Plain-English definitions of the terms used across physiotherapy, osteopathy, sports therapy, and rehabilitation — so you know what to expect from each session and which approach fits your situation.
Also known as: Physical Therapy, PT.
A clinical profession (HCPC-regulated in the UK) focused on assessing, diagnosing, and treating musculoskeletal, neurological, and respiratory conditions through movement, manual therapy, and education. UK physiotherapists must be registered with the Health and Care Professions Council to practise legally.
Source: www.csp.org.uk
A regulated UK healthcare profession (General Osteopathic Council) that treats musculoskeletal pain through manual techniques — soft-tissue work, joint articulation and manipulation, and rehabilitation exercise. Distinct from physiotherapy in training route and emphasis on whole-body biomechanics, but with extensive overlap in everyday clinical practice.
Source: www.osteopathy.org.uk
A graduate-level allied-healthcare role specialising in the prevention, assessment, and rehabilitation of musculoskeletal injuries — particularly in sport and physical activity. UK sports therapists are typically members of the Society of Sports Therapists (SST) or BASRaT-registered.
Source: www.basrat.org
Hands-on assessment and treatment of joints and soft tissue — including mobilisation, manipulation, and soft-tissue release. Used to reduce pain, restore range of motion, and prepare tissue for active rehabilitation. Most effective when combined with exercise, not as a stand-alone treatment.
Source: www.csp.org.uk
A graded, controlled passive movement applied to a stiff or restricted joint to restore its normal range and reduce pain. Distinct from manipulation — mobilisations are slow, low-velocity, and within the joint's available range.
Also known as: Western Medical Acupuncture, IMS.
Insertion of a fine acupuncture-style needle into a myofascial trigger point or muscle band to elicit a local twitch response and reduce tension. Distinct from acupuncture: dry needling targets musculoskeletal pain by mechanism, not traditional meridians. UK physiotherapists train in dry needling as a CPD module.
Also known as: ESWT, Extracorporeal Shock Wave Therapy.
Extracorporeal shock-wave therapy — a non-electrical, non-harmful sound-wave delivered through the skin via a hand-held probe. Used for chronic tendinopathies (Achilles, patellar, gluteal, plantar fascia, tennis/golfers' elbow) where the evidence base is strongest. Typical course is 3 to 4 sessions; about 80 % of patients report meaningful pain reduction.
Source: www.nice.org.uk
Manual treatment of muscle, fascia, tendon, and other non-bone tissue — covering deep-tissue work, trigger-point release, scar work, and remedial massage. At a physiotherapy practice, soft-tissue therapy is typically integrated with rehab rather than delivered in isolation.
Source: www.thesma.org
Also known as: Tendinitis, Tendinosis.
A tendon injury caused by overload — replaces the older "tendinitis" label because chronic tendon problems show little inflammation. Achilles, patellar, gluteal, and rotator-cuff tendinopathies are the most common. Rehab centres on progressive loading; manual therapy and shockwave support it but do not resolve it.
Source: www.nhs.uk
A strength-training pattern that emphasises the lengthening phase of a movement (e.g. heel drops for Achilles tendinopathy). Eccentric contractions remodel tendon tissue without flaring it, which is why Alfredson-protocol heel drops remain the first-line rehab for Achilles problems.
Explosive jump-and-rebound exercises that train the stretch-shortening cycle of muscle and tendon. Used in late-stage rehab and athletic-performance work — runners, jumpers, and team-sport athletes — to restore reactive strength before returning to sport.
The sequence of joints and muscles that transmit force during movement (e.g. foot to ankle to knee to hip to pelvis to spine for walking and running). A weakness or restriction at one link affects every joint downstream — which is why a knee problem often originates at the hip or foot.
A clinical evaluation of how forces act on the body during movement — combining static posture, joint range of motion, strength testing, and movement-pattern analysis. Identifies the root drivers of pain and injury so rehab can target the cause rather than the symptom.
Systematic observation (often video-assisted, sometimes treadmill-based or sensor-based) of walking or running mechanics. Looks at cadence, foot strike, hip drop, knee tracking, trunk lean, and arm swing to inform rehab and footwear decisions.
Also known as: RTP, Return to Play.
A structured set of clinical and performance criteria used to clear an athlete to return to training and competition after injury. Typically combines pain status, range-of-motion equivalence, limb-strength symmetry (≥90 %), sport-specific drills, and psychological readiness. Skipping RTS testing is the strongest predictor of re-injury in hamstring and ACL rehab.
Source: bjsm.bmj.com
Also known as: Lumbar Pain, LBP.
Pain in the lumbar spine region. NICE classifies most cases as "non-specific" — meaning no single anatomical cause can be identified. First-line UK guidance recommends physiotherapy, exercise, and education over imaging, opioids, or rest. Most episodes settle within 6 weeks with appropriate management.
Source: www.nice.org.uk
Also known as: OA, Degenerative Joint Disease.
A wear-and-load condition affecting joint cartilage and underlying bone — most often hip, knee, hand, or spine. NICE NG226 recommends therapeutic exercise, weight management, and education as first-line care for every stage; injections and surgery are reserved for specific presentations after rehab has been optimised.
Source: www.nice.org.uk
Also known as: WAD.
Neck pain and stiffness that develops after a sudden acceleration-deceleration force on the cervical spine — typically a road traffic collision. Classified WAD I to IV by severity. First-line care is reassurance, early mobilisation, and graded exercise; collars and prolonged rest are no longer recommended.
Source: www.nhs.uk
Also known as: Runner's Knee, PFPS.
Anterior knee pain centred behind or around the kneecap, worsened by stairs, squatting, and prolonged sitting. The most common knee complaint in runners and active adults. Management is hip- and knee-strengthening rehab combined with load management; imaging is rarely required.
Source: www.nhs.uk
Heel pain caused by load-related irritation of the plantar fascia — the thick band running along the underside of the foot. Most cases respond to calf and intrinsic-foot strengthening, load modification, and orthoses; shockwave therapy has the strongest evidence for stubborn cases.
Source: www.nhs.uk
A group of four muscles (supraspinatus, infraspinatus, teres minor, subscapularis) that stabilise the shoulder joint and produce rotation. Rotator-cuff tendinopathy and tears are the most common source of shoulder pain in adults over 40 — usually managed with progressive loading rather than surgery.
Source: www.versusarthritis.org
Also known as: Health and Care Professions Council.
Health and Care Professions Council — the UK statutory regulator for 15 healthcare professions including physiotherapy. Every UK physiotherapist must be HCPC-registered to use the protected title and practise legally; the public register lets you verify any practitioner.
Source: www.hcpc-uk.org