Plain definitions of 36 terms we use on the job in Lithia Springs.
Term Index
Open any term below for a dedicated definition page.
An annular tear is a split or crack in the tough outer ring of a spinal disc. The outer ring, called the annulus fibrosus, surrounds the disc’s softer center. Tears may develop from strain, repeated loading, or age-related changes. An annular tear may cause local back or neck pain and may coexist with disc bulging.
Also called: Annular Fissure
Anterior Pelvic Tilt is a forward rotation of the pelvis that increases the inward curve of the lower back. The front of the pelvis moves downward while the back rises. This posture pattern can affect how the hips, lumbar spine, abdominal muscles, and muscles around the pelvis share movement and load.
Also called: Forward Pelvic Tilt
Atlas Vertebra is the first cervical vertebra at the top of the spine. The bone supports the skull and forms a joint with the second cervical vertebra, called the axis. Its ring-shaped structure allows head movement while helping protect the upper spinal cord and nearby nerves.
Also called: C1 Vertebra
Balance Training is a therapeutic exercise approach that develops your ability to keep or regain body stability during standing, walking, reaching, and other movements. Exercises may challenge posture, coordination, strength, sensory awareness, or movement control. A clinician selects tasks that match your current abilities and adjusts them as your control changes.
Also called: Balance Exercises
A bulging disc is a spinal disc that extends beyond its usual boundary as the outer disc tissue pushes outward. The change may occur without symptoms or may irritate nearby structures, depending on its location and size. A bulging disc differs from a herniated disc because the outer layer usually remains largely intact.
Also called: Disc Bulge
Cervical Spine is the upper section of the vertebral column that supports the head and protects the spinal cord in the neck. It includes the neck vertebrae, discs, joints, muscles, and connected nerves. This region allows controlled head movement and helps coordinate the neck’s relationship with the shoulders and upper back.
Also called: Neck Spine
Chiropractic Subluxation is a chiropractic term for altered spinal joint function and movement that may affect how a segment performs. Chiropractors assess this concept through physical findings such as motion, muscle tone, posture, and tenderness. The term describes a clinical pattern within chiropractic care, not necessarily a partial dislocation diagnosed through medical imaging.
Also called: Vertebral Subluxation
Disc Degeneration is a gradual change in the spinal discs that can reduce their flexibility and ability to cushion nearby vertebrae. The change may occur with aging, repeated strain, or injury. Disc degeneration can appear in the neck or lower back and may occur with or without pain, stiffness, or limited movement.
Also called: Degenerative Disc Disease
Disc Protrusion is a condition in which an intervertebral disc extends beyond its usual boundary while its outer ring remains partly intact. The protruding tissue may affect nearby nerves or remain without noticeable symptoms. Health professionals assess its location, size, and relationship to surrounding structures when interpreting imaging and planning care.
Also called: Protruding Disc
A facet joint is a small paired joint at the back of the spine that connects neighboring vertebrae. Facet joints guide spinal movement and help limit excessive twisting or bending. Each joint contains smooth cartilage and a capsule that supports controlled motion. Irritation in a facet joint may contribute to localized back or neck pain.
Also called: Zygapophyseal Joint
Flexion-Distraction is a hands-on chiropractic technique that uses a specialized table to create controlled bending and lengthening movements in the spine. The motion changes pressure and movement within targeted spinal areas while the clinician guides the involved region. Chiropractors may include this technique in care plans for certain back or neck conditions.
Also called: Flexion Distraction Technique
Foraminal Stenosis is a narrowing of the openings between spinal bones where nerve roots leave the spinal canal. Changes in discs, joints, or bone can reduce this space and irritate or compress a nerve root. Symptoms may follow the affected nerve, such as pain, tingling, numbness, or weakness in an arm or leg.
Also called: Neural Foraminal Stenosis
Gait Analysis is a clinical movement assessment that examines how you walk, including foot placement, stride pattern, balance, and joint motion. A practitioner observes your walking pattern and may compare movement on each side of the body. The findings can guide therapeutic exercise planning when walking mechanics relate to pain, weakness, or limited control.
Also called: Walking Assessment
Joint Mobilization is a hands-on technique that applies controlled, gentle movement to a joint to support mobility and reduce stiffness. A practitioner guides the joint through a selected range without forcing it beyond its comfortable limit. The technique may address restricted motion in the spine or extremities during a broader care plan.
Also called: Joint Mobilisation
Kinesiology Tape is an elastic therapeutic tape applied to the skin to provide light support and sensory feedback during movement. Unlike rigid athletic tape, it stretches with the body and does not fully restrict joint motion. Clinicians may apply it during sports injury treatment to support movement while other care addresses the underlying problem.
Also called: Kinesio Tape
Kyphosis is an increased outward curve of the upper spine that rounds the back. The curve usually develops in the thoracic spine, between the neck and lower back. Kyphosis may relate to posture, spinal structure, muscle balance, or vertebral changes. A clinical assessment helps distinguish flexible postural rounding from a more fixed spinal curve.
Also called: Rounded Upper Back
The lumbar spine is the lower section of the vertebral column, located between the thoracic spine and the sacrum. It contains vertebrae, discs, joints, nerves, ligaments, and supporting muscles. This region helps support the upper body and contributes to bending, turning, walking, and other movements involving the lower back.
Also called: Lower Spine
A muscle spasm is a sudden, involuntary tightening of a muscle that can cause pain, stiffness, or restricted movement. The tightening may affect one muscle or a small muscle group. Spasms can follow overuse, strain, prolonged posture, dehydration, or irritation near a nerve, although the cause varies by person.
Also called: Muscle Cramp
Nerve Root Compression is pressure on a spinal nerve root near where the nerve leaves the spine. The pressure may come from a bulging disc, narrowed space, joint changes, or nearby swelling. Depending on the location, compression can contribute to pain, tingling, numbness, or weakness that travels into an arm or leg.
Also called: Nerve Compression
Neuropathy is a nerve disorder that changes how nerves send signals between the body and brain. The condition may affect sensation, movement, or automatic body functions. Symptoms can include tingling, burning, numbness, sensitivity, or weakness. Neuropathy may involve one nerve, several nerves, or nerves throughout the body.
Also called: Peripheral Neuropathy
Pelvic floor is a group of muscles and connective tissues that supports pelvic organs and helps control bladder and bowel function. These tissues also assist with posture, breathing pressure, and movement through the pelvis. Pregnancy, childbirth, injury, or changes in muscle tension can affect how the pelvic floor coordinates with nearby structures.
Also called: Pelvic Floor Muscles
Piriformis Syndrome is a condition involving irritation or compression of the sciatic nerve near the piriformis muscle in the buttock. The condition may produce pain, tingling, or numbness that travels through the buttock and leg. Symptoms often relate to sitting, walking, hip movement, or pressure on the muscle.
Also called: Piriformis Muscle Syndrome
Postural Assessment is a structured review of body alignment and movement in standing, sitting, and other positions. A clinician observes relationships among the head, shoulders, spine, pelvis, and lower limbs. The review may include movement checks and range of motion observations. Findings help identify patterns that may guide posture-focused care.
Also called: Posture Analysis
Radiculopathy is a condition caused by irritation or compression of a spinal nerve root. The condition may produce pain, tingling, numbness, or weakness along the nerve’s path into an arm or leg. Radiculopathy can develop in the neck or lower back and may result from disc changes, narrowing, or other pressure near the spine.
Also called: Nerve Root Disorder
Range of Motion is the degree to which a joint can move through its available direction. Clinicians assess movement such as bending, straightening, rotating, or lifting to understand joint function. Findings may reflect joint structure, muscle flexibility, pain, swelling, or coordination. The assessment can guide therapeutic exercise selection and progress checks.
Also called: ROM
Sacroiliac Joint is the connection between the sacrum at the base of the spine and the ilium of the pelvis. Each side of the pelvis has one sacroiliac joint. These joints transfer load between the upper body and legs while allowing limited movement during standing, walking, and changes in position.
Also called: SI Joint
Sacrum is a triangular bone at the base of the spine that connects the lumbar spine to the pelvis. It forms the back wall of the pelvic region and joins the hip bones at the sacroiliac joints. The sacrum helps transfer forces between the spine and pelvis during standing, walking, and movement.
Also called: Sacral Bone
Scoliosis Curve is the sideways bend and rotation of the spine that changes its usual alignment. The curve may appear in the upper back, lower back, or both areas. Clinicians assess its location, shape, and progression through a physical examination and, when appropriate, imaging reviewed by a qualified healthcare professional.
Also called: Spinal Curve
Spinal Stenosis is a narrowing of the spaces within the spine that can reduce room for the spinal cord or nerve roots. The narrowing may develop in the neck or lower back and may relate to bone changes, disc changes, or thickened tissues. Symptoms can include pain, numbness, tingling, or weakness.
Also called: Central Canal Stenosis
Sprain is a ligament injury caused when a joint is stretched or torn beyond its normal range. Ligaments are strong bands of tissue that connect bones and help stabilize joints. A sprain may affect the ankle, knee, wrist, shoulder, or other joint, and symptoms can include pain, swelling, tenderness, bruising, or limited movement.
Also called: Ligament Injury
A strain is an injury to a muscle or tendon caused by overstretching or forceful loading. The injury may involve irritation, small tissue damage, or a partial tear. Strains often affect the back, neck, shoulder, or limb after lifting, reaching, twisting, repetitive work, or a sudden movement. Symptoms can include pain, tenderness, weakness, and reduced movement.
Also called: Muscle Strain
The Thoracic Spine is the middle section of the spinal column, located between the cervical spine in the neck and the lumbar spine in the lower back. It contains vertebrae that connect with the ribs, support the upper body, protect the spinal cord, and help the trunk bend, rotate, and remain stable.
Also called: Mid Back Spine
A Trigger Point is a sensitive area within a tight band of skeletal muscle that may produce local tenderness or pain felt in another nearby area. Trigger points often develop when muscle tissue remains tense or overloaded. Massage therapy addresses the surrounding tissue and muscle response through focused, pressure-based manual work.
Also called: Myofascial Trigger Point
A vertebral fracture is a break or crack in one of the bones that forms the spine. The injury may affect the front, back, or body of a vertebra, and it can follow a collision, fall, or forceful impact. Symptoms may include localized back or neck pain, tenderness, stiffness, or changes in movement.
Also called: Spinal Fracture
Vestibular Rehabilitation is a therapy approach that uses targeted head, eye, balance, and movement exercises to help the nervous system process signals from the inner ear, eyes, and body. Clinicians tailor activities to symptoms such as dizziness, unsteadiness, motion sensitivity, or difficulty coordinating head movements during daily tasks.
Also called: Vestibular Therapy
A weak core is reduced strength, control, or endurance in the muscles that support the spine, pelvis, and trunk. Weak Core may affect how you stabilize your body during lifting, walking, bending, or exercise. The term describes a functional muscle concern, not a diagnosis or a single damaged structure.
Also called: Core Muscle Weakness
The health and wellness information on this website is for general informational purposes only and is not medical advice. It does not create a provider-patient relationship. Always consult a qualified licensed provider in Lithia Springs, Georgia, United States about your specific condition before making care decisions. Individual results vary.
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