Achilles tendinitis –
A condition in which the Achilles tendon becomes swollen and painful as a result of overuse.
Achilles tendon –
The body’s strongest tendon which connects calf muscles to the heel bone and allows people to walk, run and jump.
Acromioclavicular joint –
The joint located at the top of the shoulder that connects the shoulder blade to the clavicle.
Anterior cruciate ligament –
The ligament which connects the tibia to the back of the femur. Also referred to as the ‘ACL.’
Arthritis –
A condition in which joints become inflamed causing pain, swelling and stiffness.
Arthrograms –
An x-ray of a joint after being injected with contrast material.
Arthroscope —
A fiber optic scope which is used to examine a joint.
Atrophy –
A progressive decline in size or muscle mass caused by injury, disease or lack of use.
Bone scan –
A nuclear imaging test used to create images of bones on a computer.
Brace –
A device which supports and stabilizes an injury.
Bursa –
A fluid sac in between a tendon and a bone which decreases friction.
Bursitis —
Results when a bursa becomes inflamed and causes pain at the site of inflammation.
Carpals –
The eight wrist bones.
Carpal tunnel –
A passageway located in the wrist in which the nerves and flexor muscles pass.
Carpal tunnel syndrome –
Inflammation of the tendons located in the carpel tunnel resulting in numbness or pain.
Cast –
A casing made of plaster or fiberglass used to keep a broken bone in place when healing.
Cartilage —
Tissue that provides cushion for bones and joints.
Chondromalacia –
An injury located underneath the kneecap. Also referred to as ‘runner’s knee.’
Clavicle –
The long bone that connects the shoulder blade to the upper part of the breast bone.
Compression –
The third stage in R.I.C.E. therapy, referring to the application of a compression bandage or an ace wrap to the injured area to protect it and reduce swelling.
Dislocation –
An injury that occurs when a bone is misaligned from a joint. This type of injury is usually the result of sudden impact and causes damage to ligaments.
Elbow joint –
The joint located between the upper arm and forearm.
Elevation —
The fourth stage of R.I.C.E. therapy which refers to the elevation of the injured area in order to reduce pressure and pain.
Femur –
The strongest and longest bone in the human body which extends from the pelvis to the knee. Also referred to as the ‘thigh bone.’
Fibula –
The small bone which extends from the knee to the ankle and is located in the outer part of the lower leg.
Fracture –
The breaking or cracking of a bone usually as a result of trauma.
Glenohumeral joint –
The joint located between the upper arm and the shoulder blade. Also referred to as the ‘shoulder joint.’
Gout–
A type of arthritis that is caused by elevated levels of uric acid in the blood which deposit in hard lumps in joints and result in sudden pain. This condition usually occurs in the knee, big toe or ankle joints.
Hip –
A joint located between the thigh-bone and pelvic bone.
Humerus –
The long arm bone located between the elbow and shoulder joints.