Plain-English definitions of the terms we use across physiotherapy, exercise rehabilitation, acupuncture, and Pilates — so you know what to expect from each session and which approach fits your situation.
Also known as: Physical Therapy, PT.
A clinical profession (HCPC-regulated in the UK) that assesses, diagnoses, and treats musculoskeletal, neurological, and respiratory conditions through movement, manual therapy, and education. UK physiotherapists must be registered with the Health and Care Professions Council to use the protected title and practise.
Source: www.csp.org.uk
Hands-on assessment and treatment of joints and soft tissue — including mobilisation, manipulation, and soft-tissue release. Used to reduce pain, restore range of motion, and create the window for active rehabilitation. Most effective when combined with exercise rather than delivered alone.
Source: www.csp.org.uk
Also known as: Therapeutic Exercise, Rehab.
A graded, progressive programme of strengthening, mobility, and movement-control exercises tailored to your stage of recovery. Therapeutic exercise is the most strongly evidenced treatment for most musculoskeletal conditions, and is central to NICE guidance for low back pain and osteoarthritis.
Source: www.nice.org.uk
Also known as: Initial Assessment.
The structured first appointment in which a physiotherapist takes your history, examines movement, strength, and the affected area, and arrives at a working clinical diagnosis and treatment plan you understand before treatment begins.
Also known as: Medical Acupuncture.
The insertion of fine needles at specific body sites following a Western medical diagnosis, used to stimulate sensory nerves and modulate pain. Delivered by chartered physiotherapists trained through the Acupuncture Association of Chartered Physiotherapists (AACP). A course usually gives longer-lasting relief than a single treatment.
Source: www.aacp.org.uk
Also known as: Western Medical Acupuncture, IMS.
Insertion of a fine needle into a myofascial trigger point or tight muscle band to elicit a local twitch response and reduce tension. Distinct from traditional acupuncture: dry needling targets musculoskeletal pain by mechanism rather than traditional meridians.
Physiotherapy-informed Pilates focused on core strength, posture, flexibility, balance, and movement control. Used to bridge rehabilitation and ongoing conditioning, and to manage recurrent back and neck pain. Delivered under clinical supervision so exercises are graded to your presentation.
Source: www.csp.org.uk
Also known as: TPI Assessment.
A Titleist Performance Institute movement screen used by physiotherapists to assess how physical limitations — mobility, stability, and strength restrictions — affect the golf swing. It links what the body can do to swing mechanics, informing rehab and performance work to improve club-head speed, distance, consistency, and reduce injury.
Also known as: Lumbar Pain, LBP.
Pain in the lumbar spine region. NICE classifies most cases as "non-specific" — no single anatomical cause can be identified. First-line UK guidance (NG59) recommends physiotherapy, exercise, and education over imaging, opioids, or rest; most episodes settle within six weeks with appropriate management.
Source: www.nice.org.uk
Also known as: Lumbar Radiculopathy.
Pain, tingling, or numbness radiating from the lower back down the leg along the path of the sciatic nerve, usually caused by irritation or compression of a lumbar nerve root. Most cases improve with movement, exercise, and time; NICE advises against routine imaging and prolonged rest.
Source: www.nhs.uk
Also known as: Tendinitis, Tendinosis.
A tendon injury caused by overload — the term replaces the older "tendinitis" because chronic tendon problems show little inflammation. Achilles, patellar, gluteal, and rotator-cuff tendinopathies are most common. Rehabilitation centres on progressive loading; manual therapy and adjuncts support it but do not resolve it.
Source: www.nhs.uk
Also known as: OA, Degenerative Joint Disease.
A load- and wear-related condition affecting joint cartilage and underlying bone — most often the knee, hip, hand, or spine. NICE NG226 recommends therapeutic exercise, weight management, and education as first-line care at every stage; injections and surgery are reserved for specific cases after rehab is optimised.
Source: www.nice.org.uk
An acute (sudden) or overuse injury to muscle, tendon, ligament, or joint arising from sport or physical activity. Management combines accurate diagnosis, graded loading, and a criteria-based return-to-sport plan rather than a fixed timeline.
Source: www.nhs.uk
Also known as: RTP, Return to Play.
A structured set of clinical and performance criteria used to clear someone to return to training and competition after injury — typically pain status, range-of-motion equivalence, limb-strength symmetry (often ≥90%), sport-specific drills, and confidence. Criteria-based clearance reduces re-injury risk compared with returning on a fixed timeline.
Source: bjsm.bmj.com
Also known as: Post-Surgical Rehab.
Structured physiotherapy after surgery — for example ACL reconstruction, joint replacement, or shoulder repair — that progresses through phases of protected movement, strengthening, and functional loading in line with the surgeon’s protocol, restoring strength, range, and confidence.
A clinical evaluation of how forces act on the body during movement — combining posture, joint range of motion, strength testing, and movement-pattern analysis. It identifies the root drivers of pain so rehabilitation targets the cause rather than only the symptom.
Musculoskeletal problems in children and adolescents — growth-related conditions, sports injuries, and movement difficulties. Assessment and treatment are adapted to the developing skeleton and delivered with parental consent and involvement throughout.
Source: www.csp.org.uk
Also known as: Health and Care Professions Council.
Health and Care Professions Council — the UK statutory regulator for physiotherapy and 14 other health professions. Every UK physiotherapist must be HCPC-registered to use the protected title and practise; the public register lets anyone verify a practitioner.
Source: www.hcpc-uk.org
Also known as: Chartered Society of Physiotherapy.
The Chartered Society of Physiotherapy — the UK professional body and trade union for physiotherapists. CSP membership signals chartered status and adherence to professional and evidence-based practice standards alongside HCPC registration.
Source: www.csp.org.uk