Abbreviations in physiotherapy

Original Editor - Ruairi O'Donohoe

Top Contributors - Garima Gedamkar, Ruairi O'Donohoe, Rewan Elsayed Elkanafany, Karen Wilson, Kim Jackson, Ewa Jaraczewska, Lauren Heydenrych, Scott Buxton, Aminat Abolade, Venkata Nagaraj Mummadisetty, Leana Louw and Lucinda hampton  

Description

Abbreviations assist healthcare professionals to make effective use of their time. These abbreviations should be recognised and agreed upon in order to ensure best practice.

Abbreviations :

Units:

Centimeter	cm
Gram	g
Kilocalorie	kcal
Kilogram	Kg
Litre	L
Milligram	mg
Millilitre	ml
Millimetre	mm
Millimole	Mmol

Frequency and time:

b.d./b.i.d.	Twice daily
Mane	In the morning
Nocte	At night
p.r.n.	When required
q.d.s./q.i.d.	Four times daily
STAT	Immediately
Tarde	In the evening
t.d.s./t.i.d.	Three times daily
h	Hour
Mins.	Minute
s	second
x/12	x Months
x/52	x weeks

Routes of Administration:

IV	Intravenously
IM	Intramuscularly
NG	Nasogastric
PEG	Percutaneous Endoscopic Gastrotomy
PO	Per Oral (oral by mouth)
PV	Per vaginal
SC	Subcutaneously
PR	Per Rectum
SL	Sublingually

Never abbreviate:

Patient's resuscitation status
Drug names
Right OR Left	Except when used as part of an approved abbreviation
+++, >, <	Avoided unless used as part of an official grading system
+ve, -ve	Can use Pos. and Neg. instead
Patient/Service users name
No abbreviations on a consent form
No abbreviations on an incident report

#:

5Ds	Dizziness, diplopia, drop attacks, dysorthria, dysphagia
9HPT	Nine Hole

A

ABBREVIATION	DEFINITION
A&A	Aids and Appliances
AAA	Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm
ABD	abduction
ABG	Arterial blood gas
ACL	anterior cruciate ligament
ACTH	adrenocorticotropic hormone
ACS	Acute coronary syndrome
ADD	adduction
ADAPT	additive activities profile test
ADL	activities of daily living
ADS	alternative delivery system
AFO	ankle foot orthosis
AIDS	acquired immune deficiency syndrome
ASIS	Anterior superior iliac spine
AJ	ankle jerk
AK	above knee
ALS	amyotrophic lateral sclerosis
ANS	autonomic nervous system
AMA	against medical advice
Ant	anterior
AP	anterior-posterior
AAV	AIDS-associated virus
AAL	Anterior axillary line
Ab	Antibody
AB	Apex beat
ACE	Angiotensin converting enzyme
ADH	Anti-diuretic hormone
ADHD	Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder
AF	Atrial fibrillation
AFB	Acid fast bacilli
ANOVA	analysis of variance
ANCOVA	analysis of covariance

B

ABBREVIATION	DEFINITION
BE	below elbow
BK	below knee
BOS	base of support
BP	blood pressure
bpm	beats per minute

C

ABBREVIATION	DEFINITION
C1-7	Cervical vertebrae 1-7
CABG	Coronary artery bypass graft
CAD	Coronary artery disease
Cal	Calorie
CBC	Complete blood count
CCA	Common carotid artery
CCU	Coronary care unit
CES	Cauda equina syndrome
CFS	Chronic fatigue syndrome
CHB	Complete heart block
CHD	Congenital heart disease
Chol	Cholesterol
CHF	Congestive heart failure
CMV	Cytomegalo virus
c/o	Complains of
CO	Cardiac output
CO2	Carbon dioxide
COAD	Chronic ostructive airways disease
COB	Chronic obstructive bronchitis
C0/C1	Atlanto-axial joint
COPD	Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
CPAP	Continuous positive airway pressure
CPB/CPBP	Cardiopulmonary bypass
CPD	Cephalopelvic disproportion
CPM	continuous passive motion machine
CPR	Cardio-pulmonary resuscitation
creps	Crepitations
CREST(syndrome)	abbreviation for calcinosis, Raynaud's phenomenon, esophageal dysfunction, sclerodactyly, and telangiectasis
CRF	Chronic renal failure
CRHD	Chronic rheumatic heart disease
CSF	Cerebrospinal fluid
CT	Computerised tomography
CTS	Carpal tunnel syndrome
CVP	Central venous pressure
CVS	Cardiovascular system
CNS	central nervous system

D

ABBREVIATION	DEFINITION
DASH	Disability of arm, shoulder, hand
D/C	Discharge
DDx	Differential diagnosis
DD	Dangerous drugs
DDD	Degenerative disc disorder
Dec	Decreased
DF	Dorsiflexion
DHS	Dynamic hip screw
DI	Diabetes Insipidus
DIU	Death in-utero
DJD	Degenerative joint disease
DM	Diabetes mellitus
DOB	Date of birth
DOE	Dyspnoea on exertion
D&C	dilation and curettage

E

ABBREVIATION	DEFINITION
ECG	Electrocardiogram
EEG	electroencephalogram, electroencephalograph
EMG	electromyogram, electromyography
Ex's	exercises
EOR	End of range
Exp	Expiratory
Ext	Extension
ECU	environmental control unit

F

ABBREVIATION	DEFINITION
FBS	fasting blood sugar
FH	family history
Fx	Fracture
FVC	Forced vital capacity
FWB	Full weight bearing
F/U	Follow up
FTD	Full term delivery
FSH	Follicle stimulating hormone
FRC	Functional residual capacity
Flex	Flexion
FIM	Functional independence measure
FHS	Foetal heart sounds
FHR	Foetal heart rate
FFA	Free fatty acids
FEV	Forced expiratory volume
FEV1	Forced expiratory volume in one second
FET	Forced expiratory technique
FES	Functional electrical stimulation
FAS	fetal alcohol syndrome

G

ABBREVIATION	DEFINITION
GA	General anaesthetic
GCS	Glasgow coma scale
GDM	Gestational diabetes mellitus
GFR	Glomerular filtration rate
GFSH	Growth factor stimulating hormone
GH	Growth hormone
GIT	Gastrointestinal tract
GMFCS	Gross Motor Function Classification Scale
GRF	Ground reaction force
GRH	Growth releasing hormone
GTT	Glucose tolerance test
GSW	gunshot wound
GSR	galvanic skin response

H

ABBREVIATION	DEFINITION
Hb	Haemoglobin
HAD	Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale
HIV	Human immunodeficiency virus
HIVD	Herniated intervertebral disc
HMD	Hyaline membrane disease
H/O, HO	History of
HR	Heart rate
HPV	Human papilloma virus
HRT	Hormone replacement therapy
HS	Heart sounds
H Sit.	High sitting
HSV	Herpes simplex virus
Ht	Height
HTLV	Human T-cell lymphotropic virus
HTN	Hypertension
Hx	History
HGH	Human growth hormone
Hep A, B, C	Hepatitis A, B, C etc
HEP	Home exercise program
HDL	High density lipoprotein
HCVD	Hypertensive cardiovascular disease
HCV	Hepatitis C virus
H&C	HHuff and cough
HI	Head injury
HBV	Hepatitis B Virus
HBH	hand behind head
HBB	Hand behind back

I

ABBREVIATION	DEFINITION
Ig	Immunoglobulin
IE	Inspiratory:expiratory (ratio)
ICU	Intensive Care Unit
ICS	Intercostal space
ICP	Intracranial pressure
ICD	Intercostal drain
ICA	Internal carotid artery
IC	Informed consent
IFT	Interferential therapy
Inf.	Inferior
IOP	Intraocular pressure
Int.	Internal
Insp.	Inspiratory
IMV	Intermittent mandatory ventilation
IMT	Isometric muscle testing
IHD	Ischaemic heart disease
Inv.	Inversion
IPPV	Intermittent positive pressure ventilation
IPPR	Intermittent positive pressure respiration
IVC	Inferior vena cava
IPPB	Intermittent positive pressure breathing
IFC	interferential current
IVSD	Interventricular septal defect
IVD	Intervertebral disc
IUGR	Intrauterine growth retardation
IR	internal rotation
IRDS	Infant respiratory distress syndrome
IRQ	Inner range quadriceps
IUFD	Intrauterine foetal death
IRV	Inspiratory reserve volume
ISC	Intermittent self catheterisation
IST	Infraspinatus tendon
ISWT	Incremental Shuttle Walk Test
IUD	Intrauterine death
IUCD	Intrauterine contraceptive device
I/T	Intermittent
I/T C Tx	Intermittent cervical traction
I/T L Tx	Intermittent lumbar traction

J

ABBREVIATION	DEFINITION
JCA -Juvenile chronic arthritis	JCA -Juvenile chronic arthritis
JDM -Juvenile diabetes mellitus	JDM -Juvenile diabetes mellitus
JRA	Juvenile rheumatoid arthritis
jt	joint
JVP	jagular venous pressure

K

ABBREVIATION	DEFINITION
KJ	knee jerk
K wire	Kirschner wire
KAFO	knee ankle foot orthosis

L

ABBREVIATION	DEFINITION
L 1-5	Lumbar vertebrae 1-5
lat	lateral
LBE	Lateral basal expansion
LA	Local anaesthic
LBP	Low back pain
LBW	Low birth weight
LCA	Left coronary artery
LCCS	Low cervical caesarean section
LCL	Lateral collateral ligament
LCM	Left costal margin
LCx	Left circumflex
LDDD	Lumbar degenerative disc disorder
LDL	Low-Density-Lipoprotein type
LFA	Left femoral artery
LFTs	Liver function tests
LGA	Large for gestational age
LH	Luteinising hormone
LHF	Left heart failure
LICS	Left intercostal space
LIF	Left iliac fossa
Ligs.	Ligaments
LOC	Loss of consciousness
LOW	Loss of weight
LP	Lumbar puncture
IRTI	Lower respiratory tract infection
LS	Lumbosacral
LTHR	Left total hip replacement
LMN	lower motor neuron
LMNL	lower motor neuron lesion
LOS	length of stay
LTG	long term goal

-

M

ABBREVIATION

DEFINITION

|MAP |mean arterial pressure | – |MED | minimal erythemal dose | – |MAS |Motor assessment scale | – |Max. |Maximum | – |MCA |Middle cerebral artery | – |MCP |Metacarpophalangeal | – |MD |Muscular dystrophy | – |MI

|myocardial infarction

| – |MDI |Metered dose inhaler | – |Meds |Medications | – |Med. |Medial | – |MGTT |Modified glucose tolerance test | – |MHI |Manual hyperinflation | – |Mhz |Megahertz | – |MMSE |Mini mental state examination | – |MMT |Manual muscle testing  | – |MND |Motor neurone disease | – |MRI |Magnetic resonance imaging | – |MRP |Motor relearning programme | – |MTP |Metatarsophalangea | – |MVA |Motor vehicle accident | – |MVD |Mitral valve disease | – |movt. |Movement | – |Mx - |Management
| – |MS |multiple sclerosis | – |MCL | medial collateral ligament |}

N

ABBREVIATION

DEFINITION

NBM

Nil By Mouth

–

NAD

No abnormality detected

–

NCV

Nerve conduction study

–

Neb.

Nebuliser/nebulised

–

NIBP

Non-invasive blood pressure

–

NICU

Neonatal intensive care unit

–

NIDDM

Not insulin dependent diabetes mellitus

–

NIHSS

National Institute of Health Stroke Scale

–

NIMV

Non invasive mask ventilation

–

NIPV

Non invasive pressure ventilation

–

NOF

Neck of femur

–

NOH

Neck of humerus

–

NP

Non productive

–

NWB

Non weight bearing

–

NSMDA

Neurosensory Motor Developmental Assessment

–

NDT

neurodevelopmental treatment

O

ABBREVIATION

DEFINITION

|O2 - |Oxygen
| –

|O: -

|Objective
| – |OPD - |Outpatients Department
| – |Ortho. - |Orthopaedics
| – |ORQ -|Outer range quadriceps
| – |OA – | osteoarthritis
| – |OB –

|obstetrics

| – |ORIF – |open reduction, internal fixation |}

P

ABBREVIATION

DEFINITION

|P – | poor (used in muscle testing) |- |P: -

|plan

|- |Paed

|Paediatrics

|- |palp. - |Palpitations
|- |PA – | posterior/anterior
|- |para – |paraplegia
|- |PCL – |posterior cruciate ligament
|PE –

|pulmonary embolus

|- |PEEP – |positive end expiratory pressure |- |PF – | plantar flexion
|- |PNF – |proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation |- |PNI – |peripheral nerve injury |- |POMR – | problem-oriented medical record
post. – posterior |- |post-op –

|after surgery 

|- |PRE – |progressive resistive exercise |- |pre-op –

|before operation

|- |PROM – |passive range of motion |- |PROME – | passive range of motion exercise |- |PSIS –

|posterior superior iliac spine

|- |PTB –

|patellar tendon bearing 

|- |PVD – |peripheral vascular disease |- |PWB –

|partial weight bearing

|- |PDA - |Patent ductus arteriosus
|- |PDMS - |Peabody Developmental Motor Scale 
|- |PDx - |Provisional diagnosis
|- |PE - |Physical examination
|- |PEDI - |Paediatric Evaluation of Disability Inventory 
|- |PEEP - |Positive end expiratory pressure 
|- |PEFR - |Peak expiratory flow rate
|- |PENS - |Percutaneous electrical nerve stimulator
|- |PF - |Patellofemoral
|- |PFR - |Peak flow rate
|- |PFT - |Pulmonary function test
|- |PFx - |Pelvic floor exercises  |- |PGH - |Pituitary growth hormone |- |PICA - |Posterior inferior cerebral artery |- |PIP |Proximal interphalangeal
|- |PIVD - |Prolapsed intervertebral disc
|- |PKB - |Prone knee bend
|}

Q

ABBREVIATION	DEFINITION
quad.	Quadraplegia
quads.	Quadriceps

R

ABBREVIATION

DEFINITION

ROM	Range Of Movement
RA	Rheumatoid arthritis
Rehab –	rehabilitation
RDS -	Respiratory distress syndrome
REIL	Repeated extension in lying
REIS -	Repeated extension in sitting
RFIL -	Repeated flexion in lying
RFIS -	Repeated flexion in standing
REM -	Rapid eye movement
rep. -	Repeated
Resp. -	Respiratory
ret.	Retraction
Rh -ve -	Rhesus factor negative
Rh +ve -	Rhesus factor positive<br
RHD -	Rheumatic heart disease
RHF -	Right heart failure
RIP -	Raised intracranial pressure
RJ -	Radial jerk
R-J -	Robert Jones (bandage)
R/O -	Removal of
rot. -	Rotation
RR -	Respiratory rate
RTI -	Respiratory tract infection
RVF -	Right ventricular failure
RVH -	Right ventricular hypertrophy

S

ABBREVIATION

DEFINITION

SA Node	Sinoatrial Node
S1-5	Sacral vertebrae (1-5)
SaO2 -	Oxygen saturation
SAFG -	Short arm fibreglass (cast)
SAPOP -	Short arm plaster of paris
SAH -	Subarachnoid haemorrhage
SDH -	Subdural haemorrhage/haematoma
S/E -	Subjective examination
SFL/R -	Side flexion left/right
SGIS -	Side glide in standing
Sh. -	Shoulder
SIJ -	Sacro-iliac joint
SL -	Side lying
SLAP -	Superior labrum anterior-posterior lesion
SLE -	Systemic lupus erythematosus
SLFG -	Short leg fibreglass (cast)
SLPOP -	Short leg plaster of Paris
SLR -	Straight leg raising
SLS -	Single leg stand
SMI -	Sustained maximal inspiration
Sn -	Suction
Spiro. -	Spirometry
SPS -	Single point stick
Sput. -	Sputum
SQ -	Static quadriceps
s-s -	Side to side
SST -	Supraspinatus tendon
STM -	Short term memory
STML -	Short term memory loss
STR -	Soft tissue release
Strep. -	Streptococcus
subcut. -	Subcutaneous
subj. -	Subjective
Subscap. -	Subscapularis (tendon)
Sup. -	Supination
Sub US -	Subaquatic ultrasound
SVC -	Superior vena cava Sx -	Surgery
SACH –	solid ankle cushion heel
SCI –	spinal cord injury
SC jt. –	sternoclavicular joint
SED –	suberythemal dose
SOAP	– subjective, objective, assessment, plan
SOB	– shortness of breath
STG –	short term goal
sup. –	superior

T

-;
-;

ABBREVIATION	DEFINITION
Temp	Temperature
TENS -	Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation
TEV	Talipes equinovarus&nbsp
TFA	Transfemoral amputation&nbsp
TFL	Tensor fasciae latae
TFT	Thyroid function tests
T/F	Transfer
TG	Triglycerides
Tx -	Traction
THA	Total hip arthroplasty
THR	Total hip replacement
TIA	Transient ischaemic attack
TJ
TKA	Total knee arthroplasty
TKR	Total knee replacement
TLR	Tonic labyrinthine reflex
TMJ	temporomandibular joint
TNR	tonic neck reflex
TMT -	Tarsometatarsal
TOP -	Termination of pregnancy
TORCH(complex) -	Toxoplasmosis, rubella, cytomegalovirus and herpes simplex
TPP -	Time, place and person
TPR -	Temperature, pulse and respiration
TrA -	Transversus abdominis
tract. -	Traction
traps. -	Trapezius
TRH	Thyrotropin-releasing hormone
TSH	Thyroid stimulating hormone
TTA	Transtibial amputation
TV	Tidal volume
TBW	Tension band wiring
TBI	Traumatic brain injury
TA	Tendoachilles
TB	Tuberculosis
T1-12 -	Thoracic vertebrae (1-12)

 U

ABBREVIATION	DEFINITION
UVR	Ultraviolet radiation
US U/S	Ultra sound
URTI	Upper respiratory tract infection
URT	Upper respiratory tract
UPDRS	Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale
U/O	Urine output
UMNL	upper motor neuron lesion
UMN	Upper motor neuron
UL	Upper limb
ULTT	Upper limb tension test
ULTT1-3	Upper limb tension test 1-3

V

ABBREVIATION	DEFINITION
VAS	Visual Analogue Scale
VBI	Vertebrobasilar insufficiency
VC	Vital capacity
VEP	Visual evoked potential
VF	Ventricular fibrillation
VFT	Ventilatory function test
VHD	Valvular heart disease
vibs/vibes.	Vibrations
Vit.	Vitamin
VSD	Ventricular septal defect
VS	Vital signs

W

ABBREVIATION	DEFINITION
WB	Weight bearing
W/C	Wheelchair
W/cm²	Watts per centimetre squared
wk	week
Wt	Weight
2WF	Two-wheeled frame
4WF	Four-wheeled frame
Wee-FIM	Paediatric functional independence measure
WNL	Within normal limits
w/o	Without

Y

ABBREVIATION	DEFINITION
y/o	Years old
yr/s	Year/Years

Z

ABBREVIATION	DEFINITION
ZF	Zimmer Frame