S Glossary of Terms for
Physical Therapy & Sports Medicine

S

SC Joint:

Sternoclavicular joint; articulation of the collarbone with the sternum.

Sacroiliac:

Junction of the sacrum with the hip bone.

Sacrum:

Group of five fused vertebrae located just below the lumbar vertebrae of the low back.

Scapula:

Shoulder blade.

Sciatica:

Irritation of the sciatic nerve resulting in pain or tingling running down the inside of the leg.

Sciatic Nerve:

Major nerve that carries impulses for muscular action and sensations between the low back and thigh and lower leg; it is the longest nerve in the body.

Shin Splint:

A catch-all syndrome describing pain in the shin that is not a fracture or tumor and cannot be defined otherwise.

Soft Corn:

A corn, softened by moisture, that is found beneath the toes rather than on the upper surface of the toe.

Soft Tissue:

Refers to all tissues in the body except bone.

Sorbothane:

An energy absorbing polyurethane utilized in some foot orthotics to absorb shock forces of the foot.

Spinous Process:

A small projection off the posterior portion of each vertebrae that functions as an attachment site for muscles or ligaments of the spine.

Spleen:

Large, solid organ responsible for the normal production and destruction of blood cells.

Splint:

Meant to immobilize a damaged part of the body, a splint is rigid and hard. Sprain - An injury where fibers of a ligament are overstretched or torn.

Spondylitis:

Inflammation of one or more vertebrae.

Spondylolisthesis:

Forward displacement of one vertebrae over another below it due to a developmental defect in the vertebrae.

Spondylosis:

Abnormal vertebral fixation or immobility.

Sports Psychology:

A science that deals with the mental and emotional aspects of physical performance.

Sprain:

Injury resulting from the stetch or twist of the joint and causes various degrees of stretch of tear of a ligament or other soft tissue at the joint.

Sternum:

The breast bone.

Steroids:

Any one of a large number of hormone-like substances. See anabolic steroids and cortical steroids.

Strain:

Injury resulting from a pull or torsion to the muscle or tendon that causes various degrees of stretch or tear to the muscle or tendon tissue.

Stress Fracture:

A hair-line type of break in a bone caused by overuse.

Stress X-Ray:

A continual x-ray taken when a portion of the body is stressed to its maximum in order to determine joint stability. This is a test utilized in some ankle injuries.

Stretching:

Any therapeutic maneuver designed to elongate shortened soft tissue structures and thereby increase flexibility.

Subluxation:

Partial dislocation of a joint. The term usually implies that the joint can return to its normal position without formal reduction.

Superior:

In anatomy, the upper of two parts; toward the top or above.

Supination:

Movement of the forearm into a palm-up position.

Synovial Fluid:

Lubricating fluid for joints and tendons, produced in synovium, or the inner lining of a joint.

Synovitis:

Inflammation of the synovial lining of a joint.

Systole:

The portion of the heart cycle during which the heart muscle is contracting.

Systolic Blood Pressure:

The highest blood pressure produced by the contraction of the heart. Recorded as the first number in your blood pressure measurement.

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