Glossary
Click one of the letters below to view terms beginning with that letter.
A - Abdominal exercises (Click to read more)
Abdominal exercises
Exercises useful for building and strengthening the abdominal muscles.
Abdominal Sacral Massage
A massage of the abdomen, lower back and occasionally the neck to bringing the visceral organs back into alignment. By releasing pressure and strengthening the surrounding muscles and ligaments it can help improve blood flow to the nerves and help with lymphatic drainage.
Achilles Tendinopathy
Used to describe a condition caused by overuse of the tendon that joins your heel bone to your calf muscles. Thought to be caused by repeated tiny injuries, sufferers experience pain, stiffness, weakness and swelling to the tendon.
ACJ(Acromioclavicular Joint) sprain
A direct injury, without a dislocation, to the joint at the tip of the shoulder that connects the collar bone (clavicle) to the shoulder blade (scapula).
ACL injury
Located in the middle of the knee, the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) joins the thigh bone to the shin bone at the knee joint. Giving the knee and the knee joint stability and also helping control the back and forth movement of the lower leg, it can be injured when over stretched or twisted.
Ankle sprain
A condition where one or more of the ligaments around the ankle joint sustains an injury due to being twisted, rolled or turned in an awkward way.
Anterior Knee Pain
Referring to pain at the front and center of the knee, this can be caused by many different problems, including Runner’s knee and Chondromalacia patella (the softening and breakdown of the cartilage underside the kneecap).
B - Body Re-alignment (Click to read more)
Body Re-alignment
This a therapy to release the pressure in your body and re-align joints and muscles back into their natural positions.Â
Bosu ball
An inflated rubber half sphere attached to a rigid platform used in fitness training.
C - Cadillac (Click to read more)
Cadillac
Sometimes called a Trapeze Table, it is a bed-like table made to assist you with various Pilates postures and exercises.
D - Dead leg (Click to read more)
Dead leg
A bruise or contusion caused by a sharp impact where a muscle is crushed against the underlying bone.
Deep tissue release
Used to treat conditions such as back pain, headaches, stiff necks and repetitive stress syndromes, this technique focuses on the deeper layers of muscle and connective tissue to release tension in the body.
This treatment uses firm, constant pressure and slow strokes to the muscle fibres relieving pain and restoring normal movement.
Diastasis recti
A wide separation between the left and right side of the rectus abdominis muscle (commonly known as the abdominals) causing your belly to stick out.
F - Faecal Incontinence (Click to read more)
Faecal Incontinence
An inability to control bowel movements, resulting in the involuntary passage of faeces.
Free weights
Training equipment such as barbells or dumbbells that are used free from a structural device that may limit the range of motion.
G - Gilmores groin (Click to read more)
Gilmores groin
A strain at the junction of the leg and torso, caused by activities such as twisting and kicking.
Gynae physio
See Gynaecological physio
Gynaecological physio
A therapy dealing with the health of females, especially the reproductive systems.
H - Hamstring tear (Click to read more)
Hamstring tear
When the tendons at the back of the thighs that attach the large muscle of the thigh to the bone are torn or stretched beyond their limit
I - Improve sports performance (Click to read more)
Improve sports performance
Using any therapy or technique as a tool to increase strength, speed and stamina.
Injury prevention
An effort to prevent, reduce the severity or eliminate any chance of an injury before it occur.
Jumper’s Knee
Also known as patellar tendonitis or patellar tendinopathy, this condition is an overuse injury to the tissue that joins the kneecap to the shin bone.
K - Kegal exercises (Click to read more)
Kegal exercises
Pelvic floor muscle and exercise named after the obstetrician who developed them.
Knee Cartilage Tear
This is a tear in the C-shaped, shock-absorbing cartilage of the knee also known as the meniscus.
A common injury due to over-flexing or twisting the knee joint, it can cause tenderness and pain around the outside surface of the knee.
Knee ligament Injury
This is an injury to one of the four ligaments in the knee causing pain, swelling, tenderness, bruising and reduced movement of your knee.
Migraine treatment
Treatments used to prevent, reduce symptoms or frequency of a recurrent severe headache.
Musculoskeletal
MSK (abbreviation). With varying causes, this refers to pain that affects the muscles, ligaments and tendons as well as bones.
Myofascial
In most cases a very gentle and relaxing technique, this specialised form of soft tissue treatment helps to eliminate pain and restore motion. It can be used to treat many issues including adjusting postural tension and joint misalignment.
Myofascial stretching
A technique using continued pressure to elongate connective tissue that surround every cell of the body.
O - Obstetric physiotherapy (Click to read more)
Obstetric physiotherapy
A therapy to help you cope with physical changes during pregnancy and preparing the pregnant body for an easier delivery and recovery process afterwards.
Osteitis Pubis
Groin pain caused by tissue damage and inflammation to the pelvis where the two pubic bones join together.
P - Pelvic floor exercises (Click to read more)
Pelvic floor exercises
The contraction and relaxation of the muscles that support your pelvic and abdominal organs.
Pelvic organ Prolapse
Weakening of the muscles and ligaments supporting a woman’s pelvic organs causing them to drop out of their normal place, pushes them out of or against the walls of the vagina.
Physiotherapy
Working to identify through examination, diagnosis, and physical intervention to restore movement and function to someone affected by injury, illness or disability.
Plantar Fascitis
Particularly common in runners, this condition causes stabbing pain and inflammation to the band of tissue on the bottom of your foot that connects the heel bone to the front of your foot, and also supports the arch of your foot.
Post-natal Exercise
Exercises after pregnancy to strengthen vital muscles and improve your shape.
Pregnancy Massage
A massage tailored specifically to the needs of pregnant women that can help reduce general pregnancy discomfort or problematic physical symptoms.
Pregnancy physiotherapy
A therapy to help you stay fit, healthy and comfortable, while managing conditions that can arise during your pregnancy.
Pregnancy Pilates
Exercises designed to help strengthening the pelvic floor while preparing you for the physical and physiological changes of pregnancy.
Pregnancy sciatica
Pain caused by irritation or compression of the sciatic nerve during pregnancy.
Prolapse treatment
A treatment for organs that have fallen down or slip out of place.
R - Rectus Abdominus Divarification (Click to read more)
Rectus Abdominus Divarification
The separation or gap of the left and right abdominal muscles.
Rectus divarification
The separation or stretching of the abdominal muscles.
Reduce toxin build up
The ability to lessen unhealthy substances from your body.
Reformer
An exercise machine that provides resistance allowing you to work out in a very precise way to develop alignment, core strength, and flexibility.
Rehabilitation post operation
Treatment to enhance recovery and restore you to normal function.
Release tension
Any activity or therapy that allows your body’s muscles, joints and organs to relax.
Rocker board
A device designed to help improve balance, proprioception and posture.
Runner’s knee
A general term used for several disorders that cause pain behind or around the kneecap with different causes. Also known as Patellofemoral Pain Syndrome (PFPS).
S - Shin Splints (Click to read more)
Shin Splints
Also known as medial tibial stress syndrome, this condition affects the large bone in the front of the lower leg known as the tibia causing a dull, aching pain.
Shoulder dislocation
Also referred to as shoulder subluxation. When the head of the upper arm bone (humerus) comes partially out of the socket then pops back.
Shoulder Impingement
Swelling and tenderness caused when a tendon in the shoulder (rotator cuff) rubs against the shoulder blade (acromion).
Soft tissue manipulation
Made up of a range of treatments to improve problems like restriction of motion and poor circulation due to inactivity or increased tension.
This manipulation of muscles, tendons and nerves involves gentle, sometimes firm, massage type techniques.
SPD physio
A therapy to treat Symphysis Pubis Dysfunction (also known as Pelvic Girdle Pain).
Spikey balls
Spiked PVC balls used in massage to improve circulation, in relaxation exercises, hand therapy and reflexology.
Swiss balls
A large, heavy-duty inflatable ball used for all types of exercises.
Symphysis pubis dysfunction
Pain that accurses in the stiff joint that connects the two halves of your pelvis.
T - Therabands (Click to read more)
Therabands
Latex bands used for physical therapy and strength training, color-coded to distinguish their resistance levels.
Trampette
A small square trampoline.
Trigger point release
A massage therapy or flexibility stretching technique used on hyper-irritated tender spots in the muscles that refer pain and stiffness to other parts of the body.
U - Urinary Incontinence (Click to read more)
Urinary Incontinence
Loss of bladder control causing leakage of urine.
V - Vaginismus (Click to read more)
Vaginismus
A recurrent or persistent involuntary tightening of the muscles surrounding the vagina making penetration difficult or impossible.
Vulvodynia
A persistent, and often unexplained sensation of burning, soreness or pain in the skin surrounding the vagina.
W - Women's health physiotherapy (Click to read more)
Women’s health physiotherapy
A therapy that focuses on all areas relating to Obstetrics and Gynaecology.
Wonder Chair
A piece of equipment used in Pilates for resistance exercises from many different positions.
