Physiotherapy Technology Glossary

Hi, my name is Léanie Deguire. I am 17 years old, and I have been enrolled in a Springboard to a DCS program since September 2025 at College Montmorency. For the upcoming session, I will be in the Physiotherapy Technology program. I have created this glossary to help and prepare students or people interested in physiotherapy. The glossary will help understand the meaning of 20 words related to this field of study. Each word will have a definition, an audio pronunciation, a translation, and images to help people understand and say the words correctly. There is also an example of how we can use the world in a sentence for each word.

abdomen: noun; The part of the body of a vertebrate containing the digestive organs; the belly.; Example: Good sites are the back, upper arms, abdomen, upper surface of legs, below shoulder blades (best), also just above the backside.; fr: abdomen
biomechanics: noun; The study of the mechanical laws relating to the movement or structure of living organisms.; Example: Orthopaedic biomechanics Laboratory: University of California, (2006) Cortical and trabecular load sharing in the human vertebral body.; fr: biomécanique
bone: noun; Any of the pieces of hard whitish tissue making up the skeleton in humans and other vertebrates.; Example: There are three main loads forces, in which a bone has to cope with.; fr: os
bracing: noun; (of a support) serving to brace a structure.; fr: entretoisement
clinical anatomy: noun (phrase); Clinical anatomy is the study of the structure and function of the human body as it relates to the practice of medicine, surgery, and other healthcare disciplines.; fr: anatomie clinique
corticosteroids: noun; Synthetic, fast-acting medications that mimic the natural, anti-inflammatory hormone cortisol produced by the adrenal glands.; Example: The treatment primarily aims to reduce the inflammatory process, i.e. with the use of corticosteroids and antibiotics.; fr: corticostéroïdes
capacity: noun; The amount that something can produce.; Example: Capacity is not well-defined but is generally accepted as a person's ability to understand the consequences of an action.; fr: capacité
diagnosis: noun; The identification of the nature of an illness or other problem by examination of the symptoms.; Example: Diagnosis of Bone and Joint Disorders.; fr: diagnostic
disability: noun; A physical or mental condition that limits a person's movements, senses, or activities.; Example: However, for people with a long term illness or disability having someone to work with them and help them to do things that are important to them, may literally be life changing.; fr: invalidité
dysfunction: noun; Abnormality or impairment in the function of a specified bodily organ or system.; Example: Occupational therapy: Practice skills for physical dysfunction.; fr: dysfonctionnement
fascia: noun; A thin sheath of fibrous tissue enclosing a muscle or other organ.; Example: At its posterior margin, the circular base of the breast rests on the deep pectoral fascia overlying pectoralis major and serratus anterior, there is however a loose connective tissue plane between these two structures which gives rise to the retrommamary space.; fr: fascia
hydrotherapy: noun; The use of exercises in a pool as part of treatment for conditions such as arthritis or partial paralysis.; Example: Hydrotherapy may be useful.; fr: hydrothérapie
intervention: noun; Action taken to improve a situation, especially a medical disorder.; Example: For this study the researcher will write either 'intervention' or 'control' on a piece of paper and place it in separate sealed envelopes and jumble them to decide which volunteers with be in each arm.; fr: intervention
musculoskeletal condition: noun (phrase); Injuries affecting the human locomotor system-muscles, bones, joints, tendons, ligaments, and nerves.; fr: affection musculosquelettique
prevention: noun; The action of stopping something from happening or arising.; Example: A Neonatal prevention of iron deficiency; Placental transfusion is a cheap and physiological solution.; fr: prévention
prognosis: noun; The likely course of a disease or ailment.; Example: Patients who have aneuploid tumours typically have a worse prognosis.; fr: pronostic
rehabilitation: noun; The action of restoring someone to health or normal life through training and therapy after imprisonment, addiction, or illness.; Example: In addition to this possible diagnosis, is still recovering from severe head injuries and multiple fractures and will require a significant period of rehabilitation.; fr: réhabilitation
sciatica: noun; Pain affecting the back, hip, and outer side of the leg, caused by compression of a spinal nerve root in the lower back, often owing to degeneration of an intervertebral disk.; Example: As she was suffering from Symphysis Pubis Dysfunction and sciatica.; fr: sciatique
stiffness: noun; Inability to move easily and without pain.; Example: In this condition, ice cream possesses optimal textural properties, body, dryness, and stiffness.; fr: rigidité
tendinitis: noun; The inflammation, irritation, or swelling of a tendon—the thick, fibrous cord attaching muscle to bone.; Example: Soft-tissue injuries are often classified as: sprains strains contusions tendinitis bursitis stress injuries (including stress fracture).; fr: tendinite