Okuzeka
Physiotherapy vocabulary · Instructions and Patient Talk

Bend

Meaning in physiotherapy, with examples

/bɛnd/verbCore term

In physiotherapy, bend means: To move a joint so that the body part folds and the angle at the joint gets smaller; the everyday word for flexion.

In Turkish: bükmek, eğilmek

How it is used

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.

Example sentences

  1. Lie on your back and slowly bend your knee, sliding your heel towards you.

  2. Does it hurt when you bend down to put your socks on?

Common collocations

  • bend your knee
  • bend forward
  • bend down
  • bend and straighten
  • flexionA bending movement that makes the angle between two parts of the body smaller, such as bending the elbow or the knee.
  • straightenTo move a joint so that the body part becomes straight and the angle at the joint gets larger; the everyday word for extension.
  • holdTo keep a part of the body still in one position for a set time during an exercise or stretch, before relaxing.
  • range of motionHow far a joint can move in each direction, usually measured in degrees from a starting position.

More terms: Instructions and Patient Talk

Practise with graded reading

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This page explains English vocabulary for learners. It is not medical advice.