Your Guide to the Most Common Physical Therapy Abbreviations

No matter what setting you work in, you likely encounter physical therapy abbreviations on a regular basis—but it's not always easy to keep them all straight, and new ones are seemingly created every day. Yet in an environment where clear communication is essential, a misunderstood abbreviation could be dangerous.

With that in mind, here's a list of some of the more common cross-setting physical therapy abbreviations. There will never be a truly exhaustive list, and your own setting likely has its own unique shorthand, but this collection should give you a strong foundation.

We also have created a list of common Occupational Therapy abbreviations & Speech-Language Pathology abbreviations.

Common Clinical and Non-Clinical Physical Therapy Abbreviations

Clinical Abbreviations

A:

AAROM: Active assisted range of motion]

ABD: Abduction

AC: Acromioclavicular joint

ACDF: Anterior cervical discectomy and fusion

ADD: Adduction

ADL: Activities of daily living

AFO: Ankle foot orthotic

AKA: Above knee amputation

AM-PAC: Activity Measure for Post-Acute Care

AP: Anterior to posterior

APTA: American Physical Therapy Association

AROM: Active range of motion

B:

BAPS: Biomechanical ankle platform system

BFRT: Blood flow restriction training

BID/BIW: Twice a day/Twice a week

BKA: Below knee amputation

b/l: Bilateral

BOS: Base of support

BOS: Beginning of session

BP: Blood pressure

BPPV: Benign paroxysmal positional vertigo

C:

CC: Cable column

CCP: Cervical cold pack

CEU: Continuing Education Unit

CHP: Cervical hot pack

CIPN: Chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy

CP: Cold pack

CPT: Current Procedural Terminology

CVAD: Central venous access devices

cx: Cancel

CX or CS: Cervical spine

D:

DA: Direct access

DB: Dumbbell

DDD: Degenerative disc disease

DGI: Dynamic Gait Index

DFM: Deep friction massage

DJD: Degenerative joint disease

DKTC: Double knee to chest

DLS: Double limb support

DNF: Deep neck flexors

DPC: Digital patient care

E:

ECG or EKG: Electrocardiogram

EDS: Ehlers-Danlos syndrome

EIL: Extension in lying

EIS: Extension in standing

EOB: Edge of bed

EOS: End of session

ER: External rotation

ES: Electrical stimulation

F:

FAI: Femoroacetabular impingement

FIL: Flexion in lying

FIS: Flexion in standing

FMS: Functional movement screen

FOB: Foot of bed

FOM: Functional outcome measure

G:

GH: Glenohumeral joint

GIRD: Glenohumeral internal rotation deficit

H:

HABD: Horizontal abduction

HADD: Horizontal adduction

HBB: Hand behind back

HEP: Home exercise program

HHA: Home Health Aide

HHVBP: Home Health Value-Based Purchasing

HOB: Head of bed

HOOS: Hip dysfunction and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score

HP: Hot pack

HR: Heart rate

Hx: History of

I:

IASTM: Instrument-assisted soft tissue mobilization

IM: Intramuscular

IM: Intramedullary

IPC: Intermittent pneumatic compression

IR: Internal rotation

IV: Intravenous

J:

JAMAR: Hand/grip dynamometer

K:

KTC: Knee to chest

KOOS: Knee injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score

L:

LCP: Large cold pack

LHP: Large hot pack

LJL: Lateral joint line

LMS: Learning management system

LOB: Loss of balance

LOC: Loss of consciousness

LOS: Length of stay

LS or LX: Lumbar spine

LTG: Long-term goal

LTR: Lateral trunk rotation

M:

MC: Medicare

MHP: Moist hot pack

MJL: Medial joint line

ML: Monthly letter

MTJ: Musculotendinous junction

MMT: Manual muscle test

MMT: Medial meniscus tear

MSK: Musculoskeletal

MWM: Mobilization with movement

N:

NMES: Neuromuscular electrical stimulation

NPS: Net Promoter Score

O:

O2: Oxygen

OA: Osteoarthritis

OASIS: Outcome and Assessment Information Set

OH: Over head

ORIF: Open reduction internal fixation

P:

PA: Posterior to anterior

PB: Physioballs

PD: Parkinson's disease

PER: Pronation-External Rotation

PFJ: Patellofemoral joint

PICC: Peripherally Inserted Central Catheter

PMHx: Past medical history

POC: Plan of care

PRN: As needed

PROM: Passive range of motion

PROMIS: Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System

PRP: Platelet-rich plasma

Pt: Patient

PVM: Paravertebral muscles

R:

RA: Rheumatoid arthritis

RC: Rotator cuff

RCR: Rotator cuff repair

RCT: Rotator cuff tear

RE: Re-evaluation of patient

RFMD: Return from MD

ROM: Range of motion

ROT: Rotation

RTM: Remote therapeutic monitoring

RTMD: Return to MD

RTS: Return to sport

RTSA/RTSR: Reverse total shoulder arthroplasty/replacement

RTW: Return to work

S:

SAD: Subacromial debridement

SB: Side bend

SC: Sternoclavicular joint

SER: Supination-External Rotation

SG: Side glide

SGIS: Side glide in standing

SI or SIJ: Sacroiliac joint

SKTC: Single knee to chest

S/L: Side lying

SLAP: Superior labrum anterior to posterior

SLJ: Sinding-Larsen-Johansson syndrome

SLS: Single limb support

SNAG: Sustained natural apophyseal glide

SOR: Suboccipital releases/p: Status post

SpO2: Oxygen saturation as per pulse oximeter

STEADI: Stopping Elderly Accidents, Deaths & Injuries

STG: Short-term goal

STM: Soft tissue mobilization

T:

TA: Transverse abdominis

TB: Theraband

TC: Talocrural

TEAM Model: Transforming Episode Accountability Model

TENS: Transcutaneous electrical stimulation

THA/THR: Total hip arthroplasty/replacement

TID/TIW: Three times a day/three times a week

TKA/TKR: Total knee arthroplasty/ replacement

TM: Treadmill

TMD: Temporomandibular disorder

TMJ: Temporomandibular joint

TSA/TSR: Total shoulder arthroplasty/replacement

TTP: Tender to palpation

TUG: Timed Up and Go gait test

U:

US: Ultrasound

UBE: Upper body ergometer

V:

VASTM: Vibration-assisted soft tissue mobilization

VOR: Vestibulo-ocular reflex

W:

WNL: Within Normal Limits

X:

XFM: Cross-friction massage

Non-Clinical Abbreviations

Auth: Authorization

Cx: Cancel

DC: Discharge

Ded: Deductible

DN: Daily note

EMR: Electronic medical record

f/b: Followed by

f/u: Follow up

HC: Home care

IE: Initial evaluation

Ins: Insurance

IV: Insurance verification

l/m: Left message

MC: Medicare

ML: Monthly letter

n/s: No show for appointment

OON: Out of network

POC: Plan of care

PN: Progress note

RE: Re-evaluation

Don't Forget to Confirm, Confirm, Confirm!

Across physical therapy, abbreviations are understandably popular for saving time—but they don't come without a risk. For example, as you can see in the list above, some medical abbreviations (such as BOS) have multiple meanings, which can muddle clarity.

We hope this article helps you navigate abbreviations better and lower the risk of misunderstanding, but remember that whenever in doubt, confirming meaning via in-person communication is still essential for patient safety.