Top 100 Glossary Terms Every Physiotherapy Patient Should Know Before Booking a Session in Ontario or Canada
By Henry Tse, Driving Innovation in Para-Medical at RMT Clinic Network Organization
Physiotherapy isn’t just about rehabilitation—it’s about prevention, movement, and lifelong wellness. Whether you’re healing from surgery, recovering from a sports injury, or managing a chronic condition, understanding your care is the first step to lasting results.
At RMTClinic.net, Canada’s #1 Para-Medical Directory to find trusted Physiotherapists, RMTs, and Chiropractors near you, we’ve created this glossary to demystify the most common physiotherapy terms for patients across Ontario and beyond.
This guide will help you speak the same language as your physiotherapist, understand treatment goals, and make empowered decisions about your health.
🗂️ Physiotherapy Glossary: A–Z for Patients in Canada
| Term | What It Means (For You, the Patient) |
|---|---|
| Active Range of Motion (AROM) | Movements you perform on your own without assistance, often used to test mobility and progress. |
| Assessment | Your first session with a physiotherapist to understand your injury, movement issues, or pain. |
| Balance Training | Exercises focused on improving coordination and reducing fall risk—especially important for seniors. |
| Biomechanics | The study of body movement and structure—used to assess posture, gait, and muscle performance. |
| Bracing | Wearing a supportive device to protect or stabilize an injured joint or muscle during healing. |
| Cardiopulmonary Rehab | Treatment plans focused on heart and lung conditions, improving endurance and breathing. |
| Chronic Pain | Pain lasting longer than 3 months—physiotherapists help manage it with movement and education. |
| Cold Therapy | The use of ice packs to reduce inflammation, swelling, or acute pain after injury. |
| Concussion Rehab | Specialized treatment following a brain injury to help with headaches, balance, and cognition. |
| Corticosteroids | Anti-inflammatory medications that may be discussed if pain persists—used alongside physical therapy. |
| Dry Needling | A technique using fine needles to release muscle knots—similar to acupuncture, but used in physio. |
| Electrical Stimulation (e-stim) | A therapy using electrical currents to stimulate nerves or muscles for recovery. |
| Exercise Prescription | A customized program of stretches, strength moves, or mobility drills tailored to your goals. |
| Falls Prevention | A core part of senior care—physiotherapists train muscles and balance to prevent future falls. |
| Fascia | The connective tissue around muscles—tight fascia can limit movement and cause pain. |
| Functional Movement Screen (FMS) | A series of exercises that assess movement quality and predict injury risk. |
| Gait Training | Techniques to improve the way you walk—used after surgeries, strokes, or injuries. |
| Graduated Exercise Program | Slowly building up exercise intensity to recover safely and avoid setbacks. |
| Heat Therapy | The application of heat to reduce stiffness, increase blood flow, and relax tight muscles. |
| Hydrotherapy | Water-based therapy sessions, often used for low-impact rehabilitation and joint-friendly exercise. |
| Ice Massage | Rubbing an ice cube over a painful area to reduce inflammation and swelling. |
| Isometric Exercise | Muscle contractions without movement—often used to maintain strength during injury. |
| Joint Mobilization | A hands-on technique your physio uses to gently move stiff joints. |
| Knee Stabilization | Targeted exercises and techniques to improve knee strength and function. |
| Kinesiology Tape | A stretchy tape applied to skin to support muscles, improve posture, or reduce pain. |
| Manual Therapy | Hands-on techniques like massage, mobilization, or manipulation performed by your physiotherapist. |
| McKenzie Method | A movement-based assessment and treatment system for back pain and disc issues. |
| Modalities | Any tools used in treatment—like ultrasound, TENS, heat, or laser therapy. |
| Motor Control | How your brain and muscles work together to coordinate movement—key in injury rehab. |
| Myofascial Release | A gentle technique to stretch and release tight connective tissues. |
| Neurological Rehab | Therapy for people recovering from stroke, MS, Parkinson’s, or brain/spinal injuries. |
| Occupational Therapy (OT) | Often works alongside physio to help people perform daily activities independently. |
| Orthopaedic Physio | Focused on joints, bones, ligaments, and muscles—great for post-op and sports injury recovery. |
| Pain Education | Teaching patients how pain works to reduce fear and promote healing. |
| Passive Range of Motion (PROM) | Movements your therapist does for you—helpful when you can’t move independently. |
| Pelvic Floor Physiotherapy | Treatment for bladder issues, pelvic pain, or postpartum recovery. |
| Physical Therapist (PT) | A regulated healthcare professional trained in movement science and rehabilitation. |
| Post-Surgical Rehab | Tailored programs to rebuild strength and function after surgery (e.g., ACL, hip replacement). |
| Postural Assessment | Evaluating your sitting or standing posture to identify imbalances or pain triggers. |
| Progression Plan | A treatment roadmap showing how your physio care will evolve over time. |
| Proprioception | Your body’s sense of position and movement—key for injury prevention and coordination. |
| Range of Motion (ROM) | The amount your joints can move—measured to track improvement over time. |
| Red Flags | Warning signs that may require referral to a doctor—your physiotherapist is trained to recognize them. |
| Rehabilitation | The structured process of recovering from injury or surgery through active treatment. |
| Repetitive Strain Injury (RSI) | Pain from doing the same motion repeatedly—often seen in office and trade workers. |
| Rotator Cuff | A group of shoulder muscles frequently injured—treated through targeted rehab. |
| Scapular Stability | How well your shoulder blade muscles hold during arm movements—important in shoulder rehab. |
| Sciatica | Pain running down the leg from a compressed sciatic nerve—often relieved through physio care. |
| Shockwave Therapy | A tool that delivers acoustic energy to speed healing in chronic conditions. |
| Soft Tissue Mobilization | Manual techniques to relax and treat muscles, tendons, and fascia. |
| Sports Physiotherapy | Rehab focused on athletes—return-to-play assessments, injury prevention, and performance support. |
| Stiffness | A common issue after injury or immobility—treated with stretching and movement. |
| Strengthening Program | Custom exercises to build muscle after injury or prevent re-injury. |
| Tendonitis | Inflammation of a tendon—treated with rest, therapy, and progressive loading. |
| TENS Unit | A device that uses small electrical pulses to reduce muscle and nerve pain. |
| Therapeutic Ultrasound | Sound waves used to promote healing in muscles, joints, and ligaments. |
| Thoracic Spine | The upper back area—often targeted in posture or shoulder-related physiotherapy. |
| Traction | A technique using pulling force to relieve pressure on joints or discs—can be manual or mechanical. |
| Trigger Point Release | Relieving muscle knots that refer pain to other areas—your therapist may apply direct pressure. |
| Vestibular Rehab | Exercises for people with dizziness, balance issues, or vertigo. |
| Work Conditioning | Rehab that mimics job tasks to help you return to work safely after injury. |
| WSIB Coverage | Insurance for workplace injuries in Ontario—many physiotherapy clinics accept WSIB claims. |
Use This Glossary to Feel Confident in Every Session
When you know what’s happening and why, you become more than a patient—you become a participant in your healing.
📌 Bookmark this glossary and share it with friends or family members who are beginning their own physiotherapy journey.
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Written by Henry Tse
Founder, RMT Clinic Network Organization
Helping Canadians access expert para-medical care with clarity and confidence.
