Plain-English definitions of the terms used across physiotherapy, sports rehab, and musculoskeletal care — 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
Also known as: MSK.
Anything relating to muscles, bones, joints, ligaments, tendons, or the connective tissue that links them. Roughly 30% of GP consultations in England relate to MSK conditions, and most respond well to physiotherapy without surgery or imaging.
Source: www.csp.org.uk
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.
Progressive, individualised exercise prescription used to restore strength, control, and capacity after injury. Evidence-based physiotherapy now considers exercise rehab the primary intervention for almost every chronic MSK condition; manual therapy supports it rather than replacing it.
Source: www.nice.org.uk
The study of how forces act on the body during movement. Biomechanical analysis identifies how postural patterns, joint mechanics, and muscle balance contribute to pain and injury — and where intervention will have the biggest effect on the kinetic chain.
The sequence of joints and muscles that transmit force during movement (e.g. foot–ankle–knee–hip–pelvis–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.
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 supports it but does 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.
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: Lumbar Radiculopathy.
Pain radiating down the leg from the lower back, caused by irritation or compression of the sciatic nerve or its lumbar nerve roots. Most cases improve within 6–12 weeks with physiotherapy, education, and graded movement. Surgery is reserved for severe or persistent neurological deficit.
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
Systematic observation (often video-assisted, sometimes treadmill-based) of walking or running mechanics to identify movement patterns that contribute to pain or injury. Looks at cadence, foot strike, hip drop, knee tracking, trunk lean, and arm swing. Informs footwear and rehab decisions.
A physiotherapy-led video gait analysis combined with strength and mobility screening. Used to investigate persistent running injuries (ITB pain, anterior knee pain, shin splints, Achilles), prepare for marathon training, or guide footwear choice. Typically 60–90 minutes with a written report.
A clinical evaluation of how a person interacts with their workstation — chair, desk height, screen position, keyboard, mouse. Identifies postures and movements driving neck, back, wrist, and shoulder pain. Output is a written set of changes to workstation setup and movement breaks.
Source: www.hse.gov.uk
Also known as: RSI, Work-Related Upper Limb Disorder.
An umbrella term for upper-limb pain (forearm, wrist, hand) caused by sustained or repetitive low-load activity — most commonly desk-based work. Distinct from a single-event injury. Resolves with workstation correction, movement variation, and graded loading rather than rest alone.
Source: www.nhs.uk
Also known as: Pregnancy Physio, Pelvic Girdle Pain Physiotherapy.
Pregnancy-specific physiotherapy for pelvic girdle pain, low back pain, diastasis recti prevention, and birth preparation. Combines manual therapy, exercise, postural advice, and pelvic-floor education. Safe at every stage of pregnancy when delivered by a trained MSK physiotherapist.
Source: www.acpwh.org.uk
Manual soft-tissue therapy applied to athletes or active people for recovery, injury prevention, and performance support. Combines deep tissue work, trigger-point release, and stretching. At a physiotherapy clinic, sports massage is most effective when integrated with exercise rehab rather than delivered in isolation.
Source: www.thesma.org