| Abduction | A lateral movement away from the midline of the trunk in the frontal plane. An example is raising the arms or legs to the side horizontally.
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| Abductor pollicis longus | A muscle in the forearm that abducts the thumb.
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| Acceleration | The rate of change in velocity. To attain speed in moving the body, a strong muscular force is generally necessary.
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| Acetabular femoral joint | The multiaxial enarthrodial-type (ball-and-socket) hip joint.
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| Acetabulum | The cup-shaped socket of the pelvic girdle that houses the head of the femur.
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| Achilles tendon | The tendon that inserts at the calcaneus or heel and is the attachment for both the gastrocnemius and the soleus.
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| Acromioclavicular (AC) joint | The joint located where the clavicle and acromion of the scapula meet and attach.
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| Action | The specific movement of a joint that results from a concentric contraction of a muscle that crosses the joint.
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| Active Isolated Stretching (AIS) | A method of stretching that involves the use of the body's natural movements (flexion, extension, rotation, etc.) and physiology to achieve greater range of motion.
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| Active movement | Movement that shortens muscles as it contracts and pulls on the engaged bone.
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| Acute | The inflammatory stage of inflammation. It has all the signs and symptoms of inflammation: redness, heat, pain, swelling, and loss of function.
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| Adduction | Movement medially toward the midline of the trunk in the frontal plane. Examples are lowering the arm to the side or moving the thigh back to the anatomical position.
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| Adductor brevis | A small hip adductor connecting from the pubic bone to the femur.
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| Adductor longus | A hip adductor connecting from the pubic bone to the femur.
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| Adductor magnus | The largest muscle of the hip adductors; fills in most of the medial thigh from the pelvis to the knee.
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| Adhesion | A scar that is often painful.
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| Adhesive capsulitis | A progressive, painful condition that starts with limited motion of the shoulder joint and progresses to a frozen stage. Small adhesions form in the joint capsule, creating an extremely debilitating condition.
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| Aggregate muscle action | The ability of muscles working in groups, rather than independently, to achieve a given joint motion.
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| Agonists | Muscles that, when contracting concentrically, cause joint motion through a specified plane of motion. Also known as primary or prime movers and muscles most involved.
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| All-or-none principle | The principle of motion which states that the individual muscle fibers within a given motor unit will fire and contract either maximally or not at all.
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| Amphiarthrodial (cartilaginous) joints | Slightly movable joints.
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| Amplitude | The range of muscle-fiber length between maximal and minimal lengthening.
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| Anatomical position | A reference position used as a basis to describe joint movement. The individual stands in an upright posture, facing straight ahead, with feet parallel and close and palms facing forward.
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| Anconeus | A small muscle on the posterior distal humerus and proximal ulna that assists the triceps with extension of the forearm.
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| Angle of pull | The angle between the line of pull of the muscle and the bone on which it inserts.
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| Angular motion | Motion that involves rotation around an axis. Also known as rotary motion.
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| Antagonists | Muscles that are usually located on the opposite side of the joint from the agonist and have the opposite concentric action. They work in cooperation with agonist muscles by relaxing and allowing movement, but when contracting concentrically, they perform the joint motion opposite that of the agonist. Also known as contralateral muscles.
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| Anterior compartment | The anterior compartment of the lower leg contains the dorsiflexor group, consisting of the tibialis anterior, peroneus tertius, extensor digitorum longus, and extensor hallucis longus.
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| Anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) | A ligament located inside the knee joint. It crosses with the posterior cruciate ligament between the tibia and the femur and maintains stability in the knee joint.
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| Anterior talofibular ligament | A ligament located at the distal end of the anterior fibula, attaching distally to the talus.
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| Aponeurosis | A plastic wrap-like flat tissue that serves as a tendinous attachment for muscle. The latissimus dorsi has a large aponeurosis in its lower-back attachments.
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| Arc of pain | A pain response during a portion of active or passive movement.
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| Arthritis | An inflammation of a joint. It is common in the aging process.
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| Arthrodial joint | A type of diarthrodial joint that is characterized by two flat, or plane, bony surfaces that butt against each other. This type of joint permits limited gliding movement.
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| Arthrosis | Another term for joint.
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| Articulation | A joint comprised of two or more bones that allows for various types of movement.
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| Atlantoaxial joint | The pivot joint formed by the atlas and the axis.
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| Atlantooccipital joint | The first joint of the axial skeleton. It is formed by the occipital condyles of the skull sitting on the articular fossa of the first vertebra, which allows flexion and extension.
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| Atlas | The first cervical vertebra.
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| Axial pain | A type of pain that can be sharp or dull, constant or intermittent, and mild or severe and can be confined to the low back.
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| Axis | (1) The second cervical vertebra. (2) The point of rotation about which a lever moves.
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| Axis of rotation | The movement occurring in a given plane. The joint moves or turns around an axis that has a 90-degree relationship to the plane.
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| Back-pocket sciatica | A painful condition due to keeping a wallet in the back pocket of pants that, over time, applies compression to the sciatic nerve as the individual sits on it.
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| Balance | The ability to control equilibrium, either static or dynamic.
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| Biarticular | A type of muscle that crosses and acts directly on two different joints.
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| Biceps brachii | A two-headed muscle that is located on the anterior arm, performs weak flexion for the shoulder joint, and flexes the forearm in a supinated position.
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| Biceps femoris | A hamstring muscle that is located on the posterior thigh and inserts on the lateral tibia and fibula. It is a two-headed muscle that extends the hip and flexes the knee.
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| Biomechanics | The study of mechanics as it relates to the functional and anatomical analysis of biological systems.
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| Body mechanics | Ergonomically safe methods and practices of executing techniques that can prevent injury, support self-care, provide balanced energy, and promote a long career in manual therapies.
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| Brachial plexus | A group of nerves consisting of the 5th cervical to 1st thoracic that provide a base for the nerves that innervate the upper extremity.
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| Brachialis | An anterior arm muscle that inserts on the ulna and performs only flexion of the forearm.
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| Brachioradialis | The "neutral-position" muscle that spans from the supracondyloid ridge of the humerus to the styloid process of the radius. It is used in all neutral-position actions.
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| Breathing | The act of respiration in which air is forced into and out of the lungs.
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| Bursa | A synovial sac of fluid needed to lubricate joints.
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| Bursitis | A pathologic condition that is an inflammation of a bursa.
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| Calcaneofibular ligament | A ligament located at the very distal end at an angle to the calcaneus.
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| Calcaneus | A tarsal bone that is the heel of the foot.
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| Capitate | A carpal bone.
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| Cardinal planes | The specific planes that divide the body exactly into two halves.
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| Carpal tunnel syndrome | A median nerve disorder that may be caused by soft-tissue entrapment, repetitive action, incorrect mechanics, or bony compression of the median nerve.
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| Carpals | Bones that include the capitate, lunate, hamate, trapezium, trapezoid, pisiform, scaphoid, and triquetrum.
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| Carpometacarpal (CMC) | The joint between the carpals and the metacarpals.
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| Cartilaginous (amphiarthrodial) joints | Slightly movable joints.
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| Cervical plexus | A group of nerves consisting of the first four cervical nerves.
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| Cervical vertebrae | Seven bony structures that surround the spinal cord in the neck and are attached to the thoracic vertebrae after C7.
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| Chondromalacia | Wear and tear of the cartilage on the underside of the patella.
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| Chronic | The stage of the inflammatory process that has leveled-off signs and symptoms. The chronic stage can last for months or years.
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| Circumduction | A circular movement of a limb that delineates an arc or describes a cone. It is a combination of flexion, extension, abduction, and adduction. An example occurs when the shoulder joint and the hip joint move in a circular fashion around a fixed point, either clockwise or counterclockwise. Also known as circumflexion.
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| Clavicle | One of the two bones of the shoulder girdle. It attaches to the trunk via the sternum and to the scapula via the acromioclavicular joint. Also known as collarbone.
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| Clinical flexibility | Flexibility used in a clinical setting and usually assisted by a therapist.
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| Clinical Flexibility and Therapeutic Exercise (CFTE) | A modality that consists of stretching and strengthening the muscles of the body. It is designed to improve human movement and prevent current or past dysfunctions from worsening.
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| Closed kinetic chain | A closed system in which movement of one joint in an extremity cannot occur without causing predictable movements of the other joints in the extremity; occurs when the distal end of the extremity is fixed, as in a push-up, dip, squat, or dead lift.
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| Collagen | The white fibers of connective tissue; consists mostly of protein.
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| Compartment syndromes | Conditions that occur when swelling or bleeding presses against the structures in a compartment and could prevent blood flow to the foot.
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| Compression | A deep-tissue technique designed to flatten the soft tissue repeatedly with the heel of the palm.
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| Concentric contractions | Contractions in which the muscle develops tension as it shortens.
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| Condyloid joint | A type of diarthrodial joint in which the bones permit movement in two planes without rotation.
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| Contracted iliotibial band | A condition in which the tract or band becomes taut from overuse as the muscles that lead into it shorten.
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| Contractibility | The ability of a muscle to contract and develop tension or an internal force against resistance when stimulated.
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| Contraction | The action of a muscle being lengthened or shortened. In skeletal muscle, this is one of three types: eccentric, concentric, or isometric.
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| Contralateral | The movement, position, or landmark locations on the opposite side.
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| Coracobrachialis | A muscle named for its attachments on the coracoid process of the scapula and the humerus. It flexes and horizontally adducts the humerus.
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| Core | The center of the body where muscles are located anterior and posterior to the spine, including the rectus abdominis, the external and internal obliques, transversus abdominis, psoas major, and quadratus lumborum.
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| Crepitus | Any grinding, grating, or popping elicited during the movement of a joint.
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| Cross-fiber friction | See Deep transverse friction.
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| Cryotherapy | The safe use of ice to reduce inflammation and acute responses.
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| Cuboid | A tarsal bone in the foot.
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| Cuneiforms | Three tarsal bones in the foot.
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| Deep-tissue therapy | A series of specific techniques designed to unwind the soft tissue in a particular pattern or sequence with the end result of specific goals.
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| Deep transverse friction | A deep-tissue technique executed deliberately at a right angle to the fibers of the soft tissue. Also called cross-fiber friction.
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| Degenerative disk disease | The literal depletion of the disk space between the vertebrae.
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| Deltoid | A multiple superficial lateral muscle that is divided into three sections: anterior, middle, and posterior. The deltoid originates on the clavicle and scapula and inserts on the humerus. It is a major abductor of the humerus and is its own agonist and antagonist, as the anterior and posterior deltoid reflect opposite actions. The anterior deltoid performs flexion, medial rotation, and horizontal adduction, whereas the posterior deltoid performs extension, lateral rotation, and horizontal abduction. The middle deltoid has very strong abduction to 90 degrees.
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| Depression | Shoulder girdle inferior movement in the frontal plane. An example is returning to the normal position from a shoulder shrug.
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| Dermatome | A defined area of skin supplied by a specific spinal nerve.
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| Diagonal plane | A combination of more than one plane. Also known as oblique plane.
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| Diarthrodial joints | Freely movable joints. Also known as synovial joints.
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| Dimensional massage therapy | A philosophical approach to using a variety of techniques for the benefit of the client; based on science, structure, and functions of the soft tissue.
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| Displacement | A change in the position or location of an object from its original point of reference.
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| Distal interphalangeal (DIP) | A hinge joint for the distal phalanx.
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| Distance | The actual sum length of measurement traveled. Also known as path of movement.
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| Dorsiflexion (dorsal flexion) | (1) Of the ankle: The flexion movement of the ankle that results in the top of the foot moving toward the anterior tibia bone in the sagittal plane. (2) Of the wrist: An extension movement in the sagittal plane with the dorsal or posterior side of the hand moving toward the posterior side of the lateral forearm.
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| Double-crush syndrome | A condition that includes the soft-tissue entrapment of the median nerve by the pectoralis minor and by the pronator teres.
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| Dupuytren's contracture | Named after a French surgeon, a problem that involves the palmar aponeurosis or fascia and nodules that develop in the fibrous tissue, causing a permanent flexion of mostly the 4th or 5th finger in one or both hands.
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| Eccentric contractions | Contractions in which the muscle lengthens under tension. Eccentric force A force that is applied in a direction not in line with the center of rotation of an object with a fixed axis.
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| Elasticity | The ability of muscle to return to its original resting length following stretching.
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| Elbow joint | A hinge joint formed by the ulna and humerus. Elevation The superior movement of the shoulder girdle in the frontal plane. An example is shrugging the shoulders.
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| Elliptical movement | An alternating clockwise and counterclockwise distraction movement sometimes done on joints such as the shoulder girdle and most often done while engaged with muscles.
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| Enarthrodial joint | A type of diarthrodial joint that permits movement in all planes. Erector spinae A group of muscles that extends on each side of the spinal column from the sacrum to the occiput. It is divided into three muscles: the spinalis, the longissimus, and the iliocostalis.
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| Eversion | An ankle and foot movement that turns the sole of the foot outward or laterally in the frontal plane (abduction). An example is standing with the weight on the inner edge of the foot.
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| Extensibility | The ability of muscle to be passively stretched beyond its normal resting length.
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| Extension | A straightening movement that results in an increase of the angle in a joint by moving bones apart, usually in the sagittal plane. An example is the movement in the elbow joint when the hand moves away from the shoulder.
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| Extension of the spine | The return of the spinal column in the frontal plane to the anatomical position from lateral flexion; adduction of the spine.
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| Extensor carpi radialis brevis | A hand and wrist muscle that extends the wrist.
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| Extensor carpi radialis longus | A hand and wrist muscle that extends the wrist.
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| Extensor carpi ulnaris | A hand and wrist muscle that extends the wrist and performs ulnar flexion.
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| Extensor digiti minimi | A hand and wrist muscle that extends the wrist and performs extension of the little finger.
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| Extensor digitorum | A hand and wrist muscle that performs extension of the fingers and wrist.
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| Extensor digitorum brevis | A large intrinsic muscle on the dorsal lateral side of the foot that is often involved in inversion sprains.
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| Extensor digitorum longus | An anterior leg muscle that extends the toes of the foot.
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| Extensor digitorum minimi | A hand and wrist muscle that performs extension of the little finger.
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| Extensor hallucis longus | An anterior leg muscle that extends the big toe.
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| Extensor indicis | A hand and wrist muscle that extends the index finger.
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| Extensor pollicis brevis | A hand and wrist muscle that extends the thumb.
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| Extensor pollicis longus | A hand and wrist muscle that extends the thumb.
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| External oblique | A large superficial abdominal muscle that surrounds the side of the body and is involved in lumbar movement and organ compression and is an accessory respiratory muscle.
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| External rotation | A rotary movement around the longitudinal axis of a bone away from the midline of the body; occurs in the transverse plane. Also known as rotation laterally, outward rotation, and lateral rotation.
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| Extrinsic | A term that usually pertains to muscles that arise or originate outside (proximal to) the body part on which they act.
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| Femoral nerve | A large nerve in the anterior thigh that innervates anterior thigh muscles and knee extensors.
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| Fibula | The lateral bone of the leg.
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| Fibular (lateral) collateral ligament (LCL) | A ligament located on the lateral side of the knee that connects the femur with the fibula. It helps to maintain lateral knee stability.
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| Flexibility | The end motion of a segment. It can occur by active contraction of the agonist (active range of motion) or by motion of an external force (passive range of motion).
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| Flexion | A bending movement that results in a decrease of the angle in a joint by bringing bones together, usually in the sagittal plane. An example is the movement in the elbow joint when the hand is drawn to the shoulder.
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| Flexor carpi radialis | A hand and wrist muscle that flexes the wrist and helps perform radial flexion.
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| Flexor carpi ulnaris | A hand and wrist muscle that flexes the wrist and helps perform ulnar flexion.
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| Flexor digitorum longus | A deep posterior leg muscle that flexes the toes.
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| Flexor digitorum profundus | A hand and wrist muscle that flexes the wrist and fingers and helps with a strong grip.
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| Flexor digitorum superficialis | A hand and wrist muscle that flexes the wrist and fingers and supports a strong grip.
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| Flexor hallucis longus | A deep posterior leg muscle that flexes the big toe.
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| Flexor pollicis longus | A hand and wrist muscle that flexes the thumb.
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| Follow-through phase | In the movement cycle, the phase in which the velocity of the body segment progressively decreases, usually over a wide range of motion. Also known as deceleration phase.
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| Foot drop | A condition that usually involves a weak tibialis anterior. The toes might drag as the tibialis anterior cannot seem to contract well enough to dorsiflex the foot properly.
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| Foraminal stenosis | The narrowing of the hole through which the spinal nerve exits; due to bone spurs or arthritis.
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| Force | The product of mass times acceleration.
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| Force arm | The shortest distance from the axis of rotation to the line of action of the force.
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| Friction | The force that results from the resistance between the surfaces of two objects moving against one another.
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| Frontal plane | The plane that divides the body into front and back halves. Also known as lateral or coronal plane.
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| Frozen shoulder | A condition in which the scapula is unable to move in its regular patterns without pain. The term frozen shoulder is often used interchangeably with adhesive capsulitis, but frozen shoulder can be caused by other conditions besides adhesive capsulitis.
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| Functional anatomy | The functional actions of muscles.
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| Functional unit | Muscles cooperating to work in groups and in paired opposition.
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| Ganglion | A cyst that often protrudes on the dorsal side of the wrist.
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| Gaster | The central, fleshy portion (belly or body) of a muscle that generally increases in diameter as the muscle contracts. It is the contractile portion of the muscle.
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| Gastrocnemius | A superficial posterior leg muscle. It is a two-joint muscle that flexes the knee or plantar flexes the foot.
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| Gemellus inferior | A lateral hip rotator that is located on the posterior pelvis.
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| Gemellus superior | A lateral hip rotator that is located on the posterior pelvis.
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| Genu valgum | A walking pattern marked by a lateral angulation of the leg in relation to the thigh. The thigh responds by being medially rotated, thus putting strain on the hip muscles and torque on the medial knee and resulting in probable patellar tracking issues and an apparent corrective foot pattern. Also known as knock-knees.
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| Genu varum | A walking pattern marked by a medial angulation of the leg in relation to the thigh. This puts strain on the lateral side of the knee and often presents with walking on the lateral side of the foot. Also known as bowlegs.
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| Gerdy's tubercle | A landmark attachment site for the iliotibial tract.
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| Ginglymus joint | A type of diarthrodial joint that permits a wide range of movement in only one plane. Elbow and knee joints are examples. Also known as hinge joint.
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| Glenohumeral | A multiaxial ball-and-socket joint classified as enarthrodial.
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| Glenoid labrum | A cartilaginous ring that surrounds the glenoid fossa just inside its periphery.
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| Gluteus maximus | The largest posterior buttock muscle; performs forceful hip extension.
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| Gluteus medius | A small posterior buttock muscle that abducts the hip.
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| Gluteus minimus | The smallest posterior buttock muscle; works with and is located beneath the gluteus medius.
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| Golfer's elbow | Tendonitis of the medial epicondyle area. Also known as medial epicondylitis.
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| Golgi tendon organs (GTOs) | Proprioceptors that are serially located in the tendon close to the muscle-tendon junction and are continuously sensitive to both muscle tension and active contraction.
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| Gomphosis | A type of synarthrodial joint in which a conical peg fits into a socket, as found in teeth sockets.
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| Goniometer | An instrument used to compare the change in joint angles.
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| Gracilis | A long muscle that spans from the pubic bone to the medial tibia and is a hip adductor.
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| Greater trochanter | A large process that provides attachments for muscles on the femur.
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| Hamate | A carpal bone.
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| Hamstrings | Posterior thigh muscles that extend the hip and flex the knee. They are the biceps femoris, semitendinosus, and semimembranosus.
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| Headache | A diffuse pain in various areas of the head that is not confined to the distribution of a nerve.
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| Heel-strike | A component of the stance phase of running or walking that is characterized by landing on the heel with the foot in supination and the leg in external rotation.
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| Hematoma | A bruise.
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| Herniated disk | A condition in which the gelatinous nucleus pulposus protrudes into or through the annulus fibrosus. This herniation produces a bulging of the disk tissue posteriorly into the vertebral canal and pinches the spinal cord and/or nerves of the spinal cord.
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| Horizontal abduction | Shoulder movement of the humerus in the horizontal plane away from the midline of the body. Also known as horizontal extension and transverse abduction.
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| Horizontal adduction | Shoulder joint movement of the humerus in the horizontal plane toward the midline of the body. Also known as horizontal flexion and transverse adduction.
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| Humerus | An arm bone superior to the radius and ulna. It is a part of the shoulder joint, with the clavicle and scapula.
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| Hypertonic | A condition of muscles in which they exhibit symptoms of pain and discomfort after continuous activity and may fatigue or have diminished function.
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| Iliacus | A part of the iliopsoas that is located on the inner surface of the ilium and performs primary hip flexion.
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| Iliopsoas | A deep core muscle that provides primary hip flexion. It consists of three muscles: the iliacus, psoas minor, and psoas major.
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| Iliotibial tract | A structure that runs from the hip to the lateral tibia and provides muscular attachment to the tensor fasciae latae and the gluteus maximus.
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| Ilium | The upper two-fifths of the pelvic bones.
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| Inertia | Resistance to action or change.
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| Inferior peroneal retinaculum | A tissue bridge that tacks down the peroneal tendons inferior to the calcaneofibular ligament.
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| Infraspinatus | A rotator cuff muscle that originates on the infraspinous fossa and inserts on the middle facet of the greater tubercle. It performs extension, lateral rotation, and horizontal abduction.
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| Innervation | The aspect of the nervous system that is responsible for providing a stimulus to muscle fibers within a specific muscle or portion of a muscle.
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| Insertion | Structurally, the distal attachment or the part that attaches farthest from the midline or center of the body. Functionally and historically, the most movable part.
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| Internal oblique | The abdominal muscle that is layered below the external oblique and is involved in lumbar movement and organ compression and is an accessory respiratory muscle.
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| Internal rotation | A rotary movement around the longitudinal axis of a bone toward the midline of the body; occurs in the transverse plane. Also known as rotation medially, inward rotation, and medial rotation.
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| Interspinales | Extensor muscles that connect from the spinous process of one vertebra to the spinous process of the adjacent vertebra.
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| Intertransversarii | Muscles that flex the vertebral column laterally by connecting to the transverse processes of adjacent vertebrae.
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| Intervertebral disks | The structures between the vertebrae that provide cushioning and shock absorption.
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| Intrinsic | Pertaining to muscles within or belonging solely to the body part on which they act. The small intrinsic muscles found entirely within the hand are examples.
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| Inversion | An ankle and foot movement that turns the sole of the foot inward or medially in the frontal plane; adduction. An example is standing with the weight on the outer edge of the foot.
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| Inversion sprain | A sprain that forces the foot into an unnatural inverted position, putting too much strain on the ligaments of the foot. Injury includes torn ligament(s), swelling, torn tissue, and bleeding into the surrounding area.
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| Ipsilateral | Pertaining to a movement, position, or landmark location that is on the same side as a reference point.
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| Ischemic compression | Technique for relieving a trigger point by either digital pressure or pincer palpation by placing the tissue between the thumb and the forefinger. The purpose of the digital pressure is to try to interrupt the pain pattern by robbing the tissue of oxygen for a short period of time. Also known as trigger point release.
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| Ischial tuberosity | A bony prominence that serves as an attachment for the hamstrings. It is located posteroinferiorly on the ischium.
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| Ischium | The posterior and lower two-fifths of the pelvic bones.
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| Isokinetics | A type of dynamic exercise, usually using concentric and/or eccentric muscle contractions, in which the speed (or velocity) of movement is constant and muscular contraction (ideally, maximum contraction) occurs throughout the movement.
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| Isometric contraction | A contraction that occurs when tension is developed within the muscle but the joint angle remains constant; may be thought of as a static contraction, because a significant amount of tension may be developed in the muscle to maintain the joint angle in a relatively static or stable position, without an actual shortening of muscle fibers.
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| Isotonic contraction | A contraction in which the muscle develops tension to either cause or control joint movement; may be thought of as a dynamic contraction, because the varying degrees of tension in the muscle are causing the joint angle to change.
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| Joint capsule | A sleevelike covering of ligamentous tissue that surrounds the bony ends forming the joints.
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| Jostling | A deep-tissue technique that is a form of vibration and is designed to shake tissues back and forth.
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| Kinematics | A component of biomechanics that is concerned with the description of motion and includes consideration of time, displacement, velocity, acceleration, and space factors of a system's motion.
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| Kinesiology | The science of muscle movement.
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| Kinesthesis | The conscious awareness of the body's position and movement in space.
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| Kinetic chain | The bony segments and their linkage system of joints in the body.
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| Kinetics | A component of biomechanics that is concerned with the forces associated with the motion of a body.
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| Knee replacement | The replacement of an injured or worn-out hinge joint with a prosthesis.
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| Kyphosis | An anterior concavity of the normal thoracic curve.
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| Laminectomy | A surgery in which the posterior arch and spinous processes of the midline of the vertebrae are removed, giving the spinal cord room.
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| Lateral collateral ligament | See Fibular collateral ligament.
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| Lateral compartment | A lateral part of the leg where evertors of the foot and ankle are found containing the peroneus longus and the peroneus brevis.
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| Lateral epicondylitis | Tendonitis of the lateral epicondyle area. Commonly known as tennis elbow.
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| Lateral femoral condyle | See Medial and lateral femoral condyles.
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| Lateral flexion | The movement of the head and/or trunk in the frontal plane laterally away from the midline; abduction of the spine. Also known as side bending.
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| Lateral longitudinal arch | The arch located on the lateral side of the foot and extending from the calcaneus to the cuboid and distal ends of the 4th and 5th metatarsals.
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| Lateral meniscus | The lateral semilunar cartilage that acts as a cushion inside the knee, preventing friction and providing shock absorption.
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| Latissimus dorsi | A shoulder joint muscle that spans superficially over most of the posterior trunk and inserts on the bicipital groove of the humerus. Its functions are adduction and extension, medial rotation, and horizontal abduction of the humerus.
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| Law of acceleration (Newton's law) | The principle which states that (1) a change in the acceleration of a body occurs in the same direction as the force that caused it and (2) the change in acceleration is directly proportional to the force causing it and inversely proportional to the mass of the body.
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| Law of inertia | One of Newton's laws, which states that (1) a body in motion tends to remain in motion at the same speed in a straight line unless acted on by a force and (2) a body at rest tends to remain at rest unless acted on by a force.
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| Law of reaction | One of Newton's laws, which states that for every action there is an opposite and equal reaction.
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| Lesser trochanter | A smaller process that serves as a bony landmark for the iliopsoas.
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| Levator scapulae | A shoulder girdle muscle that lifts the scapula. It lies underneath the trapezius and spans from the cervical vertebrae to the superior angle of the scapula.
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| Line of pull | The line of action for a contracting muscle.
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| Linea alba | A structure that runs vertically from the xiphoid process through the umbilicus to the pubis. It divides each rectus abdominis and serves as its medial border.
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| Linea aspera | The line on the posterior femur that provides attachment sites for many muscles, including the adductors, quadriceps, and short head of the biceps femoris.
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| Linea semilunaris | A crescent, or moon-shaped, line that runs vertically and lateral to each rectus abdominis. This line represents the aponeurosis connecting the lateral border of the rectus abdominis and the medial border of the external and internal abdominal obliques.
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| Linear motion | Motion along a line. Also known as translatory motion.
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| Lordosis | An increased posterior concavity of the lumbar and cervical curves.
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| Lumbar kyphosis | A reduction of the lumbar spine's normal lordotic curve, resulting in a flat-back appearance.
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| Lumbar vertebrae | The five bony structures that surround the spinal cord in the lower back and are attached superiorly to the thoracic vertebrae and inferiorly to the sacrum.
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| Lumbosacral plexus | A group of nerves from the lumbar and sacral plexuses. The femoral nerve is a major nerve stemming from the lumbar plexus.
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| Lunate | A carpal bone.
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| Malleoli | Bony protrusions at the distal end of the fi bula and tibia.
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| Manubrium | The body of the sternum.
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| Mass | The amount of matter in a body; affects the speed and acceleration in physical movements.
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| Mechanical advantage | A principle which states that machines enable us to apply a relatively small force, or effort, to move a much greater resistance. It is determined by dividing the load by the effort.
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| Medial collateral ligament (MCL) | A ligament located on the medial side of the knee joint; maintains medial stability by resisting valgus forces or by preventing the knee joint from being abducted.
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| Medial epicondylitis | Tendonitis, or "golfer's elbow," of the medial epicondyle area.
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| Medial and lateral femoral condyles | Bony prominences on the distal end of the femur that articulate with the tibia and provide attachment sites for muscles.
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| Medial longitudinal arch | The arch located on the medial side of the foot and extending from the calcaneus bone to the talus, the navicular, the three cuneiforms, and the distal ends of the three medial metatarsals.
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| Medial meniscus | The medial semilunar cartilage that acts as a cushion inside the knee, preventing friction and providing shock absorption.
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| Medial tibial condyle | The bony process that provides an area of attachment for the semimembranosus.
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| Median nerve | The nerve that spans from the brachial plexus and can be compromised in the carpal tunnel and by other soft tissue; provides sensation to the hand and the first three fingers.
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| Median nerve disorders | The pathologic conditions of carpal tunnel syndrome, pronator teres syndrome, and double- crush syndrome; may be caused by soft-tissue entrapment of the median nerve as well as repetitive action.
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| Meralgia paresthetica | Pain in the anterior thigh; can be attributed to branches of the femoral nerve being compromised at some location, often from soft tissue.
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| Metacarpophalangeal (MCP) | The condyloid joint between the metacarpal and the phalange; allows action in flexion, extension, abduction, and adduction. Commonly known as knuckle.
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| Metatarsals | The five bones connected to the phalanges of the toes and to the tarsals of the foot.
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| Metatarsophalangeal (MP) joint | The joint between the metatarsal and the phalange.
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| Midstance | The stance phase of running or walking that occurs during pronation and internal rotation of the foot and leg, respectively.
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| Morton's foot structure | The structure in which the second toe is an entire knuckle longer than the great toe.
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| Movement phase | In the movement cycle, the phase that is the action part of the skill. Also known as acceleration, action, motion, or contact phase.
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| Multiarticular | Pertaining to muscles that act on three or more joints because the line of pull between their origin and insertion crosses multiple joints.
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| Muscle spindles | Proprioceptors that are concentrated primarily in the muscle belly between the fibers and are sensitive to stretch and rate of stretch.
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| Musculocutaneous nerve | The nerve that spans from the brachial plexus and innervates the biceps brachii and brachialis muscles.
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| Myofascial pain | Pain that is associated with soft tissue, may or may not hurt at the location of the trigger point, and is not linked with the distribution of a nerve.
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| Myofascial stretches | A series of techniques designed to stretch and warm up the tissues.
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| Myotatic reflex arc | See Stretch reflex.
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| Myotome | A muscle or group of muscles supplied by a specific spinal nerve.
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| Navicular | A tarsal bone in the foot.
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| Nerve compression | A nerve impingement caused by abnormal bony growth.
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| Nerve entrapment | A nerve impingement caused by pressure from soft-tissue structures.
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| Nerve impingement | The compression or entrapment of a nerve, caused by hard tissue (bone) or soft tissue. Commonly known as pinched nerve.
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| Neurons | Nerve cells that are the basic functional units of the nervous system, responsible for generating and transmitting impulses.
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| Neutralizers | Muscles that counteract or neutralize the action of other muscles to prevent undesirable movements such as inappropriate muscle substitutions. They contract to resist specific actions of other muscles. Also known as neutralizing muscles.
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| Ober's test | An orthopedic test for a contracted iliotibial tract.
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| Obturator externus | A lateral hip rotator that is located on the posterior pelvis.
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| Obturator internus | A lateral hip rotator that is located on the posterior pelvis.
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| Obturator nerve | A major nerve stemming from the lumbar plexus.
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| Occipital nerve entrapment | A condition in which the soft tissue of the trapezius and semispinalis capitis entraps the occipital nerve, causing numbness, pain, and tingling in the back of the head.
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| Occipitofrontalis | A scalp muscle that is a combination of the occipitalis and frontalis muscles.
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| Open kinetic chain | An open system in which one joint in an extremity can move or function separately without necessitating movement of other joints in the extremity; occurs when the distal end of the extremity is not fixed to any surface.
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| Opposition of the thumb | A diagonal movement of the thumb across the palmar surface of the hand to make contact with the fingers.
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| Origin | (1) From a structural perspective, the proximal attachment of a muscle or the part that attaches closest to the midline or center of the body. (2) From a functional and historical perspective, the least movable part or attachment of the muscle.
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| Osgood-Schlatter disease | A dysfunction with the growth plate of the tibia that causes pain in the superior anterior tibial region, probable tracking issues, and tendonitis of the patella.
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| Osteoarthritis | A pathologic condition causing abnormal bony growth.
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| Overload principle | A basic physiologic principle of exercise which states that within appropriate parameters, a muscle or muscle group increases in strength in direct proportion to the overload placed on it.
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| Palmar flexion | A wrist flexion movement in the sagittal plane with the volar or anterior side of the hand moving toward the anterior side of the forearm.
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| Palmaris longus | A superficial muscle of the forearm that assists in flexing the wrist.
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| Parallel thumbs | A deep-tissue technique executed by alternately applying pressure with the thumbs in a rolling-over motion. The thumbs face and are parallel to each other, and they should be at a right angle to the muscle fibers.
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| Passive movement | Action that does not shorten the soft tissues. Patella A sesamoid, or floating, bone that is embedded in the tendon on the anterior of the knee joint.
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| Patella | A sesamoid, or floating, bone that is embedded in the tendon on the anterior of the knee joint.
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| Patellar tracking | A condition that is often the result of unusual gait problems that prevent the patella from normally riding over the knee in a superior and inferior direction during flexion and extension. Should the knee be torqued in a more medial or lateral position, it does not help the patella to track over the knee properly in movement, thus causing pain in and around the knee.
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| Pectineus | A deep small hip adductor and hip flexor located between the pubic bone and the femur.
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| Pectoralis major | A shoulder joint muscle that has attachments on the clavicle, sternum, and costal ribs of the anterior trunk. Because of its fanlike structure coming from different directions on the trunk, it performs all shoulder joint movements with the exception of lateral rotation and horizontal abduction.
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| Pectoralis minor | A shoulder girdle muscle that is an anterior muscle originating on the ribs and inserting on the coracoid process of the scapula. It abducts and depresses the scapula and is an accessory respiratory muscle.
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| Pelvic bones | The ilium, the ischium, and the pubis.
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| Periodization | The intentional variance in a training program in which the training is set at regular intervals.
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| Peroneal nerves | Nerves that come from the sciatic nerve and provide sensation to the anterolateral lower leg and dorsum of the foot.
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| Peroneus brevis | A lateral leg muscle that everts the foot.
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| Peroneus longus | A lateral leg muscle that everts and plantar flexes the foot.
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| Peroneus tertius | An anterior leg muscle that assists in dorsiflexion and eversion.
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| Pes anserinus | A location on the medial proximal tibia that provides an area of attachment for the sartorius, gracilis and semitendinosus muscles.
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| Phalanges | The bones that make up the toes of the feet and fingers of the hand. There are 14 phalanges in the fingers and 14 in the toes.
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| Piriformis | A lateral hip rotator located on the posterior pelvis that can entrap the sciatic nerve.
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| Piriformis syndrome | The entrapment of the sciatic nerve by the piriformis in a prolonged state of external rotation or by different structural scenarios of the nerve actually passing around or through the piriformis itself.
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| Pisiform | A carpal bone.
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| Pivot joint | See Trochoid joint.
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| Plane of motion | An imaginary two-dimensional surface through which a limb or body segment is moved.
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| Plantar fasciitis | An inflammation of the plantar fascia with possible microtears.
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| Plantar flexion | The extension movement of the ankle that results in the foot and/or toes moving away from the body in the sagittal plane.
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| Plantaris | The biarticulate muscle that is located posterior to the knee. It flexes the knee and minimally contributes to plantar flexion. It is absent in some humans.
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| Plica | A synovial fold of tissue.
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| PNF stretching | See Proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation stretching.
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| Popliteus | A muscle located on the posterior knee that flexes and internally rotates the knee joint.
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| Posterior compartment | The posterior leg is divided into deep and superficial spaces. The gastrocnemius, soleus, and plantaris are located superficially and the tibialis posterior, flexor hallucis longus, flexor digitorum longus, and popliteus are located in the deep compartment.
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| Posterior cruciate ligament (PCL) | A ligament located inside the knee joint. It crosses with the anterior cruciate ligament between the tibia and the femur and maintains stability in the knee joint.
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| Posterior leg cramp | A painful muscle spasm in the gastrocnemius and/or soleus.
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| Preparatory phase | In the movement cycle, the phase in which appropriate muscles are lengthened so that they will be in position to generate more force and momentum as they concentrically contract in the next phase. Also known as wind-up phase.
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| Pronation | (1) Of the foot: a combination of ankle dorsiflexion, subtalar eversion, and forefoot abduction (toe-out). (2) Of the radioulnar joint: the internal rotation of the radius in the transverse plane so that it lies diagonally across the ulna, resulting in the palm-down position of the forearm.
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| Pronator quadratus | A small forearm muscle that is located distally on the radius and ulna and performs pronation.
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| Pronator teres | The forearm muscle that is located on the medial side of the ulna and radius and performs pronation.
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| Pronator teres syndrome | A median nerve disorder that may include repetitive pronation.
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| Proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation (PNF) stretching | Stretching that utilizes the components of muscle physiology to obtain a great range of motion in muscles.
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| Proprioceptors | Internal receptors located in the skin, joints, muscles, and tendons that provide us feedback relative to the tension, length, and contraction state of muscle, the position of the body and limbs, and movements of the joints.
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| Prosthesis | A substitute that replaces a worn or injured joint.
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| Protraction | A shoulder girdle forward movement in the horizontal plane away from the spine; abduction of the scapula.
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| Proximal interphalangeal (PIP) | A hinge joint between the distal interphalangeal joint (DIP) and the metacarpophalangeal (MCP) joints.
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| Psoas major | The muscle of the iliopsoas group that primarily provides hip flexion. It is a deep core muscle that also provides stability for the lumbar spine.
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| Psoas minor | A small muscle of the iliopsoas group that does not provide hip flexion as it does not insert on the femur.
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| Pubis | The anterior and lower one-fifth of the pelvic bones.
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| Q angle | The quadriceps angle formed by the intersection of the central line of pull of the quadriceps and the line of pull of the patella.
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| Quadratus femoris | A lateral hip rotator that is located on the posterior pelvis.
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| Quadratus lumborum | A muscle that is located in the deep posterior lumbar region and is involved in lumbar movements and spinal stabilization.
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| Radial flexion (radial deviation) | A wrist abduction movement in the frontal plane of the thumb side of the hand toward the lateral forearm.
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| Radial nerve | A nerve spanning from the brachial plexus that innervates muscles and provides sensation for the arm, forearm, and hand.
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| Radial nerve entrapment | Compromise of the radial nerve by soft tissue.
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| Radicular pain | A type of pain that is unilateral, deep, steady, and reproducible with certain activities (walking or sitting) and that follows the involved dermatome.
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| Radioulnar joint | A pivot joint consisting of the articulation of the radius and ulna.
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| Radius | A bone next to the ulna in the forearm.
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| Range of motion (ROM) | The area through which a joint may normally be freely and painlessly moved.
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| Reciprocal innervation | An effect that occurs through reciprocal inhibition of antagonists. Activation of the motor units of the agonists causes a reciprocal neural inhibition of the motor units of the antagonists. This reduction in the neural activity of the antagonists allows them to subsequently lengthen under less tension.
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| Recovery phase | In the movement cycle, the phase after follow-through in which balance and positioning are regained to be ready for the next sports demand.
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| Rectus abdominis | A large superficial abdominal muscle that projects from ribs 5, 6, and 7 and the xiphoid process to the pubic bone. It flexes the trunk and helps compress organs.
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| Rectus femoris | A quadriceps muscle that provides hip flexion and knee extension.
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| Reduction | The return movement from lateral flexion to neutral in the frontal plane.
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| Referred pain | Pain that can be achy, dull, migratory, and intermittent with varied intensity. It can radiate from the low back to the groin, buttock, and upper thigh.
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| Reposition of the thumb | A diagonal movement of the thumb as it returns to the anatomical position from opposition with the hand and/or fingers.
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| Resistance arm | The distance between the axis and the point of resistance application.
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| Retraction | A shoulder girdle backward movement in the horizontal plane toward the spine; adduction of the scapula.
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| Rhomboids | Shoulder girdle muscles that insert on the vertebral border of the scapula. The rhomboid major and minor are deep to the trapezius. Shaped like a bilateral Christmas tree, they connect the spinous processes of the thoracic spine to the vertebral edge of the scapula. Their major functions are adduction and downward rotation.
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| RICE | An acronym for "rest, ice, compression, and elevation." It is a first aid recipe for immediate response to acute injuries such as an acute sprain.
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| Rotation | Spinal movement in the transverse plane. The spine can rotate 90 degrees.
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| Rotation downward | A shoulder girdle rotary movement of the scapula in the frontal plane with the inferior angle of the scapula moving medially and downward; occurs primarily in the return from upward rotation. The inferior angle may actually move upward slightly as the scapula continues in extreme downward rotation.
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| Rotation upward | A shoulder girdle rotary movement of the scapula in the frontal plane with the inferior angle of the scapula moving laterally and upward.
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| Rotator cuff group | A group of muscles whose tendons line up on the head of the humerus for stabilization. It comprises the supraspinatus, infraspinatus, teres minor, and subscapularis. See entries for the individual muscles for descriptions.
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| Sacroiliac joint | The joint between the sacrum and the ilium.
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| Sacrum | An extension of the spinal column that has five fused vertebrae. Extending inferior to the sacrum is the coccyx.
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| Saddle-type joint | See Sellar joint.
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| Sagittal plane | The anteroposterior, or AP, plane that divides the body into right and left symmetrical halves.
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| SAID | See Specific adaptations to imposed demands.
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| Sarcopenia | A condition that causes a gradual loss of skeletal muscle.
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| Sartorius | A strap muscle that provides hip flexion, external rotation, and knee flexion. It is a superficial muscle running from the iliac crest to the medial tibia.
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| Scaphoid | A carpal bone.
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| Scapula | A flat bone that is one of the bones of the shoulder girdle. It attaches to the clavicle and provides a place for the upper extremity to attach.
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| Scapulothoracic | Pertaining to the actions of the shoulder girdle as it moves in various directions over the rib cage. It is not a true joint.
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| Sciatic nerve | A nerve composed of the tibial and common peroneal nerves, which are wrapped in connective tissue until reaching midway down the posterior thigh.
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| Sciatica | The inflammation of the sciatic nerve.
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| Scoliosis | A lateral curvature of the spine.
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| Sellar joint | A type of diarthrodial joint of reciprocal reception that is found only in the thumb at the carpometacarpal joint and permits ball-and-socket movement, with the exception of slight rotation. Also known as saddle joint.
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| Semimembranosus | A hamstring muscle that is located on the posterior thigh and inserts on the medial tibia. It extends the hip and flexes and internally rotates the knee.
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| Semitendinosus | A hamstring muscle that is located on the posterior thigh and inserts on the medial tibia. It extends the hip and flexes and internally rotates the knee.
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| Sequence | A specific series of techniques chosen to accomplish a particular goal in a massage session.
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| Serratus anterior | A shoulder girdle muscle that spans from the upper nine ribs and inserts into the anterior medial scapula. It abducts and upwardly rotates the scapula and is an accessory muscle of respiration.
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| Sesamoid | A bone that is not attached to another bone but
"floats" in soft tissue.
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| Sherrington's law | The law of reciprocal innervation, which states that for every neural activation of a muscle, there is a corresponding inhibition of the opposing muscle.
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| Shoulder girdle | The bony arch made up of the clavicle and scapula. It surrounds the trunk and attaches to the sternum.
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| Skeletal system | All the bones of the body; consists of two regions, the appendicular skeleton and the axial skeleton.
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| Sliding-filament theory | A researched model of how a muscle contracts. Hugh Huxley and Jean Hanson proposed in 1954 that the myofilaments in muscle do not shorten during a contraction but that the thin filaments slide over the thick ones and pull the Z disks behind them, causing each sarcomere as a unit to shorten.
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| Soleus | A deep posterior leg muscle under the gastrocnemius. It plantar flexes the foot.
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| Somatic pain | Pain from muscle, skin, or joints.
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| Specific adaptations to imposed demands (SAID) | A principle which states that the body will gradually, over time, adapt very specifically to the various stresses and overloads to which it is subjected. It is applicable in every form of muscle training, as well as to all the systems of the body.
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| Specificity | The concentrated approach to a specific area of focus.
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| Speed | A measure of how fast an object is moving, or the distance an object travels in a specific amount of time.
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| Spinal extension | The return from flexion; posterior movement of the spine in the sagittal plane.
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| Spinal rotation | The rotary movement of the spine in a transverse plane.
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| Splenius capitis | A posterior cervical muscle that inserts into the occiput. Bilaterally, it extends the head; unilaterally, it laterally flexes and rotates the head.
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| Splenius cervicis | A posterior cervical muscle that inserts on the transverse processes of C1-C3. Bilaterally, it extends the head; unilaterally, it laterally flexes and rotates the head.
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| Splinting | A supportive action that a muscle or muscles may perform so that another joint and group of muscles can function appropriately.
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| Sprains | Injuries with various levels of severity that often tear ligaments, bruise nerves, and tear soft tissue. All the signs and symptoms of inflammation are present.
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| Spurs | Bony growths on the side of the vertebrae.
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| Stabilizers | Muscles that surround a joint or body part and contract to fixate or stabilize the area to enable another limb or body segment to exert force and move. They are essential in establishing a relatively firm base for the more distal joints to work from when carrying out movements. Also known as fixators.
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| Stance phase | (1) A phase of the gait (running or walking) cycle. (2) In the movement cycle, the phase in which the athlete assumes a comfortable and appropriately balanced body position from which to initiate the sports skill.
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| Sternoclavicular (SC) | The gliding joint made up of the sternum and clavicle.
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| Sternocleidomastoid (SCM) | An anterior and lateral neck muscle named for its attachments. It flexes, rotates, and laterally flexes the head.
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| Stiff neck | A catchall term for limitations in neck movements.
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| Strains | Injuries to the soft tissue, with various levels of severity.
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| Stretch reflex | A muscle contraction in response to the lengthening, or stretching, of a muscle. This reflex acts as a defense mechanism to prevent the overstretching of a muscle. Also known as myotatic reflex arc.
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| Stretching | Taking a muscle in its resting length and expanding it.
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| Stripping | A deep-tissue technique designed to push fluids from distal to proximal.
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| Structural kinesiology | The study of muscles, bones, and joints as they are involved in the science of movement.
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| Subacute | The stage of inflammation that carries the same signs and symptoms as those of the acute stage but without escalation.
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| Subacute flare-up | A response to a chronic injury that is not allowed to rest. The site exhibits the signs and symptoms of the acute stage.
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| Subclavius | A shoulder girdle muscle that is a stabilizer and protects the sternoclavicular joint.
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| Subluxation | A joint that is slightly ajar. It is not dislocated, but it has articular surfaces that are somewhat out of alignment.
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| Suboccipitals | Deep posterior neck muscles known for rocking and tilting the head. They are the rectus capitis posterior minor, rectus capitis posterior major, and obliquus capitis superior and inferior.
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| Subscapularis | A muscle that originates on the subscapular fossa and inserts on the lesser tubercle. It adducts, extends, and medially rotates the humerus.
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| Subtalar and transverse tarsal joints | Gliding joints that allow the ankle to complete inversion and eversion.
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| Superior peroneal retinaculum | A tissue bridge that tacks down the peroneal tendons superior to the calcaneofibular ligament.
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| Supination | (1) Of the foot: a combination of ankle plantar flexion, subtalar inversion, and forefoot adduction (toe-in). (2) Of the radioulnar joint: the external rotation of the radius in the transverse plane so that it lies parallel to the ulna, resulting in the palm-up position of the forearm.
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| Supinator | A muscle in the forearm that performs supination.
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| Supraspinatus | A rotator cuff muscle that originates on the supraspinous fossa and whose insertion lines up next to the infraspinatus and teres minor on the greater tubercle of the humerus. It performs weak abduction.
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| Suture | A type of synarthrodial joint found in the skull.
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| Swing | A phase of the gait (running or walking) cycle that occurs when the foot leaves the ground and the leg moves forward to another point of contact.
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| Symphysis | An amphiarthrodial joint separated by a fibrocartilage pad that allows very slight movement between the bones.
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| Symphysis pubis | An amphiarthrodial joint that joins the pelvic bones anteriorly.
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| Synarthrodial joints | Immovable joints.
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| Synchondrosis | An amphiarthrodial joint separated by hyaline cartilage that allows very slight movement between the bones.
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| Syndesmosis | A type of synarthrodial joint that is held together by strong ligaments.
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| Synergists | Muscles that assist in the action of agonists but are not necessarily prime movers for the action. They assist in refined movement and rule out undesired motions. Also known as guiding muscles.
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| Talocrural joint | A hinge joint that allows the foot to dorsiflex and plantar flex. It is made up of the talus, distal tibia, and distal fibula.
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| Talus | A tarsal bone in the foot.
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| Tarsals | Bones consisting of the talus, calcaneus, navicular, three cuneiforms, and cuboid in the foot.
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| Technique goals | The outcomes expected from choosing techniques for a particular purpose.
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| Temporalis | A scalp muscle that is located above the ear on each side of the head. It attaches to five different bones of the face and skull.
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| Temporomandibular joint (TMJ) syndrome | A condition that causes pain in the jaw, headaches, and problems opening and closing the jaw. It is caused by trauma, grinding teeth, braces, dental procedures, the jaw being open too long, cervical traction, and other factors.
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| Tendinous inscriptions | Horizontal indentations that transect the rectus abdominis at three or more locations, giving the muscle its segmented appearance.
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| Tendon | A fibrous connective tissue, often cordlike in appearance, that connects muscles to bones and other structures.
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| Tendon sheath | A plastic wrap-like connective tissue, surrounding individual groups of tendons, that can become inflamed from the repetitive action and continual torque received in the region.
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| Tendonitis | A pathologic condition of the soft tissue that is characterized by inflammation of a tendon.
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| Tendonosis | A pathologic condition of the soft tissue that is characterized by a breakdown in collagen fibers.
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| Tennis elbow | See Lateral epicondylitis.
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| Tensor fasciae latae | An anterior hip muscle that provides hip flexion and abduction.
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| Teres major | A posterior muscle that originates on the inferior angle of the scapula and inserts on the bicipital groove of the humerus. With latissimus dorsi, it forms the back aspect of the axilla region. It is a strong extensor and adductor and medially rotates the humerus.
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| Teres minor | A rotator cuff muscle that originates on the upper axillary border of the scapula and inserts on the inferior facet of the greater tubercle of the humerus. It performs extension, lateral rotation, and horizontal abduction.
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| Thoracic vertebrae | The 12 bony structures that surround the spinal cord in the chest and are attached superiorly to the cervical vertebrae and inferiorly to the lumbar vertebrae.
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| Tibia | The medial bone of the leg.
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| Tibial medial condyle | A bony process that provides an area of attachment for the semimembranosus.
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| Tibial nerve | The nerve that comes from the sciatic nerve and provides sensation to the posterolateral lower leg and the plantar aspect of the foot.
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| Tibial plateau | The smooth bony surface of the medial and lateral epicondyles of the tibia that articulates with the condylar surface of the femur.
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| Tibial tuberosity | A bony landmark where the quadriceps inserts into the tibia.
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| Tibialis anterior | An anterior leg muscle that dorsiflexes and inverts the foot.
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| Tibialis posterior | A posterior leg muscle deep to the soleus. It is a strong invertor of the foot.
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| Tibiofemoral joint | A hinge joint of the knee that provides flexion and extension.
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| Tibiofibular joint | A syndesmotic amphiarthrodial joint held together by ligaments and supported by the interosseus membrane; located at the proximal and distal tibia and fibula.
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| TMJ syndrome | See Temporomandibular joint syndrome.
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| Toe extension | Movement of the toes away from the plantar surface of the foot.
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| Toe flexion | Movement of the toes toward the plantar surface of the foot.
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| Toe-off | The third component of the stance phase of running or walking that occurs after the foot returns to supination and the leg returns to external rotation.
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| Torque | The turning effect of an eccentric force. Also known as moment of force.
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| Torticollis | A spasmodic contraction of the neck muscles, mostly the trapezius and sternocleidomastoid, since they are supplied by the spinal accessory nerve. Also known as wry neck.
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| Traditional kinesiology | The study of the science of muscle movement.
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| Transverse arch | The arch that extends across the foot from one metatarsal bone to the other.
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| Transverse plane | The plane that divides the body horizontally into superior and inferior halves.
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| Transverse tarsal joints | See Subtalar and transverse tarsal joints.
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| Transversus abdominis | A deep abdominal muscle that connects to the other abdominal muscles by aponeurosis. It attaches to the diaphragm, helps in forced expiration, and compresses abdominal organs.
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| Trapezium | A carpal bone.
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| Trapezius | A four-sided superficial posterior muscle that is divided into three sections: upper, middle, and lower. It lifts and depresses the clavicle and scapula and adducts and upwardly rotates the scapula. Bilaterally, it extends the head; unilaterally, it can flex the head to the ipsilateral side.
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| Trapezoid | A carpal bone.
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| Treatment protocol | A synopsis of an overall approach to a massage session.
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| Trendelenburg test | An orthopedic test used to assess gluteus medius weakness.
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| Treppe | A phenomenon of muscle contraction that occurs when multiple maximal stimuli are provided at a low enough frequency to allow complete relaxation between contractions to rested muscle.
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| Triceps brachii | A three-headed muscle located on the posterior surface of the arm. All three heads extend the forearm.
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| Triceps surae | A term used collectively for the gastrocnemius and soleus.
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| Trigger point release | See Ischemic compression.
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| Trigger points | Irritated or hyperactive areas, often located in hypertonic tissue, that are either active (refer pain to a specific area) or latent (have a positive reaction to pain in the area of the trigger point).
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| Triquetrum | A carpal bone.
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| Trochoid joint | A type of diarthrodial joint with a rotational movement around a long axis; depicts its movement of rotation as supination and pronation. Also known as pivot joint and screw joint.
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| Ulna | The bone next to the radius in the forearm. It articulates with the humerus and with the radius.
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| Ulnar flexion (ulnar deviation) | A wrist adduction movement in the frontal plane of the little-finger side of the hand toward the medial forearm.
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| Ulnar nerve | The nerve branching from C8 and T1 that supplies the flexor digitorum profundus for the 4th and 5th fingers and the flexor carpi ulnaris. Additionally, it innervates the remaining intrinsic muscles of the hand (the deep head of the flexor pollicis brevis, adductor pollicis, palmar interossei, dorsal interossei, 3rd and 4th lumbricals, opponens digiti minimi, abductor digiti minimi, and flexor digiti minimi brevis). Sensation to the ulnar side of the hand, the ulnar half of the ring finger, and the entire little finger is provided by the ulnar nerve.
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| Ulnar nerve compression | A restriction of the ulnar nerve by a bony structure.
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| Uniarticular | A type of muscle that acts directly on only the joint that it crosses.
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| Vastus intermedius | A quadriceps muscle that is deep to the rectus femoris and extends the knee.
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| Vastus lateralis | A quadriceps muscle that inserts laterally into the patellar tendon and extends the knee.
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| Vastus medialis | A quadriceps muscle that inserts medially into the patellar tendon and extends the knee.
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| Velocity | The direction and rate of displacement.
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| Whiplash | An injury resulting from a sudden impact and causing a violent hyperextension of the head and neck, followed by hyperflexion and perhaps an additional hyperextension.
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| Wry neck | See Torticollis.
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| Xiphoid process | The structure at the base of the sternum.
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