ACL - Anterior Cruciate Ligament of the knee. A crosslike ligament attaching the femur to the tibia.

Apraxia - The inability to execute a voluntary motor movement despite being able to demonstrate normal muscle function.  Apraxia is not related to a lack of understanding or to any kind of physical paralysis but us caused by a problem in the cortex of the brain.

Ataxia - Impaired ability to coordinate movement.

BPPV - Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo - Violent dizziness lasting approximately 30 seconds induced by certain head positions and often accompanied by nausea and vomiting.

Carpal Tunnel Syndrome -  (CTS) is a type of compression neuropathy caused by compression and irritation of the median nerve in the wrist.  The nerve is compressed within the carpal tunnel, a bony canal in the palm side of the wrist that provides passage for the median nerve to the hand.

Cerebral Palsy -  A syndrome of weakness, spasticity, poor coordination of the limbs and other muscles, impaired sensory perception, and sometimes impaired intelligence.  The cause of cerebral palsy is not always known, although many cases are linked with lack of oxygen during birth.

Cervicalgia - Refers to neck pain.

Dysarthria -  One of several speech problems that are due to paralysis, weakness, or inability to coordinate the muscles of the mouth.  Speech is characteristically slurred, slow, and difficult to produce, and the person with a dysarthria may also have problems controlling the pitch, loudness, rhythm and voice qualities of their speech.

Fibromyalgia -  Also known as fibrositis, fibromyalgia chronically causes pain, stiffness, and tenderness of muscles, tendons, and joints without detectable inflammation.  Fibromyalgia does not cause body damage or deformity.  However, undue fatigue plagues 90% of patients with fibromyalgia. 

Fracture - A crack or break in the bone.

Gait Training - Training geared towards the correct pattern of taking step, stride, or walking.

Home Exercise Program - Exercises given by the therapist to be done at home to promote healing, decrease pain, and increase flexibility.

Impingement - Compression or entrapment of a nerve or muscle.

Incontinence - Inability to control excretions.  Urinary incontinence is the inability to keep urine in the bladder.

Iontophoresis - The introduction of a medicine (anti-inflammatory) through the skin, using a mild electrical current vs. injection.

Low Back Pain - Local or referred pain at the base of the spine caused by a sprain, strain, arthritis or a prolapsed disk, Pain is associated with poor posture, improper lifting, obesity or sitting for long periods of time.

Lymphedema - A condition in which excess fluid called lymph collects in tissues and causes swelling (edema).  Lymphedema may occur in the arm or leg after lymph vessels or lymph nodes in the axilla (armpit) or groin are removed by surgery or damaged by radiation, impairing the normal drainage of lymphatic fluid.

Multiple Sclerosis -  (MS)  The National Sclerosis Society says of MS that it is "a disease that randomly attacks your central nervous system, wearing away the control you have over your body.  Symptoms may range from numbness to paralysis and blindness.  The progress, severity and specific symptoms cannot be foreseen.

Osteo Arthritis - Most common form of arthritis characterized by loss of cartilage.

Osteoporosis - Thinning of the bones with reduction in bone mass due to depletion of calcium and bone protein.  Osteoporosis predisposes a person to fractures, which are often slow to heal and heal poorly.  It is more common in older adults, particularly post-menopausal women; in patients on steroids; and in those who take steroidal drugs.

Parkinson's Disease -  An abnormal condition of the nervous system caused by degeneration of an area of the brain called the basal ganglia, and by low production of the neurotransmitter dopamine.  The first gene connected to Parkinson's was recently identified, but it is probably caused by a combination of genes and other factors.  The disease results in rigidity of the muscles, slow body movement and tremor.  Most patients are over 50, but at least 10% are under 40.

PFPS - Patello Femoral Pain Syndrome. Pain in the front of the knee usually due to muscle imbalance and abnormal drifting of the pjatella to the outside of the knee.

Plantar Fascitis - An inflammation of the connective tissue of the bottom of the foot.

Proprioception - The body’s awareness of position in space and muscular activity. Allows the body to orient itself in space without visual cues.

Rheumatoid Arthritis - Characterized by inflammation of the joints of arms, hand, legs and feet causing destruction of joint structures.

ROM - Range of motion. The amount of motion in a given joint.

Rotator Cuff - Refers to a group of four muscles around the shoulder joint

Sciatica - An inflammation of the sciatic nerve, usually marked by pain and tenderness along the course of the nerve through the gluteal region, thigh and leg.

Sprain - traumatic injury to the tendons. Muscles or ligaments around a joint, characterized by pain and swelling.

Strain - Extending a muscle, cartilage or tendon quickly causing microscopic injury to the structure.

Stroke - The sudden death of some brain cells due to a lack of oxygen when the blood flow to the brain is impaired by blockage or rupture of an artery to the brain.  A stroke is also called a cerebrovascular accident or fro short, a CVA.

Temporomandibular Dysfunction -  A disorder of the temporomandibular joint(s) that causes pain, usually in front of the ear(s), sometimes in the form of a headache.  Pain in the TMJ can be due to trauma, such as a blow to the face; inflammatory or degenerative arthritis, or poor dental work or structural defects.

Tendonitis - Inflammation of a tendon, usually resulting from a strain.

Total Hip Replacement - A surgical procedure that replaces the worn ball and or socket of the hip joint, with man-made materials.

Total Knee Replacement - A surgical technique that replaces worn bone at the ends of the tibia, fibula and femur at the knee, with a joint of man-made materials.

Ultrasound - A treatment that converts sound wave to heat in the tissue. It’s therapeutic use decreases pain, increases circulation and expedites healing.

Whiplash - A sudden motion of the neck causing it to be forced backward and then forward, resulting in tissue and vertebrae trauma.