Plain definitions of 35 terms we use on the job in Albany.
Term Index
Open any term below for a dedicated definition page.
An acute injury is sudden tissue damage caused by a distinct event, such as a fall, collision, twist, or forceful movement. The injury may affect muscles, ligaments, tendons, joints, or nerves. Symptoms often begin quickly and can include pain, swelling, bruising, weakness, or reduced movement.
Also called: Acute Trauma
An adhesion is a band of fibrous tissue that joins surfaces that normally move separately. Adhesions may form after injury, surgery, inflammation, or repeated irritation. In manual therapy, the term describes restricted movement between tissue layers, such as muscle, fascia, and nearby connective tissue, rather than a joint misalignment or muscle knot.
Also called: Scar Tissue Adhesion
An Annular Tear is a split or fissure in the annulus, the tough outer ring of a spinal disc. The tear may develop from repeated stress, injury, or disc wear. It can cause local back or neck pain, and irritated nearby nerves may produce symptoms that travel into an arm or leg.
Also called: Annular Fissure
Anterior Pelvic Tilt is a forward rotation of the pelvis that increases the inward curve of the lower back. The front of the pelvis moves downward while the back rises. This posture pattern can appear during standing, walking, or movement, and it may reflect how the hips, pelvis, and lower spine work together.
Also called: Forward Pelvic Tilt
Atlas Vertebra is the first cervical vertebra at the top of the neck. It supports the base of the skull and connects with the second cervical vertebra, called the axis. Its shape differs from most vertebrae because it forms a ring and helps the head move through nodding and rotation.
Also called: C1 Vertebra
A bulging disc is a spinal disc that extends beyond its usual boundary while the outer disc layer remains largely intact. The change may occur in the neck or lower back and can affect nearby nerves. A bulging disc differs from a herniated disc because herniation usually involves a tear or opening in the outer layer.
Also called: Disc Bulge
Bursitis is a painful irritation of a bursa, a small fluid-filled sac that cushions movement between bones, tendons, muscles, and skin. The condition often affects the shoulder, elbow, hip, knee, or heel. Repeated pressure, friction, injury, or altered movement can irritate the bursa and cause localized tenderness, swelling, and restricted motion.
Also called: Bursa Inflammation
The cervical spine is the neck section of the spinal column. It connects the skull with the upper back and supports head movement. This region contains vertebrae, discs, joints, muscles, ligaments, and nerves that work together for stability, motion, and communication between the brain and the rest of the body.
Also called: Neck Spine
Cupping Marks are temporary areas of skin discoloration that may appear after cups create suction on the skin. The color can range from light pink to deep purple, depending on skin response, suction strength, and treatment location. These marks are not cuts or burns, and their appearance does not measure treatment quality or pain relief.
Also called: Cupping Bruises
Disc degeneration is a gradual change in the spinal discs that reduces their flexibility and ability to cushion nearby vertebrae. Age, repeated loading, injury, and individual biology can influence these changes. Disc degeneration may occur without symptoms, but it can contribute to back or neck pain, stiffness, or irritation near spinal nerves.
Also called: Degenerative Disc Disease
A disc protrusion is a condition in which the outer portion of a spinal disc extends beyond its usual boundary. The disc may contact nearby tissues or a nerve root, which can contribute to back pain, neck pain, numbness, or weakness. Symptoms depend on the disc location and the structures affected.
Also called: Protruding Disc
An Ergonomic Assessment is a structured review of how a person performs work, including posture, movement, tools, and workstation setup. The assessment identifies physical demands that may contribute to discomfort or strain. Findings can guide practical changes to task methods, equipment placement, body positioning, or work habits.
Also called: Workstation Assessment
Facet Joint is a small, paired joint at the back of each spinal segment that connects neighboring vertebrae. Facet joints guide spinal movement, help limit excessive motion, and contain nerves that can signal pain when the joint or nearby tissues become irritated. They occur throughout the cervical, thoracic, and lumbar spine.
Also called: Zygapophyseal Joint
Forward Head Posture is a postural alignment pattern in which the head rests ahead of the shoulders when viewed from the side. This position changes the demands placed on the neck, upper back, and supporting muscles. Common contributors include prolonged screen use, seated work, and habits that keep the head angled forward.
Also called: Text Neck
Gait Analysis is a clinical assessment of how a person walks or runs. It examines foot placement, stride pattern, joint motion, balance, and muscle coordination. Practitioners observe movement and may use video or hands-on checks to identify patterns that place extra stress on the feet, ankles, knees, hips, or spine.
Also called: Walking Assessment
A jaw joint is the connection between the lower jaw and the skull that lets the mouth open, close, move forward, and shift side to side. Each side of the face has one jaw joint. The joint includes bone surfaces, a cushioning disc, ligaments, and muscles that guide movement.
Also called: Temporomandibular Joint
Joint mobilization is a manual therapy technique that uses controlled, low-velocity movements to assess and improve the motion of a joint. A practitioner applies gentle pressure within or near the joint’s available range. The technique may address restricted movement in areas such as the spine, shoulder, hip, or ankle.
Also called: Joint Manipulation
Kinesiology Tape is an elastic adhesive strip placed on the skin to provide light support and sensory feedback during movement. The tape follows muscles or joints without fully restricting motion. Clinicians may use it as one part of sports injury care for temporary support, movement awareness, or comfort during activity and recovery.
Also called: K-Tape
Kyphosis is an exaggerated outward curve of the upper spine that gives the back a rounded appearance. The curve may develop from spinal structure, posture, growth-related changes, or vertebral changes. Mild kyphosis may cause no symptoms, while more pronounced curvature can affect posture, movement, or comfort during daily activities.
Also called: Rounded Upper Back
A lumbar spine is the lower section of the spinal column between the thoracic spine and sacrum. It contains five vertebrae that support much of the body's weight and allow bending, extension, and rotation. Discs, facet joints, muscles, ligaments, and nerves work around this region to support movement and stability.
Also called: Lower Spine
Manual Muscle Testing is a hands-on assessment that examines how well a specific muscle or muscle group produces and maintains force against applied resistance. A clinician positions a body part, asks you to hold or move it, and observes strength, control, pain, and side-to-side differences. The findings help guide a broader physical examination.
Also called: Muscle Strength Testing
The median nerve is a peripheral nerve that carries movement commands and sensory information between the brain, spinal cord, forearm, and parts of the hand. It travels through the wrist's carpal tunnel and serves several thumb, index, middle, and ring finger functions. Pressure or irritation along this pathway can affect hand use.
Also called: Median Nerve Pathway
A meniscus tear is damage to one of the two crescent-shaped cartilage pads inside the knee. These pads help distribute pressure between the thighbone and shinbone, support joint movement, and improve stability. A tear may follow a sudden twist, repeated stress, or age-related tissue changes, and symptoms can include pain, swelling, catching, or limited motion.
Also called: Torn Meniscus
A muscle spasm is an involuntary, sudden tightening of muscle fibers that can create pain, stiffness, or restricted movement. The contraction may affect a small area, such as a lower-back muscle, or involve a broader muscle group. Spasms can occur after strain, prolonged posture, sudden movement, or irritation near the affected tissue.
Also called: Muscle Cramp
Myofascial Release is a manual therapy technique that applies sustained, targeted pressure and gentle movement to areas where fascia and muscle feel restricted. Fascia is connective tissue surrounding muscles and other structures. The technique aims to improve tissue mobility, ease local tension, and support more comfortable movement without relying on forceful joint manipulation.
Also called: Fascial Release
A nerve root is a bundle of nerve fibers that leaves the spinal cord through an opening between two vertebrae. Each nerve root carries signals between the spinal cord and a specific region of the body. Irritation or pressure near a nerve root may produce pain, tingling, numbness, or weakness along its connected pathway.
Also called: Spinal Nerve Root
Piriformis Syndrome is a condition in which the piriformis muscle irritates or compresses the nearby sciatic nerve, causing pain or altered sensation in the buttock and sometimes along the back of the leg. Symptoms may worsen with prolonged sitting, hip movement, or pressure near the affected muscle. Similar symptoms can have spinal causes.
Also called: Piriformis Muscle Syndrome
Range of Motion is the degree through which a joint can move in a specific direction. Clinicians assess active motion performed by you and passive motion guided by another person. The findings may show stiffness, pain-related limits, weakness, or differences between sides during a shoulder evaluation.
Also called: ROM
The rotator cuff is a group of four muscles and their tendons that support the shoulder joint. These tissues connect the shoulder blade to the upper arm bone and help control lifting, reaching, and rotation. Rotator cuff problems may involve irritation, strain, or a tear that affects shoulder movement and comfort.
Also called: Shoulder Rotator Cuff
Sciatic Nerve is the body’s largest peripheral nerve, formed by nerve roots in the lower spine and extending through the pelvis into each leg. The nerve carries signals that support movement and sensation in the back of the thigh, lower leg, and foot. Irritation or pressure along its pathway can produce sciatica symptoms.
Also called: Ischial Nerve
Spinal Stenosis is a narrowing of the spaces within the spine that can reduce room for the spinal cord or nerve roots. The narrowing may develop in the neck or lower back. Spinal stenosis can contribute to pain, numbness, tingling, weakness, or symptoms that change with standing, walking, or posture.
Also called: Narrow Spinal Canal
A sprain and strain are soft-tissue injuries that affect different structures. A sprain involves a ligament, which connects bone to bone, while a strain affects a muscle or tendon, which connects muscle to bone. Both injuries may follow sports activity, sudden force, repeated loading, or movement beyond normal tissue tolerance.
Also called: Soft Tissue Injury
A trigger point is a tender, sensitive area within a muscle or its surrounding connective tissue that may produce local discomfort or referred pain when pressed. Trigger points often feel like a tight band or small knot. Manual therapy addresses these areas through focused pressure, stretching, and guided movement to support normal muscle function.
Also called: Muscle Knot
Vertebral Subluxation is a chiropractic term for altered motion, position, or function of a spinal joint. Chiropractors assess the finding through history, physical examination, movement patterns, and other clinical information. The term differs from a medical vertebral dislocation, which describes a structural injury diagnosed through medical evaluation and imaging.
Also called: Spinal Subluxation
A Whiplash-Associated Disorder is a group of symptoms and functional changes that may follow a sudden neck movement, often during a vehicle collision. The condition can involve neck pain, stiffness, headaches, reduced motion, or related discomfort. Symptoms may appear soon after the event or develop as the body responds over time.
Also called: Whiplash Injury
The health and wellness information on this website is for general informational purposes only and is not medical advice. It does not create a provider-patient relationship. Always consult a qualified licensed provider in Albany, Georgia, United States about your specific condition before making care decisions. Individual results vary.
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