Plain definitions of 35 terms we use on the job in Marietta.
Term Index
Open any term below for a dedicated definition page.
Anterior Pelvic Tilt is a forward rotation of the pelvis that increases the inward curve of the lower back. The front of the pelvis moves downward while the back moves upward. This position can change how the hips, lumbar spine, abdominal muscles, and nearby soft tissues share movement and load during standing or walking.
Also called: Pelvic Tilt
Atlas Vertebra is the first cervical vertebra in the neck. This ring-shaped bone supports the base of the skull and helps the head move, especially during nodding. Unlike most vertebrae, the atlas has no typical vertebral body. It connects with the axis below and forms the uppermost part of the cervical spine.
Also called: C1 Vertebra, First Cervical Vertebra
Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo is an inner-ear balance disorder that causes brief spinning sensations when the head changes position. Small calcium particles can move into a semicircular canal and disturb signals used for balance. Symptoms may appear when turning in bed, looking upward, bending over, or sitting up after lying down.
Also called: Benign Positional Vertigo, BPPV
Bruxism is a repeated habit of clenching or grinding the teeth, often during sleep but sometimes while awake. The activity places force on the jaw muscles, jaw joints, and teeth. Some people notice jaw soreness, tooth wear, facial tension, or headaches, while others have no clear symptoms.
Also called: Teeth Grinding
The cervical spine is the neck section of the spinal column that supports the head and permits controlled movement. It includes vertebrae, discs, joints, muscles, ligaments, and nerves. These structures work together during actions such as turning, nodding, and maintaining an upright head position. Problems in this area may contribute to neck pain or restricted motion.
Also called: Neck Spine
Cervicogenic Headache is a secondary headache that begins in the neck and sends pain into the head or face. The pain may stay on one side and often relates to movement or irritation in the cervical spine. The neck source distinguishes this condition from primary headaches that start within head pain pathways.
Also called: Cervical Headache
A concussion is a mild traumatic brain injury caused by a blow, jolt, or force that makes the brain move inside the skull. A concussion can affect thinking, balance, vision, mood, sleep, and physical comfort. Symptoms may appear immediately or develop later, and the injury can occur without loss of consciousness.
Also called: Mild Traumatic Brain Injury, MTBI
Coupling gel is a water-based medium placed between an ultrasound transducer and the skin. The gel helps sound waves pass into the body by filling small air gaps at the skin surface. In therapeutic ultrasound, it supports smooth transducer movement and consistent contact during treatment of targeted soft tissue.
Also called: Ultrasound Gel
Disc Degeneration is a gradual change in the spinal discs that reduces their ability to cushion movement between vertebrae. The process may involve changes in disc hydration, height, or structure. Disc degeneration often develops with aging or repeated physical stress, and imaging findings do not always match the intensity or location of a person’s symptoms.
Also called: DDD, Degenerative Disc Disease
Facet Joint is a small synovial joint at the back of the spine that connects neighboring vertebrae. Facet joints guide spinal movement, help limit excessive motion, and support the spine during everyday activities. Each joint has cartilage, a surrounding capsule, and nerves that can contribute to localized back pain.
Also called: Zygapophyseal Joint
Foraminal Stenosis is a narrowing of the openings between spinal bones where nerve roots leave the spinal canal. The narrowing may reduce available space around a nerve and contribute to pain, tingling, numbness, or weakness along the nerve’s path. Foraminal stenosis commonly affects the neck or lower back and may change movement patterns.
Also called: Neural Foraminal Stenosis
A gait analysis is a structured assessment of how you walk, including foot placement, stride pattern, balance, and the way your legs and pelvis move together. Clinicians observe movement during walking and may compare both sides of the body to identify patterns that relate to foot, ankle, knee, hip, or back concerns.
Also called: Walking Assessment
A Heel Spur is a bony growth that forms along the underside or back of the heel bone. Heel spurs often develop where ligaments or tendons attach to bone. The growth itself may cause no symptoms, while nearby irritated tissue can contribute to heel pain during walking, standing, or physical activity.
Also called: Calcaneal Spur
Infant Torticollis is a condition in which an infant holds the head tilted to one side while the chin turns toward the other side. The pattern often relates to tightness or limited movement in the neck muscles. It may affect comfortable head turning, positioning, and early motor development.
Also called: Congenital Muscular Torticollis
Joint Stiffness is reduced ease of movement in a joint, often felt as tightness, resistance, or limited range of motion. The sensation may affect the spine or limbs and can change with rest, activity, inflammation, injury, or age-related joint changes. Joint stiffness describes a movement symptom, not a single diagnosis.
Also called: Joint Rigidity
Kyphosis is an excessive forward curve of the upper spine that creates a rounded back appearance. The curve usually involves the thoracic spine, although related spinal changes can affect posture and movement. Kyphosis may reflect spinal structure, developmental changes, or prolonged postural habits, so assessment focuses on the curve’s location and behavior.
Also called: Roundback
Ligament Sprain is an injury to a ligament, the strong band of tissue that connects bones and helps stabilize a joint. A sprain may involve stretching or tearing of ligament fibers. Symptoms can include pain, swelling, tenderness, bruising, or reduced joint movement, depending on the affected area and injury severity.
Also called: Sprain
Lordosis is an inward curve of the spine, most often seen in the neck or lower back. The curve helps the spine distribute body weight and support movement. Excessive or reduced curvature may affect posture, balance, and comfort. A posture assessment considers lordosis alongside pelvic position, muscle tension, and spinal alignment.
Also called: Swayback
The lumbar spine is the lower section of the spinal column, located between the thoracic spine and the sacrum. It contains five vertebrae that support the trunk, protect nerve structures, and help the body bend, twist, and transfer forces during movement. This region forms the main bony framework of the lower back.
Also called: Lower Back Spine
A muscle strain is an injury to a muscle or the tendon connecting it to bone, caused when tissue is stretched beyond its normal capacity or forced to contract under load. The injury may affect a small group of fibers or a broader area, producing localized pain, tenderness, weakness, or reduced movement.
Also called: Pulled Muscle
Nerve Impingement is a condition in which nearby tissue places pressure on a nerve or its root, often around the spine. The pressure may affect nerve signaling and cause pain, tingling, numbness, or weakness along the nerve’s pathway. Causes can include disc changes, joint changes, swelling, muscle tension, or reduced space.
Also called: Pinched Nerve
Occlusion is the contact and alignment between the upper and lower teeth when the mouth closes or moves. In TMJ care, occlusion describes how the bite distributes pressure across the teeth and jaw joints. Dental wear, tooth position, muscle activity, and jaw movement can all affect this relationship.
Also called: Bite Alignment
Post-Concussion Syndrome is a group of ongoing symptoms that can follow a concussion, even after the initial head injury has healed. Symptoms may include headaches, dizziness, fatigue, sleep changes, sensitivity to light or sound, and difficulty concentrating. The condition can affect daily activities and may require evaluation of several body systems.
Also called: Persistent Post-Concussive Symptoms
Range Of Motion is the extent to which a joint can move through its available directions. A clinician may assess movement actively, as you move the joint yourself, or passively, as the clinician guides it. The finding can show stiffness, restriction, discomfort, or differences between related joints during a physical examination.
Also called: ROM
Referred Pain is pain felt in an area that differs from the tissue or structure causing the discomfort. Shared nerve pathways can cause the brain to locate signals away from their source. The pattern may help a clinician examine nearby joints, muscles, nerves, or spinal areas during a back pain assessment.
Also called: Radiating Pain
Relaxin Hormone is a peptide hormone linked with pregnancy and reproductive processes. During pregnancy, the body produces relaxin to affect connective tissues, including ligaments around the pelvis. These changes can support pelvic adaptation, but they may also influence joint stability, posture, and movement comfort as pregnancy progresses.
Also called: Relaxin
The Sacroiliac Joint is the connection between the sacrum at the base of the spine and the ilium of the pelvis. Each person has a joint on each side of the sacrum. These joints transfer forces between the trunk and legs and allow small, controlled movements during standing, walking, and changing position.
Also called: SI Joint
Spinal Stenosis is a narrowing of the spaces within the spine that may reduce room for the spinal cord or nearby nerves. The narrowing can develop in the neck or lower back and may relate to bone changes, disc changes, or thickened tissue. Symptoms can include pain, numbness, tingling, weakness, or changes with walking.
Also called: Narrowing Of The Spine
Tarsal Tunnel Syndrome is a nerve compression condition affecting the tibial nerve as it passes through a narrow space near the inner ankle. Pressure in this tunnel may produce burning, tingling, numbness, or pain that travels into the sole or heel. Symptoms can worsen with standing, walking, or repeated ankle movement.
Also called: Posterior Tibial Neuralgia
Tendonitis is irritation or inflammation of a tendon, the strong band of tissue that connects muscle to bone. It often develops when repeated activity places more stress on a tendon than the body can comfortably handle. The condition may cause localized pain, tenderness, stiffness, or discomfort during movement near the affected joint.
Also called: Tendinitis
A Tension Headache is a common headache pattern linked with pressure, tightening, or aching across the forehead, temples, or back of the head. Neck and scalp muscle tension may contribute to the symptoms. The discomfort often feels steady rather than sharply pulsing, and movement does not always make it worse.
Also called: Tension-Type Headache
The thoracic spine is the middle section of the spinal column, located between the cervical spine in the neck and the lumbar spine in the lower back. It includes the vertebrae that connect with the ribs and help support the chest. Its position affects upper-back movement, posture, and trunk stability.
Also called: Midback Spine
Traction is a therapeutic technique that applies a controlled pulling force to the spine or a joint. In herniated disc treatment, traction may create space between spinal segments and reduce mechanical pressure on irritated tissues. A clinician selects the direction, force, and position based on the person’s symptoms, examination findings, and treatment goals.
Also called: Spinal Traction
The vestibular system is a sensory network in the inner ear and brain that detects head movement, position, and balance. It works with vision and body-sensation signals to help you stay upright and coordinate movement. Changes in vestibular signals may contribute to dizziness, vertigo, unsteady walking, or difficulty focusing during motion.
Also called: Balance System
A Webster Technique is a chiropractic approach used during pregnancy to assess and address functional changes in the pelvis and surrounding soft tissues. The technique focuses on sacral and pelvic balance, muscle tension, and joint motion. Chiropractors may adapt the approach to a pregnant patient’s comfort, stage of pregnancy, and individual findings.
Also called: Webster Protocol
The health and wellness information on this website is for general informational purposes only and is not medical advice. It does not create a provider-patient relationship. Always consult a qualified licensed provider in Marietta, Georgia, United States about your specific condition before making care decisions. Individual results vary.
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