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Physiotherapy vocabulary · Movement and Range of Motion

Extension

Meaning in physiotherapy, with examples

/ɪkˈstɛnʃən/nounCore term

In physiotherapy, extension means: A straightening movement that makes the angle between two parts of the body larger, such as straightening the knee or leaning the trunk backwards.

In Turkish: ekstansiyon, düzleştirme

How it is used

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'.

Example sentences

  1. Getting full knee extension back is the first goal after this operation.

  2. Lying on his front and pushing up into extension seems to ease his back pain.

Common collocations

  • full extension
  • knee extension
  • lumbar extension
  • lack of extension
  • extension lag
  • 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.
  • range of motionHow far a joint can move in each direction, usually measured in degrees from a starting position.
  • active range of motionHow far a joint can move when the patient moves it with their own muscles, without any help.

This word in other fields

The same English word can have a different meaning in another field:

More terms: Movement and Range of Motion

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