth Scale.
Usage note
Never describe a person as 'spastic'; it is an insult in British and American English. Say 'a patient with spasticity'.
Paralysis or severe weakness of one side of the body, most often caused by a stroke.
Where you use it
Physiotherapists name the side: right or left hemiplegia. Milder weakness of one side is called hemiparesis, although the two words are sometimes used loosely. In notes, 'the affected side' and 'the hemiplegic arm' are common. With patients, say 'weakness on your left side'.
Examples
She has a right hemiplegia following a left-sided stroke.
Support the hemiplegic shoulder on a pillow when he sits.
Common phrases
left hemiplegia · right hemiplegia · hemiplegic shoulder · affected side
The natural level of tension in a resting muscle, felt as resistance when the physiotherapist moves a relaxed limb.
Where you use it
Assessed in neurological patients. High tone (hypertonia) includes spasticity and rigidity; low tone (hypotonia) feels floppy. Notes say 'increased tone in the left upper limb'. In gyms, 'tone' means muscles looking firm and defined, which is a different, everyday meaning.
Examples
Muscle tone is increased in his right leg, especially in the calf.
Babies with low muscle tone may be late to sit and crawl.
Common phrases
increased tone · low tone · high tone · assess muscle tone
A progressive neurological condition in which the brain loses cells that make dopamine, causing slowness, stiffness, tremor and problems with balance.
Where you use it
Physiotherapists work with people with Parkinson's disease on walking, balance, falls and exercise. Typical terms are bradykinesia (slowness), rigidity, shuffling gait and freezing, when the feet suddenly seem stuck to the floor. Patients and staff often just say 'Parkinson's'. Physiotherapists often use cues, such as counting or a beat, to help with walking.
Examples
He was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease five years ago and now sometimes freezes in doorways.
Regular exercise is an important part of living well with Parkinson's disease.
Common phrases
freezing of gait · shuffling gait · cueing strategies · living with Parkinson's
A long-term condition in which the immune system damages the protective covering of nerves in the brain and spinal cord, causing symptoms such as fatigue, weakness and balance problems.
Where you use it
Usually shortened to MS. Symptoms vary widely from person to person and may come and go in relapses. Physiotherapists help with walking, balance, spasticity and fatigue, and often teach pacing. Many people with MS find that heat makes their symptoms temporarily worse.
Examples
She has relapsing multiple sclerosis and gets tired after walking short distances.
Fatigue is one of the most common symptoms of multiple sclerosis.
Common phrases
relapsing multiple sclerosis · MS fatigue · MS relapse · progressive MS
Damage to the spinal cord, from trauma or disease, that can cause loss of movement and feeling below the level of the injury.
Where you use it
Often shortened to SCI. Injuries are described by their level and by whether they are complete or incomplete. Damage in the neck can affect all four limbs (tetraplegia, also called quadriplegia); damage lower down affects the legs (paraplegia). Physiotherapists work on breathing, transfers, wheelchair skills and, where possible, walking.
Examples
He has an incomplete spinal cord injury at T10 and is starting to take steps in the parallel bars.
Rehabilitation after a spinal cord injury often takes many months.
Common phrases
complete spinal cord injury · incomplete spinal cord injury · level of injury · spinal injuries unit
The ability to use different parts of the body together smoothly and accurately, for example when reaching for a cup or walking in a straight line.
Where you use it
Physiotherapists test coordination in neurological assessments with tasks such as finger-to-nose and heel-to-shin, looking for clumsiness, shaking or overshooting the target. Problems with the cerebellum often cause poor coordination, called ataxia. Coordination is trained with repeated, task-specific practice.
Examples
Her coordination is poor on the right; she overshoots the target in the finger-to-nose test.
Throwing and catching a ball is good practice for hand-eye coordination.
The ability of the brain and nervous system to change and form new connections in response to learning, practice or injury.
Where you use it
The scientific basis of neurological rehabilitation. Physiotherapists explain it to stroke patients to show why lots of repeated, meaningful practice matters. It is also used in pain education, to explain how the nervous system can become more sensitive over time. Also called neural plasticity or brain plasticity.
Examples
Thanks to neuroplasticity, other parts of the brain can learn to take over some lost functions.
We explain neuroplasticity so that patients understand why practice is so important.
A set of exercises a patient is taught in clinic and then does alone at home, usually with written or illustrated instructions.
Where you use it
Almost every patient leaves with one, and notes often shorten it to HEP. You give, review and progress a home exercise programme, and the patient follows or sticks to it. American English spells it program. Many clinics now send exercises through an app or on a printed sheet with pictures.
Examples
I'll add two new balance exercises to your home exercise programme this week.
She hasn't been doing her home exercise programme, so her progress has been slow.
Common phrases
give a home exercise programme · review the home exercise programme · progress the home exercise programme · stick to a home exercise programme
To lengthen a muscle or other soft tissue by moving a part of the body into a position where it feels pulled, usually holding it there for some seconds.
Where you use it
Used as a verb and a noun: 'stretch your calf', 'a hamstring stretch'. Physiotherapists teach, demonstrate and prescribe stretches and tell patients what they should feel: 'a gentle stretch, not pain'. Static stretches are held still; dynamic stretches move in and out of the position.
Examples
You should feel a stretch at the back of your thigh, but no pain.
Stretch your calf against the wall and hold it for thirty seconds.
Common phrases
hamstring stretch · calf stretch · hold a stretch · gentle stretch · stretching exercises
Exercise that makes muscles stronger by asking them to work against a load, such as body weight, an elastic band or weights.
Where you use it
Mostly used before another noun: strengthening exercises, a strengthening programme, quadriceps strengthening. Physiotherapists start, progress and increase the load of strengthening work, and often explain to patients that strength takes several weeks to build.
Examples
We'll start some gentle strengthening for your hip next week.
Quadriceps strengthening is a key part of managing knee osteoarthritis.
One complete performance of an exercise movement, for example bending and straightening the knee once.
Where you use it
Almost always shortened to rep in speech: '10 reps', 'do three more reps'. Physiotherapists prescribe exercises in sets and reps, such as '3 sets of 10 reps', and change the number as the patient gets stronger.
Examples
Do ten repetitions, rest for a minute, then do another ten.
The last few repetitions should feel hard but still be controlled.
Common phrases
ten repetitions · number of repetitions · sets and reps · do more reps
A group of repetitions of an exercise done one after another without stopping, followed by a short rest.
Where you use it
Used with numbers and with reps: '3 sets of 12'. Physiotherapists write the dose of each exercise as sets and reps, sometimes with a hold time or rest period. 'Between sets' means during the rest.
Examples
Do three sets of fifteen, twice a day.
Rest for about a minute between sets.
Common phrases
three sets of ten · between sets · a set of exercises · sets and reps
The ability of the deep muscles around the trunk and pelvis to control and support the spine while the arms and legs move.
Where you use it
A popular term in back pain rehabilitation, Pilates and sport. Physiotherapists talk about core stability exercises or core strengthening, often involving the deep abdominal muscles, back muscles and pelvic floor. Its exact role in back pain is debated, so many treat it as one useful type of exercise among others.
Examples
We'll start with some gentle core stability work lying on your back.
Core stability exercises are part of her return-to-sport programme.
Exercise in which a muscle works and tightens but the joint does not move, for example pushing against a wall.
Where you use it
Often the first strengthening exercise after an injury or operation, when movement is painful or not yet allowed. A classic example is static quads: tightening the thigh to press the knee down into the bed. Isometrics are also used to ease pain in some tendon problems.
Examples
Start with isometric exercises: push your hand against the wall and hold for ten seconds.
Isometric exercise lets us strengthen the shoulder while it is still in a sling.
The step-by-step increase in the difficulty or load of an exercise programme as the patient improves.
Where you use it
Physiotherapists progress exercises by adding repetitions, weight, speed or difficulty, or by changing the position, for example from sitting to standing. The verb is progress: 'progress the patient to single-leg squats'. Progression can also simply mean getting better over time.
Examples
The next progression is to do the same exercise standing on one leg.
A slow progression of load helps the tendon adapt.
Usage note
As a verb, 'progress' is stressed on the second syllable (pro-GRESS); as a noun, on the first (PRO-gress).
Common phrases
exercise progression · progress an exercise · gradual progression · progress to
A long, stretchy rubber band used to add load to exercises; different colours usually show different levels of resistance.
Where you use it
Very common in home exercise programmes because it is cheap and easy to carry. Patients often call it by a brand name or say 'the stretchy band'. To make an exercise harder, physiotherapists move patients to a stronger band or ask them to hold the band shorter.
Examples
Loop the resistance band around the door handle and pull it towards your waist.
You can move up to the green resistance band next week.
Common phrases
resistance band exercises · a stronger band · loop the band · exercise band
Exercise and treatment carried out in a warm pool, where the water supports body weight and makes movement easier.
Where you use it
Also called aquatic therapy or pool therapy. Physiotherapists use hydrotherapy for patients who find exercise on land too painful or difficult, for example with arthritis, after surgery or with neurological conditions. Patients are checked for issues such as open wounds or infections before they use the pool.
Examples
Hydrotherapy lets her walk without pain because the water takes some of her weight.
We run hydrotherapy sessions on Tuesday and Thursday mornings.
Common phrases
hydrotherapy pool · hydrotherapy session · aquatic therapy · pool exercises
Treatment in which the physiotherapist uses their hands to move joints, apply pressure or work on muscles and other soft tissues.
Where you use it
An umbrella term for joint mobilisation, manipulation and soft tissue techniques. Physiotherapists use or apply manual therapy, usually together with exercise and advice rather than on its own. Some physiotherapists do postgraduate training and call themselves manual therapists.
Examples
We combined manual therapy for his neck with some exercises to do at home.
She's doing a postgraduate course in manual therapy.
A manual therapy technique in which the physiotherapist moves a joint slowly and repeatedly, within or towards the limit of its range, to reduce pain or stiffness.
Where you use it
Often graded I to IV in the Maitland system: small, gentle movements for pain and larger movements into stiffness. Unlike manipulation, mobilisation is slow and the patient can stop it at any time. The US spelling is mobilization. On wards, 'mobilise' also means getting a patient up and moving.
Examples
I'm going to use some joint mobilisation on your stiff ankle; tell me if it becomes painful.
Grade III joint mobilisations were applied to the right knee.
Hands-on treatment that rubs, presses and kneads muscles and other soft tissues to ease pain, tension and stiffness.
Where you use it
Physiotherapists often say 'soft tissue work' or 'soft tissue release' and use it as part of manual therapy, alongside exercise. In notes it may be written STM. It is common in sports physiotherapy, for example on tight calves or hamstrings.
Examples
We did some soft tissue massage on his calf before the stretches.
Soft tissue massage can feel uncomfortable, so tell me if the pressure is too much.
Common phrases
soft tissue work · deep tissue massage · sports massage · soft tissue release
A manual therapy technique in which a quick, small thrust is applied to a joint, often producing a popping or clicking sound.
Where you use it
Also called a high-velocity low-amplitude (HVLA) thrust, or grade V in the Maitland system. Physiotherapists need extra training to manipulate the spine and must screen for contraindications first. Patients may call it 'cracking' their back; the sound comes from gas in the joint fluid, not a bone going back into place.
Examples
I'd like to try a thoracic manipulation; you might hear a click.
Manipulation is not suitable for everyone, so we'll do some checks first.
Usage note
In everyday English 'manipulation' also means controlling people in an unfair or dishonest way, so with patients it can help to say 'a quick movement of the joint'.
A small, very tender spot in a tight band of muscle that can cause pain both where it is pressed and in another area.
Where you use it
Physiotherapists look for trigger points by palpation and may treat them with pressure, massage, stretching or dry needling. The idea is widely used in practice, although researchers still debate how trigger points should be defined. Patients often call them 'knots'.
Examples
There's an active trigger point in your upper trapezius that's sending pain up into your head.
I'll press on the trigger point for about thirty seconds.
Common phrases
active trigger point · trigger point release · trigger point pressure · dry needling
Applying adhesive tape to the skin around a joint or muscle to support it, limit movement or change how it feels during activity.
Where you use it
There are two main types: rigid sports tape, which restricts movement, for example after an ankle sprain, and elastic kinesiology tape, which stretches with the skin. Physiotherapists tape an ankle, knee or shoulder and check the skin for irritation. The verb is 'tape': 'I'll tape your ankle'.
Examples
We'll use taping to support your ankle for your first few games back.
Take the taping off if your skin starts to itch or burn.
Treatment that uses electrical energy or electrically powered devices, such as electrical stimulation, ultrasound or laser, to reduce pain, support healing or make muscles work.
Where you use it
A traditional umbrella term in physiotherapy; many textbooks now say 'electrophysical agents'. Electrotherapy is applied with machines in the clinic and is usually combined with exercise. Before using it, physiotherapists check for contraindications and explain what the patient will feel.
Examples
Electrotherapy can be a useful extra, but exercise is the main part of your treatment.
Check for contraindications before starting any electrotherapy.
Short for transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation: a small battery-powered device that sends mild electrical pulses through pads on the skin to reduce pain.
Where you use it
Pronounced as one word, 'tens'. Physiotherapists set the frequency and intensity, place the pads and teach patients how to use a TENS machine at home. Patients describe the feeling as tingling or buzzing. It is also widely used for pain during labour.
Examples
Turn the TENS up until you feel a strong but comfortable tingling.
She uses a TENS machine at home for her chronic back pain.
A treatment that sends high-frequency sound waves into body tissues through a small head moved over the skin, traditionally used to help soft tissue healing.
Where you use it
Different from diagnostic ultrasound, which makes images. Physiotherapists choose settings such as frequency (often 1 or 3 MHz) and use a gel to carry the sound waves into the tissue. Its use has fallen in many countries because research evidence for its benefits is limited.
Examples
Therapeutic ultrasound was applied to the outside of the elbow for five minutes.
Patients often ask for therapeutic ultrasound, but we explain that exercise has stronger evidence.
Common phrases
apply therapeutic ultrasound · ultrasound gel · ultrasound head · pulsed ultrasound
Treatment with cold, such as an ice pack, a cold compress or ice massage, often used to reduce pain and swelling after an injury.
Where you use it
In clinics and with patients it is usually just called 'ice' or 'icing'. Physiotherapists wrap ice in a damp cloth to protect the skin and limit how long it is applied. Reduced skin sensation and poor circulation are reasons to take extra care with cold.
Examples
We used cryotherapy after the session to help settle the swelling.
Cryotherapy is applied with a damp towel between the ice and the skin.
Treatment that warms the body tissues, for example with a hot pack, a heat pad or warm water, to ease pain, stiffness and muscle tension.
Where you use it
Often just called 'heat' in conversation: 'try some heat on your back'. In clinics, hot packs are wrapped in towels; infrared lamps and shortwave diathermy are other forms. Heat is usually used for stiffness and long-term pain rather than in the first days after an injury.
Examples
Heat therapy before your stretches can make your back feel less stiff.
We avoid heat therapy over areas where the skin has reduced sensation.
Common phrases
hot pack · apply heat · heat pad · superficial heat
A medical reason why a particular treatment should not be used for a patient, because it could cause harm.
Where you use it
Physiotherapists check contraindications before electrotherapy, manipulation, heat and some exercise. They often separate absolute contraindications (never use) from relative contraindications or precautions (use with care). The adjective is contraindicated: 'heat is contraindicated over an acutely inflamed joint'.
Examples
A cardiac pacemaker is a contraindication for some electrotherapy, so always ask first.
Are there any contraindications to manipulation in this patient?
Common phrases
absolute contraindication · relative contraindication · check for contraindications · contraindicated in
The use of electrical pulses through pads on the skin to make muscles contract, often to help strengthen weak muscles.
Where you use it
Usually shortened to NMES. It differs from TENS, which aims to reduce pain rather than make muscles contract. Common uses include quadriceps weakness after knee surgery and helping ankle movement after stroke. When it is timed to help a task such as walking, it is called functional electrical stimulation (FES).
Examples
We're using neuromuscular electrical stimulation to wake up his quadriceps after the operation.
Neuromuscular electrical stimulation can feel strange at first, because the muscle tightens on its own.
A person's ability to move around, such as getting out of bed, standing up and walking; also how freely a joint or part of the body can move.
Where you use it
On hospital wards it describes how independently a patient moves: 'mobility is independent with a stick'. In sport and gym settings it often means joint or spinal movement, as in 'hip mobility exercises'. The related verb 'mobilise' (US 'mobilize') means helping a patient get up and move, for example after surgery.
Examples
His mobility has improved, and he now walks to the bathroom with a frame.
We'll mobilise you this afternoon, just a few steps around the bed.
Common phrases
reduced mobility · independent mobility · mobility aid · improve mobility · hip mobility
The way a person walks, including the pattern of their steps, their speed and balance, and how the legs and arms move.
Where you use it
A clinical word; patients just say 'walking'. Physiotherapists observe, analyse and retrain gait and describe it in notes, for example 'antalgic gait' (limping to avoid pain) or 'shuffling gait' in Parkinson's disease. A gait cycle runs from one heel strike to the next heel strike of the same foot.
Examples
Gait analysis showed she was not putting full weight through her right leg.
Putting some or all of your body weight through a leg (or arm), especially when the amount allowed is limited after an injury or operation.
Where you use it
The surgeon usually sets the weight-bearing status, and the physiotherapist teaches the patient how to follow it. Common labels are non-weight-bearing (NWB), partial weight-bearing (PWB), weight-bearing as tolerated (WBAT) and full weight-bearing (FWB).
Examples
She is partial weight-bearing on the left leg for six weeks.
You're allowed full weight-bearing, so you can put your whole weight on that foot.
Common phrases
weight-bearing status · non-weight-bearing · partial weight-bearing · weight-bearing as tolerated · full weight-bearing
A pair of walking aids that take weight off one or both legs, held either under the armpits or with cuffs around the forearms.
Where you use it
Usually plural: 'a pair of crutches', 'on crutches'. In the UK elbow (forearm) crutches are most common, while underarm (axillary) crutches are common in the US. Physiotherapists adjust the height, teach the walking pattern and practise stairs with the patient before they go home.
Examples
You'll be on crutches for about four weeks after the operation.
Before you go home, let's practise the stairs with your crutches.
Usage note
A common way to teach stairs is 'up with the good, down with the bad': going up, the stronger leg goes first; going down, the injured leg goes first together with the crutches.
Common phrases
on crutches · a pair of crutches · elbow crutches · walk with crutches · crutch height
Moving a patient from one surface to another, for example from bed to chair, chair to toilet or wheelchair to car.
Where you use it
A key part of ward and community physiotherapy. Notes describe the level of help: 'independent transfers', 'transfers with assistance of one' or 'hoist transfer'. Physiotherapists teach safe techniques and may use equipment such as a sliding board. As a verb, 'transfer' is often stressed on the second syllable.
Examples
She can now do the transfer from bed to chair on her own.
He needs one person to help with transfers and a frame to walk.
Common phrases
bed to chair transfer · independent transfers · assisted transfer · sliding board transfer
A light metal frame with four legs, sometimes with wheels, that a person holds with both hands for support while walking.
Where you use it
British English says walking frame, frame or Zimmer frame; American English says walker. Physiotherapists assess which type suits a patient, set the height and teach a pattern such as 'frame, bad leg, good leg'. A frame with wheels is called a wheeled frame or rollator.
Examples
Move the walking frame forward first, then step in with your bad leg.
He's progressed from a walking frame to a stick.
Common phrases
walk with a frame · wheeled walking frame · Zimmer frame · frame height
Assessment and treatment aimed at reducing the chance that a person, especially an older adult, will fall and get hurt.
Where you use it
Often called falls prevention in the UK. Physiotherapists carry out falls risk assessments and run strength and balance programmes, such as the Otago exercise programme, in groups or at home. Reviewing walking aids, footwear and hazards in the home is also part of the work.
Examples
She has fallen twice this year, so we've referred her to the fall prevention class.
Strength and balance training is at the heart of most fall prevention programmes.
Common phrases
falls risk assessment · falls prevention programme · strength and balance class · reduce the risk of falls
The movement of standing up from a sitting position, practised as a daily skill and also used as a test of leg strength and balance.
Where you use it
Physiotherapists teach patients to 'shuffle forward, feet back, nose over toes, and stand up'. It is also used in outcome measures such as the 30-second chair stand test and the five times sit-to-stand test. Notes record whether it is independent, needs help or needs the arms to push.
Examples
Practise sit-to-stand from a kitchen chair ten times, three times a day.
He completed the five times sit-to-stand test in 14 seconds.
Common phrases
sit-to-stand practice · five times sit-to-stand test · 30-second chair stand · stand up from a chair
A supportive device worn on a joint or part of the body, such as the knee, ankle or back, to protect it, limit movement or reduce load.
Where you use it
The everyday word for an orthosis. Examples are a hinged knee brace after ligament surgery, an ankle brace for sport and an ankle-foot orthosis (AFO) for foot drop after stroke. Physiotherapists fit and adjust braces, explain how to wear them and agree with the surgeon when to stop using them.
Examples
Keep the knee brace locked straight when you walk for the first two weeks.
An ankle brace can help her return to volleyball with more confidence.
Usage note
In everyday English 'braces' also means the wires used to straighten teeth, and in British English the straps that hold up trousers.
Common phrases
knee brace · ankle brace · hinged brace · back brace · wear a brace
A health profession that treats injury, illness and disability with movement, exercise, hands-on techniques and advice, to help people move and function as well as possible.
Where you use it
The standard name in the UK, Ireland, Australia, New Zealand and much of Europe; in the US the usual name is physical therapy (PT). People go to physiotherapy, are referred for physiotherapy or have a course of physiotherapy. Patients and colleagues often shorten it to physio.
Examples
After the operation you'll need about six weeks of physiotherapy to get your knee moving again.
The GP referred her to physiotherapy for her shoulder pain.
Usage note
Do not translate 'fizik tedavi' word for word as 'physical treatment'. Say physiotherapy or, in American English, physical therapy.
Common phrases
refer to physiotherapy · outpatient physiotherapy · a course of physiotherapy · physiotherapy session · physiotherapy department
A qualified health professional who assesses and treats problems with movement and function, using exercise, manual therapy, education and other physical methods.
Where you use it
The everyday job title in British and Australian English; Americans say physical therapist or PT. Patients often say 'my physio'. Physiotherapists work in hospitals, private clinics, sports teams, schools and patients' homes, and many specialise in areas such as musculoskeletal, neurological or respiratory care.
Examples
The physiotherapist will see you on the ward this afternoon to get you out of bed.
I've worked as a physiotherapist in a sports clinic for five years.
Usage note
A physiotherapist is not a doctor. The Turkish 'FTR uzmanı' or 'fizik tedavi doktoru' is a rehabilitation physician (in the US, a physiatrist), so do not call that doctor a physiotherapist.
Common phrases
see a physiotherapist · senior physiotherapist · musculoskeletal physiotherapist · neuro physiotherapist · registered physiotherapist
The process of helping a person recover strength, movement and independence after an injury, illness or operation, or adapt to a lasting disability.
Where you use it
Physiotherapists plan and lead rehabilitation together with doctors, nurses, occupational therapists and others. It is often shortened to rehab, both in speech and in names such as 'rehab ward' or 'stroke rehab'. Patients are said to 'do their rehab'.
Examples
He's doing well with his rehabilitation and can now climb the stairs on his own.
Stroke rehabilitation starts on the ward as soon as the patient is medically stable.
Usage note
In everyday English 'rehab' on its own can also mean treatment for drug or alcohol addiction, so with patients 'your knee rehab' or 'rehabilitation' is clearer.
The agreed set of treatments, goals and timescales for a patient, based on the findings of the assessment.
Where you use it
Written at the end of the assessment, usually as the P in SOAP notes. Physiotherapists draw up, agree, review and adjust a treatment plan, ideally together with the patient. A good plan lists the interventions, how often the patient will be seen and when progress will be reviewed.
Examples
Let's agree on a treatment plan: two sessions a week for six weeks, plus daily exercises at home.
I've updated the treatment plan because her pain has settled.
Common phrases
agree a treatment plan · draw up a treatment plan · review the treatment plan · individual treatment plan
Treatment goals written to be Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant and Time-bound, so that progress can be checked clearly.
Where you use it
Used in rehabilitation planning and notes. Physiotherapists set or agree SMART goals with patients, such as 'walk 100 metres with a stick within three weeks'. Some versions use 'Attainable' or 'Realistic' for the A and R. Goals are usually split into short-term and long-term goals.
Examples
Let's turn 'get better' into SMART goals, like walking to the shop within four weeks.
Each patient's SMART goals are reviewed at the weekly team meeting.
Common phrases
set SMART goals · agree goals with the patient · short-term goals · long-term goals · goal setting
The basic everyday tasks people do to look after themselves, such as washing, dressing, eating, using the toilet and moving around the home.
Where you use it
Usually shortened to ADLs, said letter by letter. Physiotherapists and occupational therapists assess how independent a patient is with ADLs and set goals around them. Notes often say 'independent with ADLs' or 'needs help of one with ADLs'.
Examples
Before the stroke, he was fully independent with all activities of daily living.
Our goal is to get her managing her activities of daily living at home again.
Common phrases
independent with ADLs · help with activities of daily living · basic ADLs · functional activities
The end of a patient's care, when they leave hospital or finish a course of physiotherapy because their goals are met or treatment is no longer needed.
Where you use it
Used as a noun and a verb: 'plan for discharge', 'she was discharged home'. On wards, physiotherapists help decide whether a patient is safe for discharge. In outpatient clinics they 'discharge a patient' with a home programme and write a discharge summary.
Examples
She is safe for discharge now that she can manage the stairs.
He met all his goals, so I discharged him with a home exercise programme.
Common phrases
discharge home · discharge planning · safe for discharge · discharge summary · discharge from physiotherapy
A formal request from one health professional asking another service or specialist to see and treat a patient.
Where you use it
Patients come to physiotherapy through a referral from a GP, surgeon or consultant, and in some countries they can self-refer. Physiotherapists receive, prioritise and accept referrals, and also make onward referrals, for example back to a doctor if there are red flags. The verb is refer.
Examples
We received a referral from the orthopaedic surgeon for post-operative knee rehab.
I made a referral back to the GP because of her night pain.
Common phrases
make a referral · receive a referral · self-referral · referral letter · onward referral
A common way of organising clinical notes in four parts: Subjective, Objective, Assessment (or Analysis) and Plan.
Where you use it
Widely used by physiotherapists to document each session. S records what the patient says, O what you found, A your clinical interpretation and P what you will do next. Notes must be clear, dated, signed and free of unclear abbreviations, because they are legal records.
Examples
Please write your SOAP notes straight after each session, not at the end of the day.
According to the SOAP notes, the plan is to progress to standing exercises next week.
Common phrases
write SOAP notes · SOAP format · clinical notes · document a session
To move a joint so that the body part folds and the angle at the joint gets smaller; the everyday word for flexion.
Where you use it
The plain word physiotherapists use with patients instead of 'flex': 'bend your knee', 'bend your elbow', 'bend forward from your hips'. The past forms are bent and bent. 'Bend down' means lowering the upper body, for example to pick something up.
Examples
Lie on your back and slowly bend your knee, sliding your heel towards you.
Does it hurt when you bend down to put your socks on?
Common phrases
bend your knee · bend forward · bend down · bend and straighten
To move a joint so that the body part becomes straight and the angle at the joint gets larger; the everyday word for extension.
Where you use it
Used in instructions to patients: 'straighten your knee', 'straighten your arm', 'can you straighten it all the way?'. It is often paired with bend: 'bend and straighten your knee ten times'. 'Straighten up' means standing up tall again after bending forward.
Examples
Push the back of your knee into the bed to straighten it fully.
It hurts when I straighten up after bending over.
Common phrases
straighten your knee · straighten your arm · straighten up · bend and straighten
To keep a part of the body still in one position for a set time during an exercise or stretch, before relaxing.
Where you use it
One of the most frequent words in exercise instructions: 'hold for five seconds', 'hold it there', 'hold, and relax'. Physiotherapists include the hold time in the exercise dose, for example '10 reps, 5-second hold', and remind patients to keep breathing while they hold.
Examples
Lift your leg, hold it for five seconds, then slowly lower it.
Don't hold your breath while you hold the stretch.
Common phrases
hold for ten seconds · hold the position · hold and relax · hold time
To make a muscle work so that it becomes firm, often without moving the joint, as in the instruction 'tighten your thigh muscle'.
Where you use it
Common in patient instructions, especially for isometric and core exercises: 'tighten your tummy muscles', 'tighten your bottom', 'tighten the muscle at the front of your thigh'. Physiotherapists may also say 'squeeze' or 'engage'. The opposite instruction is 'relax' or 'let go'.
Examples
Tighten your thigh muscle so that your knee pushes down into the bed.
Can you tighten your stomach muscles without holding your breath?
Common phrases
tighten your muscles · tighten and hold · tighten your tummy · tighten and relax
An everyday expression for a prickling or tingling feeling in the skin, which can be a sign that a nerve is irritated or being pressed on.
Where you use it
Patients say it far more often than the medical word paraesthesia (US paresthesia). Physiotherapists ask exactly where patients feel pins and needles and whether it is constant, because the pattern helps show which nerve may be involved. It is usually asked about together with numbness.
Examples
Do you get any pins and needles or numbness in your hand?
He gets pins and needles in his first two toes when he sits for a long time.
Common phrases
get pins and needles · pins and needles in the hand · numbness and tingling · tingling down the arm
A period when the symptoms of a long-term condition, especially pain, suddenly get worse for a while.
Where you use it
Common in chronic pain, arthritis and back pain. Physiotherapists help patients make a flare-up plan: what to do, how to adjust exercise and when to ask for help. The phrasal verb is 'flare up': 'my back flared up after gardening'.
Examples
If you have a flare-up, do fewer exercises but don't stop moving completely.
Her knee had a flare-up after a long walk at the weekend.
Common phrases
have a flare-up · flare-up plan · manage a flare-up · flare up after
To spread activity out over time and take breaks before you get too tired or sore, instead of doing too much at once.
Where you use it
Physiotherapists say it to people with chronic pain, fatigue or MS, or during a long recovery: 'pace yourself and build up gradually'. The related noun, pacing, is a recognised self-management approach that helps people avoid a cycle of doing too much and then having to stop for days ('boom and bust').
Examples
Pace yourself: do the gardening in short spells with a rest in between.
On a good day, try to pace yourself instead of doing everything at once.
Common phrases
activity pacing · build up gradually · boom and bust cycle · take regular breaks
How well a patient follows the treatment they agreed to, for example doing their exercises regularly and in the way they were shown.
Where you use it
Physiotherapists talk about exercise adherence and look for ways to improve it, such as short programmes, clear goals and reminders. Many now prefer 'adherence' to 'compliance', because it suggests a shared decision rather than obeying orders. The verb is 'adhere to': 'adhere to the programme'.
Examples
Adherence to the home programme has been poor because of her long working hours.
A short programme with three exercises usually gets better adherence than one with ten.
Common phrases
exercise adherence · improve adherence · poor adherence · adhere to the programme
Ten questions from this glossary. Pick the right meaning for each term and see your score.
How to learn physiotherapy vocabulary
Learn movement words in pairs and act them out: flexion and extension, abduction and adduction, bend and straighten. Saying the word while you do the movement fixes it in memory much faster than reading a list.
Keep two registers apart: clinical words for notes and colleagues (hemiplegia, oedema, weight-bearing as tolerated) and plain words for patients (weakness on one side, swelling, put as much weight on it as feels OK).
Read real physiotherapy texts in English, such as clinical guidelines, patient exercise sheets and case reports in physiotherapy journals, and notice how assessment findings and goals are written.
Practise explaining one home exercise aloud in English every day: the starting position, the movement, how many sets and reps, how long to hold and what the patient should feel.
Notice UK and US differences, such as physiotherapy and physical therapy, programme and program, walking frame and walker, oedema and edema, and learn first the version used where you plan to study or work.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between physiotherapy and physical therapy?
They are the same profession with different names. Physiotherapy and physiotherapist are used in the UK, Ireland, Australia, New Zealand and many other countries, while physical therapy, physical therapist and the short form PT are used in the US. Canada uses both. Informally, British and Australian speakers often just say physio.
Is a physiotherapist the same as a 'fizik tedavi doktoru'?
No. A physiotherapist is a separate health professional, not a medical doctor. A doctor who specialises in physical medicine and rehabilitation (in Turkish, an FTR uzmanı) is called a rehabilitation physician or, in the US, a physiatrist. Using the right title matters in CVs, referrals and job applications.
What English level do physiotherapists need to work abroad?
It depends on the country and its physiotherapy regulator. Most ask for a minimum score in an approved English test, such as IELTS or OET, which has a version for physiotherapists. Required scores and accepted tests change from time to time, so always check the regulator's official website. Beyond the test, you need to take a clear history, explain exercises simply and write accurate notes.
How do I give exercise instructions in simple English?
Use short commands with everyday verbs and say them in order: 'Lie on your back. Bend your knee. Tighten your thigh. Hold for five seconds. Relax.' Then add the dose, such as 'ten times, three times a day', and what the patient should feel. Avoid Latin-based words like flexion with patients, and check understanding by asking them to show you the exercise.
How can I improve my physiotherapy English?
Read real physiotherapy texts in English, such as clinical guidelines, patient leaflets and journal articles, and listen to physiotherapists explaining conditions and exercises. Practise a full assessment in English with a colleague, write short SOAP notes about imaginary patients and learn each word in this glossary with the verbs that go with it.
