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Abdomen-The “belly” or anterior mid-section of the human body.
Abduction-Moving a limb or any other part away from the midline of the body.
Achilles Tendinitis-Forceful and repeated stretching of the tendon, such as running and jumping, may result in small tears of the tendon fibers. Inflammation develops characterized by pain and swelling. Maintaining proper flexibility of the tendon minimizes the chance of injury.
Achilles Tendon-The gastrocnemius and soleus muscles of the calf come together to attach at the heel by means of the achilles tendon.
Acromion Clavicular (AC) Separation-Stretching or tearing injury to the ligament that attaches the collarbone to the shoulder blade forming the shoulder joint. Slight deformity and extreme tenderness at the end of the collarbone are typical. The injury is often seen with athletes as a result of a fall to the shoulder. Commonly knownas shoulder separation.
Active -Requires energy.
Active Assisted Movement-Movement of a joint in which both the client and the therapist produce the motion.
Active Assisted Range of Motion (AAROM)-The range of movement at a particular joint achieved with some assistance. Assistance may include another person aiding in the movement or using your opposite hand to move the involved arm.
Active Range of Motion (AROM)-The range of movement at a specific joint achieved without any outside assistance. (e.g. lifting your arm overhead)
Active Resistive Movement-Movement of a joint by the client against resistance provided by the therapist.
Active Rest -Continuance of movement after the cessation of activity, opposite of stopping abruptly.
Acupressure-Methods used to tone or sedate acupuncture points without the use of needles.
Acupuncture Point-Oriental term for a specific point that correlates with a neurological motor point.
Acute-Describing a condition, illness, or disease of rapid onset, severe symptoms, and brief duration. Also describing any intense symptom, such as severe pain. Acute is the opposite of chronic.
Acute Traumatic Injury-Describing a condition of rapid onset, severe symptoms, and brief duration. Also describing any intense symptom, such a severe pain. An acute injury is characterized by a rapid onset and resulting from a traumatic event.
Acute Pain-A symptom of a disease condition or a temporary aspect of medical treatment. Acute pain acts as a warning signal because it can activate the sympathetic nervous system. It usually is temporary, of sudden onset, and localized. The client frequently can describe the pain, which often subsides without treatment.
Adam's apple -The projection of the largest laryngeal cartilage at the front of the throat.
Adaptive Shortening -Muscle fibers shorten and range of motion decreases secondary to inactivity. The muscles will become progressively tighter unless optimal muscle length is maintained with stretching and physical activity.
Addiction -A physiological (physical) and/or a psychological (emotional) dependence on something (e.g. foods, behaviors, medications, or chemicals).
Adduction -Moving a limb or any body part toward the midline of the body. Adduction is the opposite of abduction. (e.g. the "down" phase of a jumping jack involves adduction of the legs and the arms, or bringing fingers and toes together)
Adenoma -A benign epithelial (skin-based cell) tumor.
Adhesion -The union of two normally separate surfaces, as in wound healing; scar tissue may adhere to internal structures resulting in decreased motion and increased pain; layers of connective tissue may adhere to each other limiting the involved muscles and increasing the possibility of injury; Another example involves the adherence of moving joint surfaces by fibrous connective tissue resulting in shoulder Adhesive Capsulitis or better known as Frozen Shoulder.
Aerobic -Means "in the presence of oxygen." Aerobic exercise is sustained rhythmical movement using the large muscle groups of the body during activities such as walking, jogging, cycling and swimming.
Age Predicted Maximal Heart Rate -220 minus your age. For example, a 40 year old person's age predicted maximal heart rate is 220
Agonist Muscle (Prime Mover)-A muscle whose active contraction causes movement of a body part. Contraction of an agonist results in relaxation of its antagonist. For example, in bending of the elbow, the biceps muscle is the agonist and the triceps the antagonist.
AIDS (Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome)-A disease caused by the HIV virus, which weakens the body's immune system, decreasing its ability to fight lethal infections and cancers. People with AIDS are prone to infections that normally would not be a threat to healthy people. AIDS also affects the central nervous system and can cause mental deterioration and paralysis.
Alcohol Withdrawal Syndrome -Physiological dependence and tolerance on alcohol leads to symptoms after stopping or decreasing alcohol consumption.
Alcoholic Hepatitis -An acute or chronic inflammation of the liver caused by alcohol ingestion. This disease can sometimes improve if alcohol is avoided. It can be serious, however and is a risk factor for developing cirrhosis and liver cancer.
Alcoholism-A chronic, progressive and potentially fatal disease characterized by an addiction to ingest alcohol.
Alignment-The arrangement of body parts forming a straight line. Proper alignment involves positioning the head, neck, back, and knees in proper posture with all activities to prevent injury.
Anaerobic -Exercise performed "without oxygen or too intense to utilize fat as an energy source". Anaerobic activities are typically performed at high intensity for a short duration. (e.g. sprinting, weight training)
Aneurysm -A blood filled sac formed in a weakened area of the wall of an artery or vein; usually will protrude from the vessel.
Angina (chest pain)-Name for the chest pain that occurs when the muscular wall of the heart becomes temporarily short of oxygen. When the oxygen requirement falls, the pain usually improves and disappears.
Anorexia Nervosa-An eating disorder characterized by a distorted body image, an extreme fear of obesity, refusal to maintain a minimally normal weight and, in women, the absence of menstrual periods. Anorexics often maintain a body weight at least 15% or more below the normal for their gender and height.
Antagonist muscle-A muscle whose contraction opposes that of another muscle, the agonist or prime mover. The antagonist muscle relaxes and provides smooth movement by balancing opposing forces to allow the agonist to effect movement. For example, in bending the elbow, the triceps muscle is the antagonist and the biceps the agonist.
Anterior-Refers to before, towards, or in front of the body. Pertains to the abdominal side of the body. Anterior is the opposite of posterior and synonymous with ventral. (e.g. the tip of the nose is anterior to the ears)
Antibiotics-Natural or synthetic substances used in the treatment of infectious diseases.
Antioxidants-Compounds that protect your body from the cell damage that causes health problems, such as cancer, heart disease, cataracts, and arthritis. Popular antioxidant vitamins are vitamin E, vitamin C, selenium and beta-carotene.
Anti-rheumatics-Drugs used to reduce inflammation in many chronic, non-infective diseases, such as rheumatoid arthritis and gout.
Antiviral medication-Medication used to protect against viral illnesses.
Applied Kinesiology-Methods of evaluation and bodywork that use a specialized type of muscle testing and various forms of massage and bodywork for corrective procedures.
Approximation-The technique of pushing muscle fibers together in the belly of the muscle.
Arterial-Pertaining to an artery or arteries
Arteries-Blood vessels that carry blood away from the heart.
Arteriosclerosis-The sclerosis or narrowing and thickening of the walls of the smaller arteries. This term is most often used in referring to diseases of the smaller arteries.  
Arthritis-An inflammatory condition involving the joints. A general term for a number of different conditions that involve swollen, painful or stiff joints. Common causes are infection, autoimmune diseases, or trauma.  
Assessment-The collection and interpretation of information provided by the client, the massage therapist, and referring medical professionals.
Asymmetry-Lacks symmetry. The opposite sides of the body, right and left, are not equal in size, shape, and relative position.
Atherosclerosis-"Hardening of the arteries" in which cholesterol and fat build up in the walls of arteries, and can lead to a heart attack or stroke. Often used interchangeably with "arteriosclerosis".  
Atrophy-Wasting away of a normally developed organ or tissue due to degeneration of cells. This may occur through undernourishment, disease, disuse such as inactivity or casting, or aging. For example, reduction of muscle size indicates muscle atrophy. Atrophy is the opposite of hypertrophy.
Autoimmune disease-A disease that occurs when the body produces antibodies that attack its own tissues.
Autonomic Nervous System-The body system that regulates involuntary body function using the sympathetic "fight/flight/fear response" and the restorative parasympathetic "relaxation response." The sympathetic and parasympathetic systems work together to maintain homeostasis through a feedback loop system.
Axis of Rotation-An imaginary line or point that an object, such as a body or lever, rotates. (e.g. the knee joint is the axis of rotation in a Leg Extension exercise)