Glossary of Myoskeletal Terminology

Abduction: Movement away from the midline. For the scapula, it is rotation that makes the glenoid fossa face upward.

Accessory muscles: Secondary muscles of respiration including SCM, scalenes, pectoralis major and abdominals.

Accessory movement: joint movements that cannot be performed voluntarily or in isolation by the patient

Acetabulum: On the coxal bone the outer surface presents as a rounded cavity. The articulation of the acetabulum and the femur forms the very mobile coxal joint.

Adduction: Movement toward the midline.

Adhesions: Fibroblast formation caused by tearing, fraying, or disruption of collagen fibers from trauma, immobilization, or as a result of surgical procedures. Resultant abnormal adherence to surrounding tissues creates adhesions.

Acute: Of recent onset (hours, days, or a few weeks).

Afferent nerves: Nerve cells that carry impulses toward the central nervous system and transmit sensory information.

Agonist: A contracting muscle whose action is in opposition to another muscle (antagonist).

Anaerobic: Not requiring oxygen.

Anatomical Position: Facing forward with arms at sides of the body in external rotation, forearms supinated, palms forward, and fingers/thumbs in extension.

Anatomical position: Erect posture with face forward, arms at sides, forearms supinated (palms facing forward) and fingers and thumbs in extension.

Antagonist: A muscle that works as a counterforce in opposition to another muscle (agonist).

Angle, Lumbosacral: The inclination of the superior surface of the first sacral vertebra to the horizontal.

Anterior: Toward the front or ventral surface of the structure.

Anterior Tilt: Anterior tilt (anterior pelvic rotation) rocks the cephalad portion of the pelvis (crest of the ilium) anteriorly, tending to increase lumbar lordosis. Occurs when a vertical plane through the anterior superior iliac spines (ASIS) is anterior to the vertical plane through the pubic symphysis, creating pelvic tilt.

Anteroposterior Translatory Motions: Straight line motions from front to back.

A.R.T.: Stands for Asymmetry, Range of motion, and Tissue texture abnormality. A mnemonic used to define the three essential dimensions of somatic dysfunction.

Arthritis: The most common type of joint disorder, arthritis literally means inflammation of the joints.

Arthrosis: Joint or connective tissue aging or degeneration without inflammation.

Arthrokinematics: Movement of bone surface in the joint capsule including roll, spin and slide.

Articular strain: The result of forces acting on a joint beyond its capacity to adapt. Refers to stretching of joint components beyond physiologic limits, causing damage.

Articulation: The active or passive process of moving a joint through its entire range of motion, i.e., a joint or connection of bones.

Articulatory Treatment: Low velocity/moderate amplitude technique where the joint is carried through its full range of motion to increase ROM.

Articular facet: A small articular surface of a bone, especially a vertebra.

Ascending tracts: Tracts that carry sensory information to the brain.

Assessment: A systematic method or approach to gathering information about a client’s condition.

Asymmetry: Lack or absence of symmetry of position or motion.

Atlas: First cervical vertebra articulating with the occipital bone and rotating around the odontoid process of axis.

Atrophy: A decrease in size of a body part or organ caused by a decrease in the size of the cells; a reduction in size or wasting away of an organ, connective tissue or cell resulting from disease, loss of nerve conduction or lack of use.

Autonomic Nervous system: A division of the peripheral nervous system (PSN) composed of nerves that connect the central nervous system (CNS) to the glands, heart, and smooth muscles to maintain the internal body environment,

Axis: An imaginary line about which motion occurs. (Also refers to the second cervical vertebra C2).

Backward Bending: Motion in a sagittal plane in relation to a transverse axis. That condition when the superior part moves backward.

Barrier (Motion Barrier): Limit of unimpeded motion.

Bicipital: When a muscle that has two heads.

Bilateral: Pertaining to two sides.

Bind: Relative palpable resistance to motion of an articulation or tissue.

Biomechanics: The application of mechanical laws to living structures.

Body Alignment: Nerve impingement in cross-linked connective tissue is a major cause of chronic and sports-associated pain. Through trauma (injury), compression, tension, free-radical damage, pollution, and more, cross-linking of connective tissue is formed. These threads of connective tissue adhere to adjacent strands, thereby decreasing range of motion, reducing joint space, impinging nerves, and generally shortening the body.

Body Awareness: An internal body “map” that each of us has that allows us to know where we are, what position we are in, and how we are moving. It allows us to move without relying on our visual system to guide each movement.

Bogginess: A tissue texture abnormality characterized principally by a palpable sense of sponginess in the tissue, interpreted as resulting from congestion due to increased fluid content.

Bouncing or Springing Techniques: A low velocity/moderate amplitude technique used in myoskeletal therapy to engage the barrier or end point of joint motion repeatedly in order to bring about an increase in freedom and range of motion.

Bursa: A synovial-lined sac existing between tendons and bones, muscle and muscle, and any other site in which movement of structure occurs.

Caudal: Toward the tail or inferiorly.

Central nervous system – the brain and the spinal cord

Cervical spine: the area of the spinal cord located in the neck

Cephalad: Toward the head.

Chronic: Long lasting (weeks, months, years), but not necessarily incurable.

Coccydynia: pain around the coccyx

Collagen: The protein that constitutes connective tissue fibers.

Concentric Contraction: A shortening of the muscle during a contraction; a type of isotonic exercise.

Contraction: Shortening and/or development of tension in a muscle.

Contracture: Sustained intrinsic activation of the contractile mechanism of the muscle fibers. With contracture, muscle shortening occurs in the absence of motor unit action potentials. Fixed high resistance to passive stretch of a muscle resulting from fibrosis of the tissues (fascia) supporting the muscles or joints

Coordination: Includes both motor control and praxis (motor planning). Motor control is the ability to move with precision and smooth quality.

Cranial Concept: An idea discovered, investigated, and developed by W.G. Sutherland, DO, applying osteopathic principles to the skull.

Craniosacral Therapy: Techniques developed primarily by John Upledger, DO, which deal with the synchronous movement of the sacral base with the cranial base. This synchrony is accomplished by the attachment of the dural tube to the foramen magnum and sacral canal, and probably aided by cerebrospinal fluid fluctuation.

Distal: Farther from the center or median line, or from the thorax.

Eccentric Muscle Contraction: An overall lengthening of the muscle while it is contracting or resisting a work load. Eccentrically contracted muscles are overstretched but tight.

Effleurage: Light or deep stroking of the skin toward the heart from any place in the body to force fluids through veins and lymphatic vessels.

Elastic Deformation: Any recoverable deformation. See also Plastic deformation.

Elasticity: Ability of a strained body or tissue to recover its shape after deformation.

Endorphins: Biochemical substances made by the body that may help reduce the level of pain

ERS: A descriptor of spinal somatic dysfunction used to denote a combination extended (E), rotated (R), and Sidebent (S) vertebral position.

Eversion: Eversion of the foot is outward turning of the entire foot on the talus and of the forefoot on the hindfoot at the transverse tarsal joint.

Facet: A small plane or concave surface.

Facet Asymmetry: Vertebral structure in which the orientation of the facets is not anatomically bilaterally comparable.

Facilitation: An increase in afferent stimuli so that the synaptic threshold is more easily reached: thus there is increase in the efficacy of subsequent impulses in that pathway or synapse.

Fascia: A general term denoting a layer/layers of loose or dense connective tissues.

Fascial Patterns: Systems for classifying and/or recording the preferred directions of fascial motion throughout the body.

Flexibility: The ability to readily adapt to changes in position or alignment; may be expressed as normal, limited, or excessive. Range of motion testing used to classify available flexibility in a tissue or joint.

Flexion: Bending to approximate. A bending movement that decreases a curve or internal angle

Friction: A deep circular massage to irritate or stimulate a muscle or increase its tonus.
FRS: A descriptor of spinal somatic dysfunction used to denote a combination flexed (F), sidebent (S), and rotated (R) vertebral position.

Genu Valgum: ‘Knock-kneed’, defined as a lateral displacement of the distal end of the most distal bone in the joint.

Genu Varum: ‘Bowlegs’, defined as a medial displacement of the distal end of the distal bone in the joint.

Gravitational Line: Viewing the client or patient from the side, an imaginary line in a coronal plane, which, in the theoretical ideal posture, starts at the external auditory canal, passes through the lateral head of the humerus at the tip of the shoulder, across the greater trochanter, the lateral condyle of the knee, and slightly anterior to the lateral malleolus. It is used to evaluate the curves of the spine.

Golgi Tendon Organ: Stretch receptors embedded in the tendons that indicate how hard the muscle is working by reflecting tension build-up in the muscle, rather than it’s length.

Health: Adaptive and optimal attainment of physical, mental, emotional, spiritual, and environmental well-being.

Hyperextension: active or passive force which takes the joint into extension, but beyond its normal range.

Hypertrophy: an increase in the size of tissue.

Hypomobility: a decrease in the normal range of joint movement.

Hypoxia: decreased level of oxygen in the blood or tissues

Hypertonicity: A condition of excessive tone of the skeletal muscles; increased resistance of muscle to passive stretching.

Iliosacral Motion: Motion of the ilia on a transverse axis of the sacrum, as occurs in walking. Considered to be primarily influenced by the attachments and movements of the pelvis, hips, and lower extremities.

Idiopathic: of unknown origin.

Immobilization: preventing movement to allow for natural healing to take place.

Impairment: loss of normal function of part of the body due to disease or injury, such as paralysis of the leg.

Impingement: An encroachment on the space occupied by the soft tissue, such as nerve or muscle.

Inhibition Reflex: 1. In Myoskeletal usage, a term that describes the application of steady pressure to soft tissues to effect relaxation and normalize reflex activity. 2. Effect on antagonist muscles due to reciprocal innervation when the agonist is stimulated.

Intercostal muscles: muscles lying between ribs; often injured by muscle strain.

Inflammation: a normal reaction to injury or disease, which usually results in swelling, pain, and stiffness.

Intervertebral disk: disk that forms a cartilaginous joint between the vertebrae to provide shock absorption.

Intra-articular: within the joint.

Ischemia: lack of oxygen.

Isometric: muscle contraction without movement at the join

Innominate Bone: The large flaring bone that compromises the lateral part of the pelvis, and is composed of the ilium, ischium, and pubis. The pelvis is made up of the right and left innominate bones and the sacrum.

Insertion: The more mobile attachment site of a muscle to a bone. Opposite the origin.

Inversion: Inversion of the foot is inward turning of the foot, including movement of the entire foot about the talus and movement of the forefoot on the hindfoot at the transverse tarsal joint.

Isometric: Increase in tension without change in muscle length.

Isotonic: Increase in tension with change in muscle length in the direction of shortening.

Kinesthesia: Information from our joints to let us know where our body is in space.

Kneading: A soft tissue technique which utilizes an intermittent force applied transversely to the long axis of the muscle.

Kyphosis: The exaggerated (pathologic) A-P curve of the thoracic spine with concavity anteriorly.

Laterality: Ability to determine left from right on self

Law, Head’s: When a painful stimulus is applied to a body part of low sensitivity that is in close central connection with a point of higher sensitivity, the pain is felt at the point of higher sensitivity.

Laws of Motion, Fryette’s: Descriptors of spinal motion proposed by Harrison H. Fryette. (Some details of the principles have been disregarded in current literature). The three major principles are:

1. When the spine is in neutral and sidebending is introduced, the bodies of the vertebrae will rotate toward the convexity.
2. When the spine is either forward or backward bent and sidebending is introduced, the vertebrae will rotate towards the concavity.
3. Initiating motion of a vertebral segment in any plane of motion will modify the movement of that segment in other planed of motion.

Ligament: Fibrous connective tissue connecting bone to bone.

Ligamentous strain: Motion and/or positional asymmetry associated with elastic deformation of connective tissue (fascia, ligament, membrane).

Localization: The precise positioning of the client/patient and vector application of forces required to produce a desired result.

Lordosis: The anterior convexity in the curvature of the lumbar and cervical spine as viewed from the side; the term is used to refer to abnormally increased curvature (hollow back, saddle back, sway back).

Mechanoreceptor: A receptor excited by mechanical pressures or distortions, as those responding to touch and muscular contractions.

Median nerve: Large nerve, comprising segments from the cervical spine, that is involved in nerve function of the upper limb; commonly compressed in the carpal tunnel of the wrist.

Meninges: The thin layers of tissue that cover the brain. The three layers are the dura mater, the arachnoid, and the pia mater.

Menisci: Two crescent-shaped discs of connective tissue between the bones of the knees that act as shock absorbers to cushion the lower part of the leg from the weight of the rest of the body.

Mobility: movement

Morton’s neuroma: A pinched nerve that usually causes pain between the third and fourth toes.

Multifidus: Deep lumbar spine muscle that stabilizes the lumbar spine.

Myofascial: Skeletal muscles ensheathed by fibrous connective tissue.

Muscle Energy Techniques (MET): Treatments in which a client, on request, actively engages his muscles from a controlled position, in a specific direction and against a counter force. These techniques target the soft tissues and joint mobilization. MET was developed in osteopathy about the same time PNF was in physiotherapy. Like PNF, MET uses the isometric contraction of the target muscle before the stretch; however, MET uses only minimal force during the isometric phase and the stretch is done passively.

Muscle Tone: The tension in a muscle. Muscle tone should be high enough to hold a
position against gravity, yet low enough to move a body through its full range of motion. Low muscle tone is lack of tension and high muscle tone is excessive tension

Myoskeletal Alignment Techniques (MAT): A holistic approach to relief of neuropathic pain developed by Erik Dalton and based on concepts and principles from Rolfing, osteopathy, and related physical medicine. Focused on detecting and correcting strain patterns to prevent back/neck pain, this technique combines deep-tissue work with assisted stretching and non-force spinal alignment.

Nerve conduction tests: Procedure to determine nerve impulse generation.

Neuralgia: Pain in distribution of nerve or nerves.

Neuritis: Inflammation of a nerve or nerves.

Neurogenic: Of nerve origin.

Neurological: pertaining to the nervous system

Nociceptor: A peripheral nerve organ or mechanism for the appreciation and transmission of danger-signaling stimuli.

Non-neutral: The range of sagittal plane spinal positioning in which the second principle of physiologic motion of the spine applies.

Normalization: The therapeutic use of anatomic and physiologic mechanisms to facilitate the body’s response toward homeostasis and improved health.

Nutation: Nodding forward; anterior movement of the sacral base around a transverse axis in relation to the ilia, occurring during sphenobasial extension of the craniosacral mechanism.

Origin: The more stationary attachment site of a muscle to bone.

Osteophyte: Outgrowth of bone.

Osteoporosis: A condition that develops when bone is no longer replaced as quickly as it is removed.

Overuse conditions: Injuries due to minor trauma involving soft-tissue injuries – injuries that affect the bone, muscles, ligaments, and/or tendons.

Pain: An unpleasant sensory or emotional experience primarily associated with tissue damage, or described in terms of tissue damage, or both.

Pain threshold: The least experience of pain that a person can recognize.

Pain tolerance level: The greatest level of pain that a person is prepared to tolerate.

Pain exposure therapy (PET): a technique developed by Erik Dalton where a client’s brain is trained to associate slow, precise, graded-exposure stretching maneuvers with security instead of pain. Pain is essentially a threat warning, so PET requires time for the brain to process these bodily changes.

Palpation: The application of the fingers or hand to the surface of the skin or other tissues, using varying amounts of pressure, to selectively determine the conditions of the parts beneath.

Pelvic Rotation: Movement of the entire pelvis in a relatively horizontal plane about a vertical (longitudinal) axis.

Pelvic Sideshift: Deviation of the pelvis to the left or right of the central vertical axis as translation along the horizontal (Z) axis, usually observed in the standing position.

Pelvic Tilt: Pelvic rotation about a transverse (horizontal) axis (forward or backward tilt) or about an anterior/ posterior axis (right or left side tilt).

Plane: A flat surface determined by the position of the three points in space.
a. Coronal Plane: Frontal plane.
b. Frontal Plane: A plane passing longitudinally through the body from one side to the other, and dividing the body into A-P portions.
c. Sagittal Plane: A plane passing through the body from front to back and dividing it into right and left portions. The midsagittal plane divides the body into approximately equal right and left portions.
d. Transverse Plane: A plane passing horizontally through the body perpendicular to the sagittal and frontal planes, dividing the body into upper and lower portions.

Plastic Deformation: A non-recoverable deformation. Fascia has plastic deformation characteristics.

Plasticity: Ability to retain a shape attained by deformation.

Posterior: Toward the back or dorsal surface.

Postural Balance: A condition of optimal distribution of body mass in relation to gravity.

Postural Control – The ability to sustain the necessary background posture (trunk and neck) to efficiently carry out a skilled task, such as reading or handwriting

Posture: Position of the body. The distribution of body mass in relation to gravity

Praxis: Medical term to describe motor planning; the ability of the brain to conceive of, organize, and carry out a sequence of unfamiliar actions

Prime Mover: A muscle primarily responsible for causing a specific joint action.

Primitive Reflexes: Movement reflexes that assist in successfully progressing through various stages of development needed for rolling, crawling, sit and walk, etc. As a child matures they are able to move without the need of these reflexes and they become more integrated and do not predominate movement patterns. When a reflex continues to direct a movement pattern after an age that it should be integrated, it is considered abnormal.

Pronation: In relation to the anatomical position, as applied to the hand, the act of turning the hand palmar surface backward (medial rotation). Applied to the foot, a combination of eversion and abduction movements taking place in the tarsal and metatarsal joints, resulting in lowering of the medial margin of the foot.

Prone: Lying with the ventral surface downward.

Proprioception: The sensing of motion and position of the body.

Sensory Processing: The first step of sensory integration; the ability to recognize, organize, and respond to input from the body and the environment

Sensory Integration: The organization of sensations from the environment and from our body that allows us to interact purposefully with our environment

Palpation: The application of the fingers or hand to the surface of the skin or other tissues, using varying amounts of pressure, to selectively determine the conditions of the parts beneath.

Pelvic Rotation: Movement of the entire pelvis in a relatively horizontal plane about a vertical (longitudinal) axis.

Pelvic Sideshift: Deviation of the pelvis to the left or right of the central vertical axis as translation along the horizontal (Z) axis, usually observed in the standing position.

Pelvic Tilt: Pelvic rotation about a transverse (horizontal) axis (forward or backward tilt) or about an anterior/ posterior axis (right or left side tilt).

Plane: A flat surface determined by the position of the three points in space.

• Coronal Plane: Frontal plane.
• Frontal Plane: A plane passing longitudinally through the body from one side to the other, and dividing the body into A-P portions.
• Sagittal Plane: A plane passing through the body from front to back and dividing it into right and left portions. The midsagittal plane divides the body into approximately equal right and left portions.
• Transverse Plane: A plane passing horizontally through the body perpendicular to the sagittal and frontal planes, dividing the body into upper and lower portions.

Plastic Deformation: A non-recoverable deformation. Fascia has plastic deformation characteristics.

Plasticity: Ability to retain a shape attained by deformation.

Posterior: Toward the back or dorsal surface

Postural Balance: A condition of optimal distribution of body mass in relation to gravity.

Posture: Position of the body. The distribution of body mass in relation to gravity

Prime Mover: A muscle primarily responsible for causing a specific joint action.

Pronation: In relation to the anatomical position, as applied to the hand, the act of turning the hand palmar surface backward (medial rotation). Applied to the foot, a combination of eversion and abduction move¬ ments taking place in the tarsal and metatarsal joints, resulting in lowering of the medial margin of the foot.

Prone: Lying with the ventral surface downward.

Proprioception: The sensing of motion and position of the body.

Proprioceptor: Sensory nerve terminals that give information concerning movements and position of the body. They occur chiefly in the muscles, tendons, joints, and the labyrinth.

Proximal: Nearer to the center or medial line.

Range of Motion (active): The range, usually expressed in degrees, through which a joint can move or be moved.

Range of Motion (passive): The free movement that is produced by external forces across any joint or moving levers.

Reciprocal Inhibition: The inhibition of the antagonist muscles when the agonist is stimulated.

Reflex: An involuntary nervous system response to sensory input.

Residual Tension: Any persistent involuntary contraction above the level of normal tonus.

Resilience: The property of returning to the former shape or size after distortion.

Restriction: A resistance or impediment to movement.

Rolfing: A technique developed by Ida Rolf, PhD for reordering the body to bring its major segments— head, shoulders, thorax, pelvis, and legs toward vertical alignment

Ropiness: A tissue texture abnormality characterized by a cord or string-like feeling.

Rotation: Motion of a body around an axis.

Rotation of a Vertebra: Movement about the anatomical vertical axis of a vertebra. Named by the motion of a point on the anterior superior surface of the vertebral body.

Rotation of the sacrum: Movement of the sacrum around a longitudinal axis in relation to the ilia.

Sacral Base Unleveling: With the client or patient in a standing or seated position, any deviation of the sacral base from the horizontal in a coronal plane. Generally, the rotation of the sacral base around an A-P axis

Sacral Torsions: A set of positional terms first proposed the Fred Mitchell, Sr., DO, to describe normal and abnormal combinations of sacral motion involving forward or backward bending (sacral flexion or extension, rotation around the transverse sacral axes), sidebending (rotation about A-P axis of the sacrum), and rotation about oblique axes of the sacrum.

Sciatica: Also called lumbar radiculopathy that originates along the sciatic nerve

Scoliosis: Pathological or functional lateral curvature of the spine.

Segment: A single vertebra or vertebral segment.

Shear: An action or force causing two contiguous parts of an articulation such as the pubic symphysis to slide relative to each other in a direction parallel to their plane of contact.

Sidebending: A movement in a coronal (frontal) plane about an anterior-posterior axis, defined by motion of a point of the A-P aspect of the vertebral body.

Sidebent: The position of any one or several vertebral bodies after sidebending has occurred.

Soft Tissue Treatment: In the Myoskeletal system defined as procedure directed toward tissues including skeletal and arthrodial elements. A direct technique which involves deep tendon work, lateral stretching, linear stretching, traction, and/or separation of muscle origin and insertion while monitoring changes by palpation

Somatic Dysfunction: Impaired or altered function of related components of the somatic (body framework) system.

Spasm: Increased tension with or without shortening of a muscle due to non-voluntary motor nerve activity. Spasm cannot be stopped by voluntary action. A sudden violent, involuntary contraction of a muscle or group of muscles, attended by pain and interference with function, producing involuntary movement and distortion

Spinal cord: A bundle of nerves that carries messages between the brain and the rest of the body

Spinal instability: Increased motion between vertebra, usually resulting from an injury. The pain typically feels like tingling in the extremities

Spinal stenosis: Narrowing of the nerve openings either around the spinal cord or nerve roots that can cause symptoms similar to a pinched nerve; pain is described either as an aching or an electrical feeling down the arm.

Spondylitis: Inflammation of a vertebra.

Spondylolisthesis: Anterior displacement of one vertebrae on another (usually L5 over the body of the sacrum or L4 over L5) which causes the disruption and separation of the pars interarticularis.

Spondylosis: 1. Ankylosis of adjacent vertebral bodies. 2. Degeneration of the intervertebral disc.

Sprain: Stretching injuries of ligamentous tissues.

Strain: Stretching injuries of muscle tissue or distortion with deformation of tissue.

Straight leg raise (SLR): A technique for measuring sciatic nerve mobility and/or hamstring length.

Stretching: Separation of the origin and insertion of a muscle or attachments of fascia or ligaments by applying a constant pressure at a right angle to the fibers of the muscle or fascia. Graded exposure stretching is used in MAT to engage the brain allowing release of protective guarding.

Stringiness: A palpable tissue texture abnormality characterized by fine or string-like myofascial structures.

Subluxation: 1. A partial or incomplete dislocation. 2. A restriction of motion of a joint in a position exceeding normal physiologic motion, although the anatomic limits have not been exceeded.

Supination: 1. Beginning in anatomical position, applied to the hand, the act of turning the palm forward (anteriorly) or upward performed by lateral external rotation of the forearm. 2. Applied to the foot, it generally applies to movements (adduction and inversion) resulting in raising of the medial margin of the foot.

Supine: Lying with the ventral surface upward.

Symmetry: Similarity in corresponding parts on opposite sides of the body.

Technique: A method of accomplishing a desired effect: a method of procedure or manipulation of any kind. a. Direct Technique: Engagement of the restrictive barrier carrying the lesioned component toward or through the barrier.

Indirect Technique: A manipulative technique whereby the motion barrier is disengaged. The lesioned component is moved away from the motion barrier to a point of simultaneous balance and de¬ creased tension.

Inhibitory Technique: In the Myoskeletal system refers to application of steady pressure to soft tissues to affect relaxation and normalize reflex activity.

Tactile: Sense of touch that impacts development of body awareness and praxis

Tendon: A fibrous tissue connecting skeletal muscle to bone. Soft Tissue Techniques: Procedure directed toward tissues other than skeleton while monitoring response and motion changes using diagnostic palpation. Usually involves lateral stretching, linear stretching, deep pressure, traction, and/or separation of origin and insertion.

Thrust Technique: A type of direct technique that uses high velocity/low amplitude forces primarily used by chiropractors, manipulative osteopaths and physical therapists

Tissue Texture Abnormality: Any palpable change in tissues from skin to periarticular structures that represents any combination of the following signs: vasodilation, edema, flaccidity, contraction, contracture, fibro¬ sis: and the following symptoms: itching, pain, tenderness, and paresthesia.

Tonus: The slight continuous contraction of muscle which, in skeletal muscles, aids in the maintenance of posture and in the return of blood to the heart.

Torsion: 1. A motion or state where one end of a part is turned about a longitudinal axis while the opposite end is heals fast or turned in the opposite direction. 2. A specific sacral motion.

Traction: A force acting on a longitudinal axis to draw structures apart

Tropism, Facet: Unequal size and/or facing of zygapophyseal joints of a vertebra.

Vestibular: Sense that allows us to recognize how we are moving in relationship to
gravity. Receptors in our ears sense if we are upright, upside down, moving sideways, spinning, etc. This input impacts posture, eye movements, balance, praxis, bilateral coordination, and emotional control.

Visual Motor Skill: Coordinating vision with movements of the body (gross or fine
motor movements)

Visual Perceptual Skills: Ability to interpret and make meaning of what is seen