a **
Before

add
Adduction

A
Active

A*
Assistance

AA
Active assisted

ax
Axillary

abd
Abduction

ACL
Anterior Cruciate Ligament

ADL
Activities of daily living

AFO
Ankle foot orthosis

AKA
Above knee amputation

amb.
Ambulate

ant.
Anterior

AROM
Active range of motion

AAROM
Active-assisted ROM

ASAP
As soon as possible

art
Articulation

ASA
Asprin

BLE
Bilateral lower extremities

bid
Two times a day

BKA
Below knee Amputation

Bkwds
Backwards

BUE
Bilateral upper extremities

B*
Bilateral

BP
Blood Pressure

BOS
Base of support

BR
bed rest

BRP
Bathroom privileges

CNS
Central nervous system

CTS
Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

CA
Cancer

cc
Chief complaint

CHF
Congestive heart failure

c/o
Complains of

COG
Center of gravity

CG
Contact guard

co-ord
Coordination

cont.
Continue

CP
Cold pack/cerebral palsy

c-spine
Cervical Spine

c **
With

D *
Dependent

DIP
Distal interphalangeal

DAFO
Dynamic ankle/foot orthosis

D/C
Discontinued

dep
Dependent

DIP
Distal interphalangeal

DM
Diabetes Mellitus

DOB
Date of birth

DNR
Do not resuscitate

disl.
Dislocate

DJD
Degenerative Joint Disease

DX, Dx, dx
Diagnosis

e.g.
For example

ES
Electrical stimulation

ECF
Extended care facility

EMG
Electromyogram

ER
Emergency room

ext
Extension

ext rot
External rotation

FWB
Full weight bearing

FROM
Full range of motion

fib
Fibula

f/u
Follow up

flex
Flexion

FH
Family history

f/b
Followed by

funct.
Function

F
Fahrenheit

fx.
Fracture

gastroc
Gastrocnemius

HS
At bedtime

HNP
Herniated nucleus pulposus

HP
Hot pack

hosp.
Hospital

HEP
Home Exercise Program

H/O
History of

EKG
Electrocardiogram

Hx
History

Hr
Hour

I *
Independent

IV
Intravenous

IR
Int. rot./infrared

jt.
Joint

KAFO
Knee ankle foot orthosis

lat.
Lateral

LUQ
Left upper quadrant

LCL
Lateral collateral ligament

LLE
Left lower extremity

L-Trax
Lumbar traction

L-S
lumbosacral

L-spine
Lumbar spine

LOB
Loss of balance

LTG
Long term goal

LUE
Left upper extremity

LTM
Long term memory

LOM
Loss of memory

L*
Left

LAC
Long arm cast

LAQ
Long arc quad set

LB
Low back

LBP
Low Back Pain

LUE
Left upper extremity

med.
Medial

med rot
Medial rotation

MH
moist heat

MI
Myocardial Infaraction

max.
Maximum

min.
Minimum

mob.
Mobilization

mod.
Moderate

LLQ
Left lower quadrant

MTP
Metatarsophalangeal

MMT
Manual muscle test

MR
Mental Retardation

MRI
Magnetic resonance image

MT
Massage Therapist

MC
Metacarpal

MS
Multiple Sclerosis

MAFO
Molded ankle foot orthosis

MCL
Medial collateral ligament

MCP
Metacarpophalangeal

MVA
Motor vehicle accident

NWB
Non-weight bearing

Neg.
Negative

npo
Nothing by mouth

NKDA
No Known Drug Allergies

OT
Occupational therapy

OS
Left eye

OU
Each eye

p **
After

prn
As needed

PROM
Passive range of motion

post.
Posterior

Pos.
Positive

PDR
Physician’s desk reference

PCL
Posterior cruciate ligament

PIP
Proximal interphalangeal

pt.
Client

PMH
Past medical history

PWB
Partial weight bearing

PVD
Peripheral vascular disease

pros.
Prosthesis

PSIS
Posterior superior iliac spine

P.T.
Physical Therapy

q
Every

qid
4 times a day

qd
Every day

qh
Every hour

q4h
Every 4 hours

q2h
Every 2 hours

RLE
Right lower extremity

R *
Right

RLQ
Right lower quadrant

rad.
Radius

RA
Rheumatoid arthritis

RUQ
Right upper quadrant

reps.
Repetitions

po
By mouth

rot.
Rotation

RN
Registered Nurse

RUE
Right upper extremity

ROM
Range of motion

Rx
Prescription

STG
Short term goals

sx
Symptoms

sup.
Supine

STM
Short term memory

SLR
Straight leg raise

SOB
Short of breath

S*
Supervision

sm
Small

s **
Without

SAC
Short arm cast

S-C
sternoclavicular

SBA
Standby assistance

shld.
Shoulder

SCM
Sternocleidomastoid

SCI
spinal cord injury

S&S
Signs and symptoms

SI
Sacroiliac/steroid injection

SLP
Speech/lang. Pathologist

s/p
Status post

S.T.
Speech therapy

T/C
Telephone call

tol.
tolerate(s)(ed)

TENS
Trans Q elect. nerve stim.

TMJ
Temporomandibular joint

THR
Total hip replacement

TIA
Transient ischemic attack

Therex
Therapeutic exercise

tid
Three times a day

temp
Temperature

TPR
Temperature, pulse, respirations

Tx.
Treatment

trax
Traction

US
Ultrasound

URI
Upper respiratory infection

UTI
Urinary tract infection

vo
Verbal orders

vc's
Verbal cues

vss
Vital signs stable

VS
Vital signs

WFL
Within functional limits

WNL
Within normal limits

w/c
Wheelchair

WB
Weight bearing

WBAT
Weight bear as tolerated

X
Times

#
Pounds