Glossary of Terms

Abdominals (abs)
The name for the collective group of muscles in the abdomen located on the mid-section of the torso. Often incorrectly called stomach muscles.
Abduction
A muscle that moves a limb or body part further away from the middle of the body.
Adduction
A muscle that moves a limb or body part closer to the middle of the body.
Aerobic
An activity that maintains your target heart rate for a minimum of 20 minutes and puts demand on your cardio vascular system.
Anterior Cruciate ligament (ACL)
The ligament inside the knee, which keeps the lower large leg bone (tibia) from sliding forward under the upper leg bone (femur). This is the second most frequently injured knee ligament and is considered very traumatic. A quick stop (hyperextension), a foot plant and twist, or a blow to the knee is usually the cause of an ACL injury.
Atrophy
A decrease in muscle size because of lack of use or disease. This often occurs when a cast is worn for a long period of time.
Biceps
A muscle with two heads. Biceps are located in the arms and legs. Leg biceps are commonly incorrectly referred to as the hamstring.
Bilateral
Effecting two sides.
Bioelectrical Impedance Analysis (BIA)
This is a rapid and noninvasive method used to evaluate body fat. A low-level electrical current is passed through the body, and the impedance, or opposition to the flow of the current, is measured with a BIA. Because fat tissue has less water to conduct an electrical current, the more body fat a person has, the more resistance there will be to the current. Although sources of error include technician's skill, environmental factors, subject factors, and the equation used, BIA has about a three- to four-percent margin of error.
Biomechanics
The study of the mechanics of muscular activity.
Body Fat Percentage
Body fat percentage is the percent of your body mass that consists of fat. For example, if you weigh 130 pounds and your body contains 26 pounds of fat body mass, your body fat percentage is 20%. Methods used to measure body fat include skinfold measuring, bioelectrical impedance, and underwater weighing.
Body Mass Index
Body mass index (BMI) is a measurement used to determine someone's risk for future health problems. The BMI is calculated using height and weight and applies to both men and women equally.
Boutonniere Deformity
When a severe blow to the top of the finger tears the tendon in the middle of the finger preventing the extension of the first joint. The finger should be splinted to allow the tendon to reattach.
Boxer's fracture
This results from repeated stress on the hands. Immediate swelling and deformity are good indications the bones have been fractured.
Broken finger
A fracture of any finger bone. Immediate swelling and deformity are good indications of a fracture.
Buff
Slang for a very muscular, well-defined person.
Bulk
The muscle mass gained during weight training
Carbohydrates
Essential nutrients that provide energy to the body such as vegetables, fruit, rice, bread, pasta, and whole grains.
Cardiovascular
Relating to the heart and blood vessels.
Carpel tunnel syndrome
An inflammation of the flexor tendon in the wrist caused by repetitive motion. Carpel tunnel produces numbness and tingling in the hand and fingers.
Cartilage
There are many types of cartilage in the body, but articular cartilage is the type that covers bone surfaces to make it smooth and frictionless for the joint.
Chondromalacia
A gradual degeneration of the cartilage on the underside of the kneecap. This can cause pain with running, jumping, and climbing up and down stairs.
Clutch Knee
A condition that is caused by driving a car with a standard transmission. This usually occurs when a person first uses a car with standard transmission or after a period of driving in heavy traffic.
Cold therapy
Is used with soft tissue injuries and applied consistently for the first 24 to 72 hours after injury to reduce swelling and discomfort. Cold applications should be placed in a towel and administered for 30-minute sessions with the injured area elevated. The effects and benefits of cold therapy last longer than heat therapy because it tends to be more penetrating.
Collagen
The major protein of connective tissues, such as cartilage and tendons.
Contraction
The shortening or tightening of a muscle.
Dehydration
When the body contains less than the idea amount of water.
Deltoids
Name of the three triangular-shaped shoulder muscles. Derives from the Greek letter "delta."
De Quervain's Syndrome
Tendonitis of the thumb. Overuse of the thumb causes soreness at the base where it meets the palm.
Diabetes
The name of a group of medical disorders associated with high blood sugar levels.
Dislocated finger
A common sports injury in which the finger is pulled out of its socket. One should never try to put the finger back in place. Splint and ice the hand and finger until a physician realigns the bone.
Dislocated wrist
When the wrist bone is removed from its socket, preventing the wrist from rotating. A lump will form where the palm and wrist meet.
Dynamometer (ergometer)
An instrument used to measure the degree of muscular power.
Ectomorph
A person with a thin body type and low fat content.
Endomorph
A person with a soft, round body type and high fat content.
Fat Body Mass
Fat body mass refers to the amount of body mass that is composed of fat. To calculate fat body mass, multiply body fat percentage by total weight.
Fatigue
Loss of energy following mental or physical activity.
Foodborne disease
Also called food poisoning
Food Composition Ratios
Also called food poisoning
Gait
How you walk
Glucose
A natural simple sugar that is used as the body's principal energy source in the form of a carbohydrate.
Glycogen
The principal carbohydrate reserve that is stored in muscles and in the blood and is easily converted to glucose for energy.
Heart rate
The number of times the heart beats in a minute.
Heart rate monitor
A tool that provides accurate feedback for gauging the intensity of your exercise routine. It also enables you to increase the productivity of your workout.
Heat therapy
This can be used once swelling ceases. Heat increases circulation, while ice restricts circulation. Moist heat is the best form of hot therapy because it penetrates deeper into the skin and increases blood flow. This warms the soft tissue to increase flexibility. For post-injury treatment and muscle relief, wrap a hot pack in a towel to protect the skin from irritation and apply for up to 30 minutes with at least a 30-minute break before reapplication.
Homeostasis
A state of balance in the body between various functions and chemical compositions of the fluids and tissues.
Hormone
A chemical substance that is formed in one part of the body and moves through the blood to another part to affect certain bodily functions.
Housemaid's Knee (Bursitis)
An inflammation of the bursa in the knee. Bursa are small fluid filled sacs in the joints that helps to lubricate the joints. Housemaid's Knee (also called Carpet Layer's Knee) is often caused by prolonged kneeling or a blow to the front of the knee.
Hyperextension
Movement of a joint beyond its normal range of motion.
Hypertrophy
Muscle growth as a result of strength training.
Ideal Weight
Your ideal weight is calculated using a formula that considers your lean body mass, age, weight, and gender.
Joint
The point where two bones meet.
Jumper's Knee
Tendonitis that occurs above the kneecap or along the patellar tendon. As the name implies, it most frequently occurs in athletes who jump and run on a hard surface, such as a basketball or volleyball court.
Knee sprain
The stretch or tear of a ligament at the knee joint. Sprains are usually characterized in three different severities:· Grade 1-A stretch to the ligament with a few micro tears. · Grade 2-When you actually tear some fibers. Surgery may be required. · Grade 3-Either significant tears or a complete rupture. Surgery is usually the prognosis.
Kinesiology
The study of the mechanics and anatomy related to human movement.
Lactic acid
A bi-product of anaerobic energy production that causes fatigue.
Lactose
A natural sugar that naturally occurs in milk.
Larsen-Johansson Syndrome
A result of too much stress on the patellar tendon at times when the bones are growing. As a result, it tends to occur during adolescence. Larsen-Johansson begins where the tendon connects on the kneecap.
Lateral Collateral ligament (LCL)
The ligament that runs on the outside of the knee and prevents the knee from bowing out. Injury to this ligament is usually seen in a forceful blow to the knee. This is probably the third most frequently injured knee ligament.
Lean Body Mass
Lean body mass refers to any non-fatty part of your body including bone, muscle, organ tissue, blood, and miscellaneous substances such as water. To calculate lean body mass, multiply body fat percentage by total weight and subtract the result from total weight.
Ligament
A tissue that connects bone to bone.
Lipids
Fat-like substances.
Mallet finger
When the extensor tendon on the tip of the finger is torn which causes the fingertip to hang down. The finger should be splinted to allow the tendon to reattach.
Medial Collateral ligament (MCL)
The ligament that runs on the inside of the knee and prevents the knee from bowing in. This ligament probably has the highest incidence of injury in sports.
Mesomorph
A person with a muscular body type.
Metabolic rate
The rate that the body uses energy.
Neurotrauma
Injuries specific to nerves, such as spinal cord contusion, brachial plexus injury, etc.
Nutrition
When an animal takes in and metabolizes food for tissue growth and replacement.
Obesity
A body fat percentage greater than 30.
Obliques
The muscles that run along the outside of the torso from the bottom of the rib cage to the pelvic region.
Organic
Agricultural products grown without anything synthetic.
Osgood-Schlatter Syndrome
A result of too much stress on the patellar tendon at times when the bones are growing. As a result, it tends to occur during adolescence. Osgood-Schlatter begins at the insertion of the tendon in the tibia.
Osteoporosis
A skeletal disease which results in loss of bone mass.
Oxygen debt
The amount of oxygen needed to recover from physical activity.
Patella
Kneecap.
Patella Tendonitis (Jumpers Knee)
The result of extreme tension or overuse of the quadriceps. Patella tendonitis is found directly below the point of the kneecap and can radiate to different points of the tendon.
Physiology
The study of essential life processes, functions, and activities.
Plateau
A point in training when improvement appears to stop.
Posterior Cruciate ligament (PCL)
The ligament inside the knee that keeps the lower large leg bone (tibia) from sliding backward under the upper leg bone (femur). This ligament is the least likely to stretch or tear. If it does get injured, it's generally from a hyperextension, but the ACL usually gets injured first.
Power
The speed someone can apply a force over a given distance
Pronation
Rotating a limb toward the middle of the body.
Protein
Groups of amino acids that are required to build and maintain body tissues for hormone production and enzyme function.
Quadriceps
A muscle with four heads. The only group of quadriceps is located in the thigh.
Repetitions (reps)
The number of times and exercise is performed without rest. Sedentary- an inactive person.
Resting Heart Rate
The amount of times your heart beats per minute when you are not physically active is your resting heart rate. The best time to calculate your resting heart rate is just before getting out of bed. While relaxed, locate the radial artery at the side of your wrist using your index finger, count the beats for ten seconds, and multiply by six.
Rotator cuff tendonitis
The most common shoulder injury in sports, especially pitchers and swimmers. This injury can occur as a result of a violent pull or falling on the outstretched arm. Overhead activities, such as throwing and swimming, can place greater stress on the shoulder, leading to acute or chronic injuries.
Runner's Knee
Caused by the chafing of the Iliotibial band against the knee joint. This causes pain and stiffness along the outside of the knee.
Sedentary
An inactive person.
Set
A group of repetitions.
Skinfold Method (SKF)
The thickness of surface fat tissue is indirectly measured using skinfold calipers on several areas of the body. This method is based on three assumptions: 1. Skinfold is a good measure of the surface fat 2. The distribution of surface and internal fat is similar for all individuals within each gender 3. Because there is a relationship between surface fat and total body fat, the sum of several skinfold measurements can be used to estimate total body fat. This method has a three-percent margin of error because of factors like varying technician skills, type of skinfold caliper, subject factors, and which prediction equation is used to estimate body fatness.
Supine
Lying horizontal, face up.
Target heart rate
Calculating target heart rate will determine your ideal range of heartbeats per minute during exercise based on your age.
Tendon
A fibrous cord that connects muscle to bone.
Tendonitis
Swelling of a tendon due to injury or overuse.
Triceps
A muscle with three heads. Triceps are located on the back of the upper arm.
Thermotrauma
Heat-related problems including heat illnesses, sunburns, and friction blisters.
Under Water Weighing (UWW)
This is termed the "golden standard." This test is very accurate when the person being measured is able to force all of the air out of his/her lungs while submerged under water. After you exhale as possible, your weight will be determined by how heavy you are under water. A population specific equation is then used to determine your body composition. Sources of error include technician's skill, measurement of residual lung volume, and subject factors. This method has about a two-percent margin of error because of technician skills, measurement of residual lung volume, and subject factors.
Unilateral
Effecting only one side.
Vascular
Relating to blood vessels.
Vegan
A person who doesn't eat any animal derived foods including dairy products.
Vegetarian
People who never eat meat, fish or poultry but will eat dairy.
Vitamin A
This vitamin is found in dairy foods, yellow and green fruits and vegetables, and liver. Vitamin A can help an incision heal quicker.
Vitamin B Complex
This includes several B vitamins found in meats, fish, nuts, grains, leafy green vegetables, cheese, eggs, and milk. B complex vitamins offer an extra boost to your metabolism, which speeds up during the healing process.
Vitamin C
Citrus juice, tomatoes, and green vegetables are excellent sources of this vitamin, which can help your body resist infection during recovery.
Work
The physical effort needed to perform a task.
Xerochilia
Dryness of lips
Yield
The amount of something produced.
Zooplasty
Grafting of tissue from animal to human.