MOH Physiotherapy Licensure Exam (Jordan) key terms

The standard reference posture: standing upright, face forward, arms at the sides with palms facing forward, and feet together. All directional terms such as medial, lateral, proximal, and distal are described relative to this posture.

Imaginary flat surfaces used to describe motion: sagittal (flexion and extension), frontal (abduction and adduction), and transverse (rotation). Most joint movements occur primarily in one plane but combine planes in functional activity.

The description of bone movement through space, such as the swing of the femur during hip flexion. It describes visible joint motion without addressing the forces or muscle actions producing it.

The motion occurring between articular surfaces of a joint, described as roll, glide, and spin. Understanding these accessory motions guides manual therapy technique and joint mobilization direction.

Small accessory movements at a joint that cannot be performed actively but are necessary for normal painless motion. Loss of joint play suggests capsular restriction and is assessed and treated with mobilization techniques.

A characteristic proportion of restriction in passive range of motion across a joint when the whole capsule is affected. Each joint has its own pattern, helping clinicians distinguish capsular from non-capsular pathology.

The quality of resistance felt by the examiner at the limit of passive range of motion. Descriptors include soft, firm, hard, springy, and empty, and each suggests different underlying tissue pathology.

Isometric contraction generates tension without changing muscle length; concentric contraction shortens the muscle while producing force; eccentric contraction lengthens it under tension. Eccentric work produces the highest force and causes delayed onset muscle soreness.

The principle that a muscle produces the greatest active tension at its optimal resting length, where actin and myosin overlap most favorably. Overstretching or excessive shortening reduces available cross-bridge formation and force output.

The inverse relationship between the speed of muscle shortening and the force it can generate. Concentric force falls as velocity rises, while eccentric contractions can produce greater force than isometric ones.

A vascular and cellular response to tissue injury characterized by redness, heat, swelling, pain, and loss of function. Physiotherapy dosing during the acute phase aims to control pain and edema without provoking further tissue damage.

The sequential processes of hemostasis and inflammation, proliferation with granulation and collagen deposition, and remodeling with collagen reorientation and maturation. Loading must be matched to phase because immature tissue tolerates less tensile stress.

A degenerative and reactive condition of tendon characterized by disorganized collagen, pain, and load intolerance without prominent inflammation. Management centers on progressive eccentric or heavy slow resistance loading and load education.

Reduced bone mineral density with microarchitectural deterioration that increases fracture risk. Exercise prescription emphasizes weight-bearing and resistance training with spinal loading precautions in those with vertebral fracture risk.

The staged repair of bone through hematoma, soft callus, hard callus, and remodeling. Stability of fixation and adequate blood supply determine progression and guide when weight-bearing and mobilization can safely begin.

Damage to the corticospinal or other descending pathways above the anterior horn cell, producing spasticity, hyperreflexia, clonus, and weakness. It contrasts with lower motor neuron lesions, which cause flaccidity and atrophy.

A velocity-dependent increase in tonic stretch reflexes resulting from hyperexcitability of the stretch reflex after upper motor neuron damage. It can impair function, hygiene, and positioning and is graded with the Modified Ashworth Scale.

The capacity of the nervous system to reorganize structure and function in response to experience, injury, or training. Task-specific, repetitive, and salient practice drives beneficial reorganization after stroke or brain injury.

A seven-stage description of motor recovery after stroke, from flaccidity through spasticity and synergy development to near-normal isolated movement. It guides exercise selection and expectations during rehabilitation.

Practice of functional activities that closely resemble the movement goal, such as reaching, stepping, or sit-to-stand. Repetition and salience drive motor learning and are central to neurological rehabilitation.

The process by which practice and experience produce relatively permanent changes in movement capability. Concepts such as practice variability, feedback scheduling, and transfer inform exercise progression in rehabilitation.

A scoring system from 3 to 15 that grades eye opening, verbal response, and motor response. It is used to monitor level of consciousness and to guide safety decisions during early mobilization.

A scale describing cognitive and behavioral recovery after traumatic brain injury, from no response through confused, agitated, and automatic stages to purposeful and appropriate behavior. It informs readiness for therapy and safety planning.

The subjective sensation of uncomfortable or difficult breathing. Its intensity, triggers, and relief measures guide exercise tolerance assessment and pacing strategies in cardiopulmonary rehabilitation.

A validated scale, commonly 6 to 20 or 0 to 10, on which patients rate effort or breathlessness. It is used to set and monitor exercise intensity when heart rate or workload targets are unreliable.

A submaximal field test measuring the greatest distance walked in six minutes on a flat corridor. It assesses functional exercise capacity and is repeated to track response to pulmonary or cardiac rehabilitation.

A breathing technique in which the patient exhales slowly through pursed lips, creating back pressure that helps keep small airways open. It reduces air trapping and dyspnea in obstructive lung disease.

Methods such as postural drainage, percussion, vibration, oscillating positive expiratory pressure devices, and huffing that mobilize and remove retained secretions. Choice depends on secretion location, patient tolerance, and disease severity.

A graded assessment of voluntary strength, commonly on a 0 to 5 scale, using gravity-resisted and gravity-eliminated positions. Reliability improves with standardized positioning and is limited in patients with pain or cognitive impairment.

Measurement of joint range of motion using a goniometer with standardized landmarks and body positioning. Accurate recording of active and passive values supports diagnosis, goal setting, and outcome tracking.

The motion an examiner produces at a joint without active patient effort. It assesses tissue extensibility, joint integrity, and pain response when active movement is limited or contraindicated.

Provocative or stabilizing maneuvers used to support or refute a specific diagnosis, such as ligamentous stress tests or impingement signs. Their value depends on pretest probability and they should be interpreted alongside history and other findings.

The cognitive process of gathering, interpreting, and integrating clinical data to form a diagnosis, prognosis, and management plan. It includes hypothesis testing, pattern recognition, and reflection on decision outcomes.

Clinical findings suggesting serious pathology such as fracture, infection, malignancy, or cauda equina syndrome that require medical referral rather than routine physiotherapy. Screening for them is a core safety responsibility.

Systematically increasing training stimulus as the body adapts, by adjusting load, volume, frequency, or complexity. It is the central principle for gaining strength and endurance while avoiding excessive fatigue or injury.

A patient's voluntary agreement to assessment or treatment after receiving understandable information about benefits, risks, alternatives, and the right to refuse. It must be documented and revisited when the plan changes.

The professional duty to protect patient health information from unauthorized disclosure. Sharing must be limited to those involved in care or required by law, and records must be stored securely.

A structured evaluation of factors such as balance, gait, strength, vision, medications, and home hazards that predict falls. Findings direct multifactorial interventions including exercise, environment modification, and education.

Application of high-frequency acoustic energy to deep tissues to produce thermal or non-thermal effects. Evidence is limited, so parameters, indications, and contraindications must be applied selectively and documented.

Application of low-voltage electrical currents through surface electrodes to modulate pain, typically using high-frequency or low-frequency settings. It is an adjunct to active rehabilitation, not a substitute for it.