physiotherapy. terminology. gibberish.

physiotherapy. terminology. gibberish.

"90% of people worldwide don't understand terminology used by physios"

That wasn't entirely true but we can go with it, for now at least. The actual figure can't be that far off if my inklings are correct.

Let's step away from assumptions and statistics for a minute or two. Take a quick look at some terms I selected from a glossary at random:

·         Cryotherapy

·         Metatarsalgia

·         Vasocontriction

If you have a chance grab a piece of paper and scribble down what you think the terms mean, you'll be able to compare it with the official definitions which are located at the end of this post. You'll be able to see how close or far off you are. Most important of all, don't cheat. Why you might ask, because cheaters never prosper in life.

Unless you're a physiotherapist, studying physiotherapy or aware of medical terminology and all of that jazz these terms will mean absolutely nothing to you at all. Allow me to educate you on medical language. I promise to make it as interesting as possible.

The majority of medical terminology has Latin and Greek origins. In fact Greek makes up three-fourths of medical terminology. Latin, French and Italian are the final pieces to the puzzle. Greek is used for clinical terminology such as: cardiology, gastritis. Latin for anatomical terminology such as: ventriculus, cor and ren and French for anything else, examples are massage, plaque. Italian for anything else, some examples are: varicella and influenza. Latin was the language of science up until the beginning of the 19^th century until the English took over (like they always do).

Origins aside medical terminology is complete jargon; the physio essentially builds a wall between them and the patient. On purpose no, but it happens. This creates obstacles between the two because as stated in this article I stumbled upon in the Telegraph "patients thought that a chronic condition meant serious rather than persistent." This power subconsciously created leaves the patient out of the loop and further problems can arise as if rheumatoid arthritis isn't bad enough!

Physios are aware of this and have paved the way for terminology to be understood by patients. If you go onto whichever web browser you use and search: The Chartered Society of Physiotherapy. There is a section on the webpage dedicated to your health, it has simplified conditions and explained them in language that is understandable, one of many ways physiotherapists moderate language for the layperson.

Although this was short I hope it helped you all to figure out a way to understand medical language as a whole, if you're unsure of it Google is always around (for moral support) and the answers should pop right up!

 

Cryotherapy – Ice therapy. The use of ice and ice water in the treatment of injury.

Metatarsalgia - A vague term for pain in the region of the Metatarsal bones of the foot.

Vasoconstriction - A physiological decrease in the diameter of small blood vessels.

Rachel-Lee Allen