Physical Medicine Language Workshop - Career Step

1 Physical Medicine Language WorkshopPhysical therapists, and physiatrists in general, will refer to the position of a structure in relationship to another. An example would be the kidneys being superior to (above) the urinary bladder. The following table indicates some of the anatomical positions you might expect to come across in the field of Physical Medicine and rehabilitation and what they Positions/DirectionAL t erMsterm Meaningcranial toward the headcaudal toward the feetmedial toward the middlelateral toward/from the sideproximal toward the limb s attachmentdistal toward the fingers/toessuperior aboveinferior belowanterior toward the frontposterior toward the backperipheral toward the surfacepalmar toward the palm of the handplantar toward the sole of the footA patient visiting an orthopedist or one who is involved in a Physical therapy/occupational therapy protocol ordered by a physiatrist is subject to a bevy of tests and

2 Maneuvers. In addition, signs of anomaly are sought in order to properly identify treatment and course of action for the patient. Some of the terminology you can expect to hear may sound like someone s surname, which is precisely the derivative of many of these diagnostic tools and exercises. Please note that the preference is to drop the possessive form of the term, so that Tinel s sign, named after French neurologist Jules Tinel, is prefered as Tinel sign. Account specifics may dictate otherwise. Other than repetition and time, there is no set in stone way to learn these. Familiarity breeds website is a helpful eponym , MAneuvers, AnD signstest/Maneuver/sign usage/evaluationExternal rotation test ankleAnterior drawer test ankle/kneeTinel sign wristYergason test shoulderWaddell test lumbar spineFrench Horn shoulder test shoulderQuadriceps femoris muscle angle kneeStraight leg raise lumbar spineCostoclavicular maneuver evaluate thoracic outlet syndrome/costoclavicular syndromeProbe-to-bone test evaluate osteomyelitis/diabetic foot ulcersGaleazzi sign hip disorder evaluationPhalen maneuver carpal tunnel syndrome evaluationLachman test anterior cruciate ligament rupture (ACL)Trendelenburg symptom hip evaluation (not to be confused with trendelenburg anatomic position)

3 Talar tilt (inversion stress test) for lateral ankle sprainsAbbreviations are abundant in medical transcription, and it is no different in the PM&R world. Below is a listing of some of those most commonly used abbreviations. Manuals and textbooks have been written which encompass all of the abbreviations used in physiatry, so the list below is but a smattering of the prevalent ones. Remember also that these are the most common Physical Medicine -related expansions. Most, if not all, of these abbreviations will have additional correct expansions not PM&R related (for example, ER = emergency room).coMMon Pt AbbreviAtionsAbbreviation expansionAE above elbowAKA above-knee amputationAFO ankle-foot orthosis or orthoticBKA below-knee amputationCPM continuous passive motionDJD degenerative joint diseaseDF dorsiflexionER external rotationHOB head of bedITB iliotibial bandKAFO knee-ankle-foot orthosisMMT manual muscle testNWB nonweightbearingPROM passive range of motionSD shoulder disarticulationSLR straight-leg raiseTTWB toe touch weightbearingTKA total knee arthroplastyWNL within normal limitsDuring the recovery process and as part of daily usage, the patient may be trained and instructed in use of assistive devices and aids.

4 A resource book, such as Stedman s Medical and Surgical Equipment, will serve as a valuable resource to your library and/or electronic version of resources. Below is a listing of some of the commonly heard assistive and training device abbreviations and AnD trAining DevicesAssistive Device/term translation/used ForFWW front-wheel walkerQC quad caneSBQC small base quad canePUW pick-up walkerSpica splint thumbO & P orthotics and prostheticsC-cane straight cane with curved handlehemiwalker quad cane/walker combobrace knee, leg, armmoldable insert lumbosacralimmobilizer kneeJobst boot (brand) footEndo-MATE endotracheal tube holder ENT deviceStryker (brand) hip, knee, shoulder implantsAllocraft C-ring cervical spacer used in diskectomy and fusion surgery of the spinewound VAC vacuum-assisted closure for woundsgrab bars for bathroom safetyHoyer lift assistance in lifting bed/chair ridden patientsVehicle lifts assisting patients in wheelchairsAspen cervical collar (brand) cervical stabilizationFinally, no section on Physical therapy and rehabilitative Medicine would be complete without some terms about the conditions themselves.

5 Physiatrists treat symptoms from cranium to plantar arch and then some. With this in mind, here are some conditions that require the assistance, aid, and/or expertise of experts in this HeArD i n PM&rconditions translation/used Forcavus foot high archtemporomandibular joint (TMJ) jaw/headplantar fasciitis footepicondylitis tennis elbow/swimmer s elbowrickets osteomalacia in childrenclaudication limping, lamenesshypotonia muscular tonicity losskyphosis humpbackde Quervain disease wristgout metabolic disease of uric acid crystals in tissuesHeberden nodes bony swelling around joint marginstenosynovitis overuse of tendons from trauma, overusedysphagia trouble with eating or swallowinghemiplegia paralysis on one side of the bodycystoid macular edema swelling of macula of eye resulting from injury, surgery, or diseasediabetic retinopathy affecting patients with diabetesburn therapy for patients with severe burns (grafting, whirlpool)

6 Post pregnancy scarring pelvic floor rehab is used for this, including kegel exercisesosteoarthritis may require hip replacement (arthroplasty) Career Step, 2008. All Rights Reserved.