Orthopedic Sports Medicine Glossary
100 terms total — 24 showing — Last updated 15 Sep 2026
eccentric strengthening
Exercise technique where muscles lengthen while contracting, used therapeutically for tendon rehabilitation.
proprioception
The body's ability to sense joint position and movement in space without visual input.
Proximal Hamstring Avulsion
Complete or partial tearing of hamstring muscles from their origin at the ischial tuberosity, typically occurring during...
proximal hamstring tendinopathy
Degenerative condition affecting the hamstring tendons at their attachment to the ischial tuberosity, common in runners...
rehabilitation milestones
Predetermined functional and clinical benchmarks that must be achieved during the recovery process before advancing to s...
return-to-play protocol
Systematic guidelines for safely returning athletes to competition after injury or surgery.
rotator cuff impingement
Compression of rotator cuff tendons against the undersurface of the acromion during shoulder elevation.
scaphoid fracture
A break in the boat-shaped bone of the wrist, notoriously difficult to diagnose and prone to nonunion due to poor blood...
scapular dyskinesis
Abnormal movement patterns of the shoulder blade that can contribute to shoulder pain and dysfunction.
scapular stabilization
Therapeutic approach focusing on strengthening and coordinating muscles that control scapular position and movement.
Scapular Winging
Abnormal protrusion of the scapula from the chest wall due to weakness or paralysis of the serratus anterior or other sc...
SLAP tear
Injury to the superior labrum extending from anterior to posterior in the shoulder.
sport-specific rehabilitation
Targeted physical therapy program designed to prepare an athlete for the demands of their particular sport.
stress reaction
Early stage of bone stress injury that precedes stress fracture, detectable on MRI but not X-ray.
subchondral bone
The dense layer of bone tissue located directly beneath the articular cartilage in synovial joints.
syndesmotic injury
Injury to the ligamentous connection between the tibia and fibula above the ankle joint, creating ankle instability.
talar dome lesion
Damage to the cartilage surface of the talus bone in the ankle, often resulting from repetitive microtrauma in athletes.
tendinopathy
Umbrella term for tendon disorders including both inflammatory and degenerative conditions.
TFCC tear
Injury to the triangular fibrocartilage complex of the wrist, commonly affecting athletes in racquet sports.
thoracic outlet syndrome
Compression of neurovascular structures in the thoracic outlet region, causing symptoms in the neck, shoulder, and arm o...
tibial plateau fracture
A fracture involving the upper surface of the tibia that forms part of the knee joint. Commonly seen in high-energy spor...
tibial translation
The anterior or posterior movement of the tibia relative to the femur, measured during knee stability testing.
ulnar collateral ligament
Primary stabilizing ligament on the inner side of the elbow, commonly injured in throwing athletes.
ulnar nerve subluxation
Abnormal movement of the ulnar nerve over the medial epicondyle during elbow flexion, causing symptoms in throwing athle...
ulnar neuritis
Inflammation or irritation of the ulnar nerve, commonly occurring at the elbow in throwing athletes.