Common Terms
Being familiar with some of the commonly used terms in the field of orthotics is quite helpful. Here you can both find a basic list of terms and a more detailed description of some of the concepts and phrases used.
You can help us add to this list by sending us any words you are not familiar with and would like to see included on the list.
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Osteoarthritis
- Cartilage
- Chondromalacia
- Glucosamine / Chondroitin
- Lateral OA
- Medial OA
- Meniscectomy
- Meniscus
- NSAIDs
- Osteoarthritis
- Osteotomy
- Partial Knee Replacement
- Total Knee Replacement
- Uni, Bi, Tri - Compartmental OA
- Varus/Valgus
- ACL (Anterior Cruciate Ligament)
- ACL Reconstruction
- Arthroscopic Surgery
- Chondromalacia
- Femoral Condyle
- KO
- Ligament Sprain
- MCL (Medial Collateral Ligament)
- MRI
- Osgood-Schlatter Disease
- Patella
- Patellar Subluxation
- Patellar tendonitis (Jumpers Knee)
- PFPS (Patellofemoral Pain Syndrome)
- PFSS (Patellofemoral Stress Syndrome)
| Word | Explanation |
| Bilateral | Bi means both, meaning both sides. |
| Cadence | Walking speed |
| CPO | Certified prosthetist and orthotist (also known as CO - CP - CPOT) |
| Disarticulation | Limb is amputated through the joint |
| Edema | Swelling of the tissues (also spelt oedema) |
| Endo | Inside |
| Exo | Outside |
| HKAFO | Hip Knee Ankle Foot Orthosis |
| HO | Hip Orthosis |
| KAFO | Knee Ankle Foot Orthosis |
| Lower extremity | Lower limb |
| Occupational therapy | Training to maximise independance in daily life |
| Peripheral vascular disease | Disease of the blood vessels from a variety of causes |
| Physical therapy | Theraputic exercises in order to treat a disease or a disability |
| Upper extremity | Upper limb |
An orthotics and prosthetics dictionary is now available online, helping both prosthetists and amputees around the world to widen their understanding of the O&P vocabulary. Over 1,000 clinical, technical and biomechanical terms are featured so far.