S-T-U

SAID  Acronym for specific adaptations to imposed demands.

salicylate  Any salt of salicylic acid used in drugs such as aspirin to reduce pain and temperature.

satellite trigger points  A trigger point activated by another trigger point in the same reference zone.

sciatica  Severe pain along the sciatic nerve.

sclerosis  Hardening of an organ or tissue that may result from inflammation and the excessive growth of fibrous tissue.

scoliosis  A lateral curvature of the spine normally consisting of a primary curve and a secondary compensatory curve.

secondary trigger points  Trigger points that develop in a synergist or antagonist because of overload.

self-limiting  A condition that runs a definite course and then stops without treatment.

sentient  Capable of feeling sensation.

seroconversion  The change of a serologic test from negative (seronegative) to positive (seropositive) indicating the development of antibodies in response to infection or disease.

serous inflammation  Inflammation in which the exudate is predominantly a serum.

servomechanism  A control mechanism that operates by positive or negative feedback.

shivering  Involuntary trembling from cold or fear.

sign  Objective evidence of an illness.

SITS  Acronym for rotator cuff muscles:  supraspinatus, infraspinatus, teres minor, subscapularis.

soft-tissue impairment  A soft-tissue lesion, defect, or dysfunction that causes pain, limited range of motion, or weakness.

soft-tissue therapy  Manipulation of superficial or soft tissue for therapeutic purposes, with or without modalities, exercise, or mechanical devices.

somatic dysfunction  An impaired or altered function of the body that involves skeletal, arthrodial, or myofascial structures and related vascular, lymphatic, or neural structures.

SOS  Acronym for separate the problem into parts, organize the parts, and simplify the problem.

spasm  Involuntary contraction of a muscle beyond physiologic needs.

spastic  Characterized by spasms or spasticity.

specific heat  The amount of heat required to raise the temperature of 1 gram of any substance 1°C (water is 1.0, ice is 0.50, and steam is 0.48).

spermicide  A substance that kills spermatozoa.

spinal segment  The functional unit of a spine consisting of two contiguous vertebrae with an intervening disk, two facet joints, intrinsic muscles, and interconnecting ligaments.

splinting  Rigidity or fixation of a body part because of reflex spasm.

spondylolisthesis  Anterior displacement of lower lumbar vertebrae over the   body of the sacrum.

spondylosis  Vertebral ankylosis that may involve osteoar­thritis.

spondylotherapy  Spinal manipulation for treating disease.

sprain  Trauma to a joint causing injury to ligaments.

sputum  Mucous secretion from lungs, bronchi, and trachea that is ejected by coughing or clearing the throat.

stasis  Stagnation of blood or other body fluids.

statics  A study of systems that do not move.

stenosis  Constriction or narrowing of a passage.

strain  Trauma to a muscle or musculotendinous unit.

strength  The ability of a muscle to contract and exert muscular force.

stress  The results produced when a structure is acted upon by force.

stretch reflex  A muscle contracts in response to passive longitudinal stretch.  (also called myotatic reflex or Liddell-Sherrington reflex)

subchondral  Below cartilage.

subluxation  A partial or incomplete dislocation.

substitution  The function of one muscle being replaced by the function of another muscle or a muscle group that has a similar function or action.

successive induction  Contraction of the agonist to facilitate the antagonist.

superoxides  A highly reactive form of oxygen that attacks biologic targets.

supine  Lying horizontal with face up, opposite of prone.

symptom  Subjective evidence of an illness.

syncope  A transient loss of consciousness caused by inadequate blood flow to the brain (fainting).

syndrome  A group of signs and symptoms related to each other because of a common disease. 

synergist  A muscle functioning in cooperation with another muscle.

telepathy  Communication between two people without physical or                physiological explanation, a form of extrasensory perception.

temperature  A relative measure of hotness or coldness resulting from the average kinetic energy of any substance.

tendon  A fibrous connective tissue attaching muscles to bones.

tendonitis  Inflammation of a tendon.

tenosynovitis  Inflammation of a tendon sheath.

TENS  Acronym for transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation.

tensile strength  The maximum longitudinal (tensile) stress a material can endure without elongation.

thermal conductivity  The rate of heat passage through a material.

thermography  The process of taking a thermograph with an infrared camera to show distribution of the body's surface temperature.

thermostat  An automatic device for regulating temperature.

thermotherapy  Therapeutic application of heat.

thixotropy  A property of certain gels that liquefy when agitated and become semisolid again when left standing.

thrush  An infection of the oral mucosa caused by a fungus, Candida albicans, and characterized by white patches on a red, moist base that may result in shallow ulcers.

tonus  A partial, steady contraction of skeletal muscle that causes firmness,  aids in the maintenance of posture, and helps blood return to the heart.

torque  A turning caused by rotary force acting about a pivot point.

traction  Process of pulling apart.

trigger finger  The movement of a digit is temporarily arrested during flexion or extension and then continues after a snap or jerk.

trigger point  A tender point or spot on the body that produces sudden pain when stimulated by pressure or compression.

trigger zone  A tender zone or area on the body that produces sudden pain when stimulated by pressure or compression.

trophic  Relating to interruption of a nerve supply and nutrition.

trophotropic  Mechanisms of the nervous system that restore energy, opposite of ergotropic.

tumor  A swelling or enlargement, one of the four cardinal signs of inflammation.

twitch response  Transient contraction of a muscle fiber group when pressure is applied to a trigger point.

urticaria  Eruption of skin characterized by severe itching.

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