Painful arc

Palpation

Act of feeling a region with the fingers to detect temperature, swelling, point tenderness, deformity, crepitus, and cutaneous sensation.

Paralysis

Partial or complete loss of the ability to move a body part.

Paresis

Partial paralysis of a muscle leading to a weakened contraction.

Parasthesia

Abnormal sensations such as tingling, burning, itching, or prickling.

Parrot-beak tear

Horizontal meniscal tear typically in the middle segment of the lateral meniscus.

Passive movement

A limb or body part is moved through the range of motion with no assistance from the individual.

Passive stretching

Stretching of muscles, tendons, and ligaments produced by stretching force other than tension in the antagonist muscles; stretching of body part done by a clinician without help of the patient.

Patella

Kneecap bone.

Patella plica

A fold of the synovial lining that may cause medial knee pain without associated trauma.

Patellofemoral joint

Gliding joint between the patella and patella groove of the femur.

Patellofemoral stress syndrome

Pathology

The cause of an injury, its development, and functional changes due to the injury process.

Posterior cruciate ligament (PCL)

The ligament, located in the center of the knee, that controls the backwards movement of the tibia.

Periostitis

Pes cavus

High arch.

Pes planus

Flat feet.

Phonophoresis

The introduction of anti-inflammatory drugs through the skin with the use of ultrasound.

Plantar fascia

Specialized band of fascia that covers the plantar surface of the foot and helps support the longitudinal arch.

Plyometric exercise

Type of explosive exercise that maximizes the myotatic on-stretch reflex.

Point tenderness

Specific painful area at an injury site that can be palpated.

Prognosis

Probably course of progress of an injury or disease.

Prolapsed disc

Condition when the eccentric nucleus produces a definite deformity as it works its way through the fibers of the annulus fibrosus.

Pronation

Inward rotation of the forearm; palms face posteriorly. At the foot, combined motions of calcaneal eversion, foot abduction, and dorsiflexion.

Pronator syndrome

Median nerve is entrapped by the pronator teres leading to pain on activities involving pronation.

Prophylactic

To prevent or protect.

Proprioceptive Neuromuscular Facilitation (PNF)

Exercises that stimulate proprioceptors in muscles, tendons, and joints to improve flexibility and strength.

Proprioceptors

Specialized deep sensory nerve cells in joints, ligaments, muscles, and tendons sensitive to stretch, tension, and pressure that are responsible for position and movement.

Prosthesis

An artificial body part replacement.

Proximal

Closest to a reference point, i.e., the elbow is proximal to the wrist.