NBCE Physiotherapy key terms

Measurement of a joint's range of motion with a protractor-like instrument whose axis is placed over the joint and arms aligned with bony landmarks, recorded in degrees for active or passive movement.

Grading a patient's strength on a 0 to 5 scale while they contract a muscle against gravity and examiner resistance, with the therapist palpating the tendon and observing the movement produced.

The strip of skin receiving sensation from a single spinal nerve root; mapped by testing light touch or pinprick to locate the level of nerve root involvement.

The muscles supplied by the motor fibers of one spinal nerve root; assessed by resisted contraction of a representative muscle to detect a radicular motor deficit.

A quick muscle contraction produced by tapping a tendon with a reflex hammer, graded 0 to 4+ to judge the integrity of a specific spinal reflex arc and its nerve root.

A neural tension test in which the supine patient's straightened leg is lifted; reproduction of pain below the knee suggests irritation of a lumbosacral nerve root.

A fall in blood pressure on standing, often defined as 20 mmHg systolic or 10 mmHg diastolic, sometimes causing dizziness; measured before and during exercise sessions.

A self-report questionnaire scoring how much back pain limits everyday activities such as lifting, walking, and self-care, used to set a baseline and track change over care.

Structured observation of walking, dividing the cycle into stance and swing phases to identify deviations such as antalgic, Trendelenburg, or steppage patterns and their likely causes.

Visual and palpatory inspection of standing alignment from front, side, and back, looking for asymmetries like pelvic tilt, spinal curvature, or forward head carriage.

Comparing responses to light touch, pinprick, vibration, and temperature on both sides and across regions to map deficits and screen for peripheral or nerve root pathology.

Applying high-frequency sound waves through a coupling gel to heat deep tissues and aid soft-tissue healing, with dose set by intensity, duty cycle, and treatment time.

Using therapeutic ultrasound to push a medication applied to the skin, usually an anti-inflammatory gel, into the underlying soft tissue.

Driving charged medication molecules into tissue with a low-voltage direct current, where the drug migrates toward the electrode of opposite polarity.

Surface electrodes deliver pulsed current to modify pain perception, typically at higher frequency and comfortable intensity for sensory-level relief.

Current applied over a muscle belly or its motor point at sufficient intensity to produce a visible contraction, used for strengthening, re-education, or edema control.

Two medium-frequency alternating currents crossed within tissue to generate a low-frequency beat, giving deeper and more comfortable stimulation than single-channel low-frequency current.

Cooling tissue with ice packs, cold immersion, or vapocoolant spray to lessen pain, blood flow, muscle spasm, and acute inflammation after injury.

Superficial heating with hot packs, paraffin, or warm whirlpool to raise blood flow, increase tissue extensibility, and ease discomfort before stretching or exercise.

Deep heating produced by high-frequency electromagnetic energy, capable of warming larger and deeper regions than hot packs reach.

A sustained or intermittent longitudinal pull applied to the cervical or lumbar spine to distract joints, unload discs, and reduce nerve root compression.

Applying monochromatic light to tissue in measured energy doses to influence inflammation and support cellular repair, without producing meaningful tissue heating.

A strengthening approach in which the load is steadily increased as the patient adapts, usually set as a percentage of a maximum repetition so gains continue safely.

A muscle contraction held without joint movement or change in muscle length, useful early after injury or when motion must be limited.

Movement with the far segment fixed so several joints move together under load, such as a squat, often used for functional lower-extremity rehabilitation.

A group of manual techniques using diagonal movement patterns, quick stretches, and resisted contractions to improve neuromuscular control, strength, and flexibility.

Skilled passive oscillation or sustained gliding of a joint within its available range, graded by amplitude, to reduce pain and restore motion.

Holding a muscle at its end range for a set period, commonly 15 to 30 seconds, to lengthen tissue, usually done after warming up.

A contract-relax technique in which the patient isometrically contracts the tight muscle against resistance, then relaxes while the clinician moves it further into range.

Training that retrains the timing and precision of stabilizing muscle activation, beginning with low-load control before adding load, speed, or functional tasks.

A structured progress note capturing the patient's subjective reports, objective findings, the clinician's assessment, and the plan, used for each treatment visit.

A written outline of treatment goals, interventions, visit frequency, and expected duration, reviewed and revised as the patient improves or plateaus.

The clinician's reasoned prediction of how long recovery should take and how complete it will likely be, restated as new findings emerge.

Deciding and documenting when skilled care should end because goals are met or progress has plateaued, and confirming the patient has a home program and follow-up.

The patient's voluntary agreement to treatment after being told its purpose, expected benefits, risks, alternatives, and right to decline at any time.

Documentation showing that skilled services are reasonable and required for the patient's condition, which supports reimbursement and justifies continuing care.

A situation in which a treatment must not be given at all because the likelihood of serious harm clearly outweighs any possible benefit.

A symptom or sign pointing to serious disease such as fracture, infection, tumor, or cauda equina syndrome, calling for prompt referral rather than routine therapy.

An implanted pacemaker or defibrillator may be disrupted by applied electrical current, so most electrical stimulation is avoided or used only under explicit clearance.

Routine infection-control practices such as hand hygiene, gloves, and surface cleaning applied to every patient encounter regardless of known diagnosis.