Physical therapy students need quick access to clear definitions, practical clinical concepts, and reliable study resources. This physical therapy FAQ covers essential PT terms, movement concepts, common orthopedic conditions, and treatment modalities while linking to deeper articles on PT abbreviations, special tests, modalities, and physical therapy careers.
Use this page as a student-friendly study guide for coursework, labs, charting review, and clinical placements, then follow the internal links to explore each topic in more depth.
Core Physical Therapy Terms
What is physical therapy?
Physical therapy, also called physiotherapy, is a healthcare profession focused on the assessment, diagnosis, and treatment of pain, injury, disability, and movement dysfunction using exercise, manual therapy, education, and rehabilitation strategies. It is part of conventional healthcare and underpins musculoskeletal, orthopedic, neurological, and functional rehabilitation.
For a broader overview of the profession and its pathways, see How to Become a Physical Therapist and Physical Therapy / Physiotherapy Schools and Programs.
What is physiotherapy?
Physiotherapy and physical therapy are two names for the same profession. “Physical therapy” is used more often in the United States, while “physiotherapy” is commonly used in many other countries.
Students comparing rehab professions may also want to read Differences Between Occupational Therapy and Physical Therapy.
What does DPT mean?
DPT stands for Doctor of Physical Therapy or Doctor of Physiotherapy. The source page explains that the DPT began in the United States as a transitional degree and later became a standard professional degree.
For more on career planning and program entry, visit How to Become a Physical Therapist.
What does FCAMPT mean?
FCAMPT stands for Fellow of the Canadian Academy of Manipulative Physiotherapy. According to the source page, this designation reflects advanced post-graduate training and internationally recognized qualifications in hands-on therapy.
This term is especially relevant for students interested in orthopedic practice, manual therapy, and advanced musculoskeletal assessment.
For more vocabulary and charting shorthand, review Physical Therapy Abbreviations & Charting Shorthand and Medical Mnemonics for Physical Therapy.
Range of Motion and Assessment Terms
What does AAROM mean?
AAROM stands for Active Assisted Range of Motion. It refers to movement through the available range of motion with assistance from a therapist or from the patient using tools such as towels, pulleys, or similar devices.
What does AROM mean?
AROM stands for Active Range of Motion. It describes the range through which a patient can actively move a joint using their own muscles without external assistance.
What does PROM mean?
PROM stands for Passive Range of Motion. It refers to movement through a body part’s available range without the patient actively contracting the muscles, with motion supplied by an outside force such as the therapist.
AAROM, AROM, and PROM are foundational examination and documentation concepts, and they frequently appear in PT charting shorthand and home exercise planning.
What do varus and valgus mean?
Varus refers to inward angulation of the distal segment of a bone or joint, while valgus refers to outward angulation. The source page uses genu varus as bow-legged alignment and genu valgus as knock-kneed alignment.
These terms are commonly used in orthopedic examination and lower-limb assessment, especially when studying the knee and ankle.
What is an end feel?
An end feel is the sensation perceived when a joint is moved to the end of its available range of motion. The source page explains that end feel can reflect joint health or injury and lists examples such as soft, rubbery, bony, hard, capsular, empty, and spasm.
End feel is a core concept in joint assessment and manual examination.
Common Conditions and Clinical Terms
What is bursitis?
Bursitis is inflammation of a bursa, and the source page notes that it commonly occurs around joints such as the knee, elbow, ankle, and shoulder. A bursa itself is a fluid-filled sac that helps reduce friction around a joint.
For related orthopedic shoulder content, review Shoulder Orthopedic Tests, the Hawkins Kennedy Test, and the Painful Arc Test.
What is a subluxation?
Subluxation is the partial displacement or partial dislocation of a joint, where the joint surfaces remain partly in contact rather than being fully separated.
For shoulder instability assessment, see the Apprehension Test and Jobe Relocation Test.
What is Iliotibial Band Syndrome?
Iliotibial Band Syndrome is a condition characterized by lateral knee pain caused by the iliotibial band rubbing against the lateral epicondyle of the femur and producing local inflammation. The source page also notes that tightness in the tensor fasciae latae is commonly implicated.
For more lower-limb assessment resources, see Common Knee Tests in Orthopedic Examination, Apley’s Test, and Common Ankle Tests in Orthopedic Examination.
What is the Coffee Cup Sign?
The Coffee Cup Sign refers to pain during simple gripping activities such as lifting a coffee cup. The source page states that it is commonly present in people with lateral epicondylitis, also known as tennis elbow.
For more upper-limb assessment resources, visit Common Elbow Tests in Orthopedic Examination.
What does SLAP stand for?
SLAP stands for Superior Labrum Anterior and Posterior. The source page directs readers to the Anterior Slide Test as a related examination resource for SLAP lesions.
Students reviewing shoulder pathology should also see Shoulder Orthopedic Tests, O’Brien’s Test, Apprehension Test, Jobe Relocation Test, and Gerber’s Lift-Off Test.
Programs, Modalities, and Careers
What does HEP mean?
HEP stands for Home Exercise Program. The original page points readers to Exercise Prescription Software used to create home exercise programs for patients.
What is Therapeutic Ultrasound?
Therapeutic ultrasound is a modality that uses high-frequency sound waves to promote healing by increasing blood flow to an area of the body. The source page notes that it is commonly used in physical therapy practice and links to a more detailed resource.
Read more: Therapeutic Ultrasound in Physical Therapy.
What is Shockwave Therapy?
Shockwave therapy is an electrotherapeutic modality used by physical therapists to promote tissue healing by producing microtrauma through high-energy acoustic pulses. The site’s shockwave page notes that it is used for musculoskeletal conditions including plantar fasciitis, jumper’s knee, tennis elbow, Achilles tendinitis, bursitis, and rotator cuff pain.
Read more: Shockwave Therapy / Extracorporeal Shock Wave Therapy (ESWT).
How do I get started in a physical therapy career?
The source page recommends reading How to Become a Physical Therapist for more information on what it means to be a physical therapist and how to enter physical therapy school.
Related resources include Physical Therapy / Physiotherapy Schools and Programs, What is a Physical Therapist Assistant?, and What is a Physical Therapist Aide?.
This list of frequently asked questions is partially related to the ‘Physical Therapy Web’ site itself, though general physical therapy questions are included as well. The questions are compiled from those that have been sent in over the years. If you have a question that doesn’t appear in the list, please feel free to contact us.
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