Documentation and charting can be a time-consuming task for the physical therapist. The use of abbreviations, acronyms, and shorthand for commonly used words and terms can help expedite this necessary task. Even outside of charting, familiarity with the following symbols and abbreviations are beneficial as they are used extensively in medical literature and elsewhere. Here’s a list of man of the most common abbreviations and shorthand used in by physical therapists.

• Δ – Change (as in ‘delta’)

A

• ā – Before
• AAROM – Active Assistive Range of Motion
• ABD – Abduction
• ACJ – Acromioclavicular Joint
• ACL – Anterior Cruciate Ligament
• AD – Assistive Device
• ADD – Adduction
• ADL – Activities of Daily Living
• AFO – Ankle Foot Orthosis (Used To Treat Foot Drop)
• AKA – Above Knee Amputation
• AMA – Against Medical Advice
• Amb – Ambulation
• AROM – Active Range Of Motion
• @ – At

B

• B – Bilateral
• BID – Twice a Day
• BKA – Below Knee Amputation
• B/L – Bilateral
• BMI – Body Mass Index
• BOS – Base of Support
• BPM – Beats Per Minute

C

• c – With
• cerv – Cervical
• CF – Cystic Fibrosis
• CGA – Contact Guard Assist
• CKC – Closed Kinetic Chain
• C/o – Complains Of
• CNS – Central Nervous System
• COPD – Congestive Obstructive Pulmonary Disease
• CP – Cold Pack, Cerebral Palsy
• CPM – Continuous Passive Motion
• C/S – Cervical Spine
• CTr – Costo-transverse
• CTx – Cervical Traction
• CV – Costo-vertebral

D

• DB – Dumbbell
• D/C – Discharge
• DC – Chiropractor
• DDD – Degenerative Disc Disease
• DF – Dorsiflexion
• DF – Dorsiflexion (of The Ankle)
• DIP – Distal Interphalangeal Joint
• DJD – Degenerative Joint Disease
• DOB – Date of Birth
• DOI – Date of Injury
• DOS – Date of surgery
• DVT – Deep Vein Thrombosis
• Dx – Diagnosis

E

• ER – External Rotation
• Estim or ES – Electrical Stimulation
• ESWT – Extracorporeal Shockwave Therapy
• EV – Eversion (of the ankle)
• Ex – Exercise
• EXT – Extension

F

• FIM score – Functional Independence Level
• FLEX – Flexion
• FWB – Full Weight Bearing
• Fx – Fracture

G

• GHJ – Glenohumeral Joint

H

• H/o – History of
• HEP – Home Exercise Program
• HOB – Head of Bed
• Horiz ABD – Horizontal Abduction
• Horiz ADD – Horizontal Adduction
• HP – Hot Packs
• HVGS – High Voltage Galvanic Stimulation
• Hx – History

I

• I – Independent
• IFC – Interferential Current
• INF – Inflammation
• Inv – Inversion
• Ionto – Iontophoresis
• IR – Internal Rotation
• ITB – Iliotibial Band
• ITBS – Iliotibial Band Syndrome
• IV – Inversion (of the ankle)

K

• KAFO – Knee Ankle Foot Orthosis

L

• LAQ – Long Arc Quad
• LBQC – Large Base Quad Cane (also called a Wide Base Quad Cane (Wbqc))
• LCL – Lateral Collateral Ligament
• LE – Lower Extremity
• LOA – Level of Assist
• LP – Leg Press
• LTG – Long Term Goals

M

• MC – Metacarpal
• MCL – Medial Collateral Ligament
• MCP – metacarpalphalangeal
• MDT – Mechanical Diagnosis and Therapy
• MFR – Myofascial Release
• MHP – Moist Hot Pack
• Mm – Muscle
• MMT – Manual Muscle Test
• Mobs – Mobilization
• MSK – Musculoskeletal
• MT – Metatarsal
• MT – Manual Therapy
• mTBI – Mild Traumatic Brain Injury. A concussion is a form of mTBI.
• MVA – Motor Vehicle Accident
• MWM – Mobilization with Movement

N

• NDT – Neuro Developmental Technique (Also known as Bobath Technique)
• NMES – Neuromuscular Electrical Stimulation
• NWB – Non-Weight Bearing
• NSAIDS – non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs

O

• OKC – Open Kinetic Chain
• OOB – Out Of Bed

P

• p – After
• PCL – Posterior Cruciate Ligament
• PF – Plantar Flexion
• Pfin – Paraffin Bath
• PFS – Patellofemoral Syndrome
• Phono – Phonophoresis
• PMHx – Past Medical History
• PNF – Proprioceptive Neuromuscular Facilitation
• PRO – Pronation (Turning your wrist so the palm faces down)
• PROM – Passive Range of Motion
• PIP – Proximal Interphalangeal Joint
• PRICE – Pressure, Rest, Ice, Compression, Elevation Rom
• PT – Physical Therapist
• Pt. – Patient
• PTA – Physical Therapy Assistant/Physical Therapist Assistant
• PUW – Pick Up Walker
• PWB – Partial Weight Bearing

Q

• Q – Every
• QC – Quad Cane
• QD – Every Day
• QID – Four Times A Day

R

• RA – Rheumatoid Arthritis
• RC – Rotator Cuff
• RD – Radial Deviation (Wrist motion where hand side bends to side of radius)
• RICE – Rest, Ice, Compression, Elevation Rom
• ROM – Range of Motion
• Rot – Rotation
• RW – Rolling Walker
• Rx – Treatment

S

• S – Without (Sans)
• SAQ – Short Arc Quad
• SB – Side Bending
• SBA – Stand By Assist
• SBQC – Small Base Quad Cane (Also called a Narrow Base Quad Cane (Nbqc))
• SC – Straight Cane
• SLR – Straight Leg Raise
• SOB – Shortness of Breath
• STM – Soft Tissue Mobilization
• SUP – Supination (Turning the wrist so the palm faces up)

T

• TB – Theraband
• TBI – Traumatic Brain Injiury
• TENS – Transcutaneous Electrical Neuromuscular Stimulation
• TFL – Tensor Fascia Latae
• THA – Total Hip Arthroplasty
• Ther Ex – Therapeutic Exercise
• TID – Three Times a Day
• TKA – Total Knee Arthroplasty
• TKR – Total Knee Replacement
• TLSO – Thoracic Lumbar Sacral Orthosis
• TM – Treadmill
• Trxn – Traction
• TTWB – Toe Touch Weight Bearing
• Tx – Treatment

U

• UBE – Upper Body Ergometer
• UD – Ulnar Deviation (Wrist motion where hand side bends to side of ulna)
• UE – Upper Extremity
• US – UltraSound

W

• w/ – with
• w/c – Wheel Chair
• WBAT – Weight Bearing As Tolerated
• WC – Wheelchair
• WFL – Within Functional Limits
• WNL – Within Normal Limits
• WW – Wheeled Walker

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