Physical therapy medical abbreviations are shorthand notations healthcare professionals use to communicate efficiently and accurately in documentation, prescriptions, and patient records within physical therapy. These abbreviations streamline communication, aiding in the quick and precise exchange of critical information among therapists, doctors, nurses, and other medical staff.
Within this domain, these abbreviated terms serve as a common language, facilitating swift and accurate conveyance of critical information. From fundamental abbreviations like PT (Physical Therapy) and ROM (Range of Motion) to more specialized terminologies such as PNF (Proprioceptive Neuromuscular Facilitation), each abbreviation plays a pivotal role in documentation, treatment plans, and progress assessments.
Comprehending these abbreviations is not only beneficial for healthcare providers but is equally empowering for patients. A grasp of these abbreviations enables patients to actively engage in discussions regarding their treatment, interpret reports, and grasp the intricacies of their therapeutic journey.
Our comprehensive guide aims to demystify this unique language, equipping practitioners and patients with the knowledge to navigate and comprehend physical therapy medical abbreviations effortlessly. Let's dive into this linguistic landscape, empowering all involved parties to communicate effectively and contribute meaningfully to the pursuit of improved health and wellness through physical therapy.
Now that you've grasped the benefits of these abbreviations, let's delve into Short Forms:
A
| ADL |
Activities of Daily Living |
| AFO |
Ankle-Foot Orthosis |
| AROM |
Active Range of Motion |
| ASIA |
American Spinal Injury Association |
| APTA |
American Physical Therapy Association |
| ABD |
Abduction |
| ACJ |
Acromioclavicular joint |
| ACL |
Anterior cruciate ligament |
| AD |
Assistive device |
| ADD |
Adduction |
| ADL |
Activities of daily living |
| AKA |
Above-knee amputation |
| Amb |
Ambulation |
| AROM |
Active range of motion |
| AAROM |
Active assistive range of motion |
| AMA |
Against Medical Advice |
B
| B |
Bilateral |
| BID |
Twice a Day |
| BKA |
Below Knee Amputation |
| B/L |
Bilateral |
| BMI |
Body Mass Index |
| BOS |
Base of Support |
| BPM |
Beats Per Minute |
| BAPS |
Biomechanical Ankle Platform System |
| Bwd |
Backward |
C
| C |
With |
| CGA |
Contact guard assist |
| CKC |
Closed kinetic chain |
| CPM |
Continuous passive motion |
| CTx |
Cervical traction |
| cerv |
Cervical |
| CF |
Cystic Fibrosis |
| C/o |
Complains Of |
| CNS |
Central Nervous System |
| CP |
Cold Pack, Cerebral Palsy |
| C/S |
Cervical Spine |
| CTr |
Costo-Transverse |
| CV |
Costo-Vertebral |
| CVA |
Cerebrovascular accident |
| C-Collar |
Cervical collar |
| CAM Boot |
control ankle motion boot |
| CMC |
carpometacarpal (joint) |
| COPD |
chronic obstructive pulmonary disease |
D
| DB |
Dumbbell |
| DF |
Dorsiflexion (of the ankle) |
| D/C |
Discharge |
| DDD |
Degenerative Disc Disease |
| DIP |
Distal Interphalangeal Joint |
| DJD |
Degenerative Joint Disease |
| DOB |
Date of Birth |
| DOI |
Date of Injury |
| DOS |
Date of surgery |
| DVT |
Deep Vein Thrombosis |
| Dx |
Diagnosis |
| DC |
Chiropractor |
| DME |
Durable medical equipment |
| DMD |
Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy |
E
| ER |
External Rotation |
| Estim or ES |
Electrical Stimulation |
| ESWT |
Extracorporeal Shockwave Therapy |
| EV |
Eversion (of the ankle) |
| Ex |
Exercise |
| EXT |
Extension |
| EEG |
Electroencephalogram |
| EOB |
Edge of bed |
F
| FIM score |
Functional Independence Level |
| FLEX |
Flexion |
| FWB |
Full Weight Bearing |
| Fx |
Fracture |
| FWW |
Front-wheeled walker |
| FES |
Functional Electrical Stimulation |
| FCR |
Flexor Carpi Radialis |
| FCU |
Flexor Carpi Ulnaris |
| F/u |
Follow up |
| fwd |
forward |
H
| H/o |
History of |
| HEP |
Home Exercise Program |
| Horiz ABD |
Horizontal Abduction |
| HOB |
Head of bed |
| Horiz ADD |
Horizontal Adduction |
| HP |
Hot Packs |
| HVGS |
High Voltage Galvanic Stimulation |
| Hx |
History |
| HKAFO |
Hip-knee-ankle foot orthosis |
I
| I |
Independent |
| IFC |
Interferential Current |
| INF |
Inflammation |
| Inv |
Inversion |
| Ionto |
Iontophoresis |
| IR |
Internal Rotation |
| ITB |
Iliotibial Band |
| ITBS |
Iliotibial Band Syndrome |
| IV |
Inversion (of the ankle) |
| Inv |
Inversion |
| IE |
Initial evaluation |
K
| KAFO |
knee ankle foot orthosis |
L
| L |
Left |
| LTG |
Long-Term Goals |
| LPT |
Licensed Physical Therapist |
| LAQ |
long-arc quad |
| LBQC |
Large-base quad cane |
| LE |
Lower extremity |
| LCL |
Lateral collateral ligament |
| LOA |
Level of assist |
| LOS |
Length of stay |
| LP |
Leg press |
| LSO |
Lumbosacral orthosis |
| LUE |
Left upper extremity |
M
| MC |
Metacarpal |
| MSK |
Musculoskeletal |
| MDT |
Mechanical Diagnosis and Therapy |
| MCL |
Medial Collateral Ligament |
| MCP |
Metacarpophalangeal |
| Mobs |
Mobilization |
| MFR |
Myofascial Release |
| MHP |
Moist Hot Pack |
| Mm |
Muscle |
| MMT |
Manual Muscle Test |
| MT |
Metatarsal |
| mTBI |
Mild Traumatic Brain Injury |
| MVA |
Motor Vehicle Accident |
| MWM |
Mobilization With Movement |
N
| NDT |
Neuro-Developmental Technique (Bobath Technique) |
| NMES |
Neuromuscular Electrical Stimulation |
| NWB |
Non-Weight Bearing |
| NSAIDS |
Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs |
| NAGS |
Natural Apophyseal Glides |
| NBQC |
Narrow Based Quad Cane |
| NCV |
Nerve conduction velocity |
| NIDDM |
Non-insulin dependent diabetes mellitus |
| N/T |
Numbness and tingling or not tested |
| NF |
No Fault |
| NMR |
Neuromuscular re-education |
| NS |
No Show |
O
| OA |
Osteoarthritis |
| OTR |
Registered Occupational Therapist |
| OT |
Occupational Therapist/Therapy |
| OOB |
Out Of Bed |
| OKC |
Open Kinetic Chain |
| OCS |
Orthopedic Certified Specialist |
P
| PWB |
Partial Weight Bearing |
| Pfin |
Paraffin bath |
| PUW |
Pick Up Walker |
| PTA |
Physical Therapy Assistant/Physical Therapist Assistant |
| Pt. |
Patient |
| PT |
Physical Therapist |
| PIP |
Proximal Interphalangeal Joint |
| PROM |
Passive Range of Motion |
| Phono |
Phonophoresis |
| PCL |
Posterior Cruciate Ligament |
| p |
After |
| PCS |
Pediatric Certified Specialist |
| PF |
Plantar Flexion |
| PFS |
Patellofemoral Syndrome |
| PMHx |
Past Medical History |
| PNF |
Proprioceptive Neuromuscular Facilitation |
| PRO |
Pronation |
Q
| QID |
Four Times A Day |
| Q |
Every |
| QC |
Quad Cane |
| QD |
Every Day |
| Quad |
Quadriceps |
| QS |
Quadriceps Set |
R
| RA |
Rheumatoid Arthritis |
| RC |
Rotator Cuff |
| ROM |
Range of Motion |
| Rot |
Rotation |
| RTW |
Return to work |
| RSD |
Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy |
| r/o |
Rule out |
| RGO |
Reciprocating Gait Orthosis |
| Req/d. |
Required |
| Reps. |
Repetitions |
| Rehab. |
Rehabilitation |
| Rec’d |
Received |
| Re |
Recheck |
| Rx |
Treatment |
| RW |
Rolling Walker |
| RPT |
Registered Physical Therapist |
| RICE |
Rest, Ice, Compression, Elevation |
| RD |
Radial Deviation |
S
| STG |
short-term goals |
| SPT |
Student P.T. |
| SPC |
Single point cane |
| S/p |
Status post |
| SNAGS |
Sustained Natural Apophyseal Glides |
| S/L |
Sidelying |
| Sh |
Shoulder |
| SI, SIJ |
Sacroiliac joint |
| SCI |
Spinal cord injury |
| SW |
Standard walker |
| SBQC |
Small base quad cane |
| SUP |
Supination |
| STM |
Soft Tissue Mobilization |
| SOB |
Shortness of Breath |
| SLR |
Straight Leg Raise |
| SC |
Straight Cane |
| SBA |
Stand-By Assist |
| SB |
Side Bending |
| SAQ |
Short Arc Quad |
| S |
Without (Sans) |
| (S) |
Supervision |
T
| Total A |
Total assist |
| TB |
Theraband |
| TENS |
Transcutaneous Electrical Neuromuscular Stimulation |
| TFL |
Tensor Fascia Latae |
| THA |
Total Hip Arthroplasty |
| Ther Ex |
Therapeutic Exercise |
| TID |
Three Times a Day |
| TKA |
Total Knee Arthroplasty |
| TKR |
Total Knee Replacement |
| TLSO |
Thoracic Lumbar Sacral Orthosis |
| TM |
Treadmill |
| Trxn |
Traction |
| TTWB |
Toe Touch Weight Bearing |
| Tx |
Treatment |
| TDWB |
Touch-down weight bearing |
| THR |
Total Hip Replacement |
| TIA |
Transient ischemic attack |
| TLIF |
Transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion |
| TMJ |
Temporomandibular joint |
U
| UB |
Upper body |
| UQ |
Upper Quadrant |
| US |
UltraSound |
| UE |
Upper Extremity |
| UD |
Ulnar Deviation |
| UBE |
Upper Body Ergometer |
W
| WNL |
Within Normal Limit |
| WCS |
Women’s Certified Specialist |
| w/ |
With |
| 4WW |
Four-wheeled walker |
| WW |
Wheeled walker |
| WNL |
Within normal limits |
| WHO |
Wrist hand orthosis |
| WFL |
Within functional limits |
| WC (or w/c) |
Wheelchair |
| WBQC |
Wide-base quad cane |
| WBAT |
Weight bearing as tolerated |
Exploring this guide might have provided you with a valuable resource to comprehend and actively engage in your personal path towards well-being. With a grasp of these abbreviations, you're more prepared to interpret progress reports, participate in informed conversations with healthcare providers, and champion your own health.
It's crucial to recognize that these abbreviations aren't just arbitrary combinations of letters; they symbolize the expertise, commitment, and collaborative work of healthcare experts dedicated to improving lives. Understanding this language empowers you to take an active role in your care, cultivating stronger connections and mutual understanding between you and your healthcare team.
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