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Physiotherapy vocabulary · Musculoskeletal Conditions

Stiffness

Meaning in physiotherapy, with examples

/ˈstɪfnəs/nounCore term

In physiotherapy, stiffness means: A feeling that a joint or muscle is tight and hard to move, often worse after rest or first thing in the morning.

In Turkish: sertlik, tutukluk, katılık

How it is used

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.

Example sentences

  1. How long does the stiffness last when you get up in the morning?

  2. Some joint stiffness after the plaster cast comes off is normal and usually improves with exercise.

Common collocations

  • morning stiffness
  • joint stiffness
  • feel stiff
  • ease stiffness
  • range of motionHow far a joint can move in each direction, usually measured in degrees from a starting position.
  • osteoarthritisA long-term joint condition in which the cartilage covering the ends of the bones gradually wears down, causing pain, stiffness and sometimes swelling.
  • stretchTo 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.
  • frozen shoulderA condition in which the shoulder capsule becomes thick and tight, causing pain and a gradual, severe loss of movement, especially rotation.

This word in other fields

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

More terms: Musculoskeletal Conditions

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