Physical Therapy Abbreviations From Laura Inverarity, P.T., Your Guide to Physical Therapy. FREE Newsletter. Sign Up Now!

Physical therapists often use medical abbreviations in their note writing. To the non-trained therapists, these can often be confusing. Below is a list of commonly used therapy abbreviations. Now you too can understand your therapist’s note!

Weight Bearing Abbreviations NWB – Non Weight Bearing PWB – Partial Weight Bearing TTWB – Toe Touch Weight Bearing WBAT – Weight Bearing as Tolerated FWB – Full Weight Bearing

Assistive Device Abbreviations SC – Straight Cane QC – Quad Cane SBQC – Small Base Quad Cane LBQC – Large Base Quad Cane PUW – Pick up Walker RW – Rolling Walker

Range of Motion PROM – Passive Range of Motion AAROM – Active Assisted Range of Motion AROM – Active Range of Motion ADD – Adduction ABD - Abduction

Total Hip Replacement Exercise Guide

Regular exercises to restore your normal hip motion and strength and a gradual return to everyday activities are important for your full recovery. Your orthopaedic surgeon and physical therapist may recommend that you exercise 20 to 30 minutes 2 or 3 times a day during your early recovery. They may suggest some of the following exercises. This can help you better understand your exercise and activity program.

Early Postoperative Exercises

These exercises are important for increasing circulation to your legs and feet to prevent blood clots. They also are important to strengthen muscles and to improve your hip movement. You may begin these exercises in the recovery room shortly after surgery. It may feel uncomfortable at first but these exercises will speed your recovery and reduce your postoperative pain. These exercises should be done as you lie on your back with your legs spread slightly apart.

Ankle Pumps - Slowly push your foot up and down. Do this exercise several times as often as every 5 or 10 minutes. This exercise can begin immediately after surgery and continue until you are fully recovered.

Ankle Rotations - Move your ankle inward toward your other foot and then outward away from your other foot. Repeat 5 times in each direction 3 or 4 times a day.

Repeat the following three exercises 10 times 3 or 4 times a day

Bed-Supported Knee Bends - Slide your heel toward your buttocks, bending your knee and keeping your heel on the bed. Do not let your knee roll inward.

Buttock Contractions - Tighten buttock muscles and hold to a count of 5.

Abduction Exercise - Slide your leg out to the side as far as you can and then back.

Quad Set - Tighten your thigh muscle. Try to straighten your knee. Hold for 5 to 10 seconds. Repeat this exercise 10 times during a 10-minute period. Continue until your thigh feels fatigued.

Straight Leg Raises - Tighten your thigh muscle with your knee fully straightened on the bed. As your thigh muscle tightens, lift your leg several inches off the bed. Hold for 5 to 10 seconds. Slowly lower. Repeat until your thigh feels fatigued.