Clinical Terms & Keywords
This is a list of terms and keywords I believe are important or commonly used in reference to massage and bodywork. Please feel free to email us suggestions for anything we may have left out. The list will be updated as needed
- Abduction - Movement away from the median plane
- Active movement - Involves the therapist describing the movement, then applying pressure while the client actively performs the movement
- Adduction - Movement toward the median plane
- Anterior - Toward the front or ventral surface
- Antagonist - A muscle that performs the opposite action of the prime mover and synergist muscles
- Axilla/Axillary - Armpit region
- Bilateral - Pertaining to two/both sides
- Contraindications - Conditions in which massage is not indicated. Types are Absolute and Local contraindications
- Costal - Rib
- Digit - Finger
- Distal - Farther from the point of reference, usually away from the midline
- Dorsal (posterior) - Pertaining more to the back or posterior of a structure
- Dorsiflexion - Flexing the foot dorsally so that the toes are moving toward the shin
- Effleurage - The application of unbroken gliding movements that are repeated and follow the contour of the client's body
- Fascia - Fibrous connective tissue that varies in thickness and density and runs throughout the body; types are superficial fascia and deep fascia
- Flexion - Bending or decreasing the angle of a joint. Lateral flexion refers to the direction of flexion
- Frontal plane - A vertical plane perpendicular to the sagittal plane dividing the body into anterior and posterior portions, also called the coronal plane
- Gait - A person's walking pattern
- Insertion - The more mobile attachment site of a muscle to a bone; the opposite end is the origin
- Lateral - To the side, or away from the midline of the body
- Medial - Oriented more toward or near the midline of the body
- Myofascial - Pertains to skeletal muscles ensheathed by fibrous connective tissue
- Origin - The more stationary attachment site of a muscle to a bone; the opposite of insertion
- Occipital - Posterior inferior surface of the head
- Palpate - To examine or explore by touching (an organ or area of the body), usually as a diagnostic aid
- Petrissage - A cycle of rhythmic lifting, squeezing, and releasing of tissue
- Plantar - Pertaining to the bottom surface of the foot
- Plantar flexion - Extension of the ankle so that the toes are pointing downward, increasing the ankle anteriorly
- Popliteal - Area located on the posterior aspect of the knee
- Posterior - Pertaining more to the back of a structure
- Prone - Lying face or belly down in a horizontal, recumbent position
- Pronate - Rotational movement so the body is face down; palms up
- Protraction - Movement forward
- Prime mover - A muscle that carries out an action
- Process - A projection or outgrowth from a bone
- Proximal - Nearer to the point of reference, usually toward the trunk of the body
- Range of motion - The range, through which a joint can be moved
- Retinaculum - Bandage like retaining band of connective tissue found at the ankles and wrists to keep tendons and tendon sheaths in place
- Retraction - Movement backward
- Rotation - Circular movement when a bone moves around its own central axis. Lateral and medial rotations refer to direction of rotation
- Sacral - pertaining to the sacrum of the spinal column
- Sagittal plane - A plane that divides the body into left and right portions
- Sacroiliac - Joint between the sacrum and the Ilium bone
- Scapular - Referring to the shoulder blade
- Superficial - Nearer to the surface of the body, the opposite of deep
- Superior - Situated above or toward the head
- Synergist - A muscle that supports the prime mover
- Supinate - Rotational movement so the body is face up; palms are down
- Thrixotropy - The ability of fascia to change the ground substance in its matrix from a gel to a sol state, and vice versa
- Transverse plane - Plane that divides the body into superior and inferior (or proximal and distal) portions
- Tsubo - Japanese term used to describe acupoints
- Unilateral - Pertaining to one side
