| Activator | A spring-loaded adjusting instrument that utilizes an extremely rapid pulse to help restore normal functioning in the body. |
| Acupressure | The practice of applying pressure on parts of the body to relieve pain. |
| Acupuncture | The practice of inserting fine needles on specific meridian points for the purpose of relieving tension, stress, and pain. Highly useful in the treatment and relief of back pain. |
| Acute back pain | Back pain that lasts a short while, usually a few days to several weeks. Episodes lasting longer than three months are not considered acute. |
| Addiction | Psychological, emotional, or physical dependence on the effects of a drug. |
| Adjustments | A form of chiropractic technique involving the application of gentle, yet firm, pressure to a bone. Adjustments employ a high velocity, low amplitude thrust. The goal of any adjustment is to restore the bone to its natural, or original, position. |
| Adrenal glands | Small glands located on the kidneys that produce the stress hormones adrenaline and cortisol. |
| Adrenaline | A hormone that stimulates metabolism, increases alertness and increases blood pressure. |
| Aerobic Exercises | These kinds of exercises generally involve large muscle groups and foster a strong and healthy heart and lung function. |
| Alternative Medicine | The use of various non-drug, non-surgical related therapies. Using natural means of treatment. |
| Amino acid | The basic unit from which proteins are made. There are two classes of amino acids: essential and non-essential. Essential amino acids are those that cannot be manufactured by the body and must be attained from the diet. |
| Anabolism | The metabolic process of building new tissue. Typically used in relation to building muscle, ligaments and tendons. |
| Analgesics | Medicines that are used to relieve pain - aspirin is an example. |
| Anesthesiologist | A physician who specializes in giving drugs or other agents that block, prevent, or relieve pain. |
| Ankylosing Spondylitis | A chronic, progressive, rheumatic disease of the spine that causes calcification of the spinal ligaments, resulting in a loss of movement. |
| Annulus fibrosis | The tough outer layer of the intervertebral disc. Cartilage-like material formed in a series of rings surrounding the nucleus pulposus of a disc. |
| Applied kinesiology | An unscientific method of testing muscle strength to detect the presence of disease, vitamin deficiency, and other problems. |
| Arthritis | Inflammation of a joint; most arthritis is caused by degenerative changes related to aging. Arthritis affects not only joints but also connective tissue throughout the body. |
| Atlas | Topmost vertebra of the neck. |
| Autonomic nervous system | The part of the nervous system that is responsible for controlling involuntary functions in the body, such as digestion, metabolism, blood pressure, etc. |
| Back Extension | Backward bending of the spine. |
| Back Flexion | Forward bending of the spine. |
| Bariatric surgery | Surgery on the stomach and/or intestines to help the patient with extreme obesity lose weight. Bariatric surgery is a last-resort weight-loss method used for people who have a body mass index over 40. |
| Basal energy expenditure (BEE) | Also known as the basal metabolic rate; the number of calories that your body needs for basic processes such as digestion, breathing, brain function, etc. |
| Bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA) | A way to estimate body weight that is fat and nonfat by measuring how difficult it is for a harmless electrical current to move through the body. |
| Body composition score (BCS) | A measure that combines body weight, percentage of body fat, waist circumference and hip circumference into one score. |
| Body mass index (BMI) | A measure of body weight relative to height. BMI can be used to determine if people are at a healthy weight, overweight, or obese. |
| Bodywork | A general term that relates to a wide variety of hands-on therapies, such as massage and some movement therapies. |
| Bulging Disc | The annulus portion of the lumbar disc weakens causing the nucleus to press against it resulting in the annulus pinching or pressing against a nerve causing pain. |
| Bursitis | A condition in which the bursa, or fluid filled sacks that cushion joints, become swollen. |
| Calorie | A unit of energy in food. Carbohydrates have 4 calories per gram. Proteins have 4 calories per gram. Fat has 9 calories per gram. |
| Carbohydrate | A major source of energy in the diet. There are simple carbohydrates and complex carbohydrates. Foods rich in carbohydrates include breads, cereals, fruits, vegetables, milk, pasta, potatoes, cakes, cookies, pies, ice cream, and candy. |
| Cardiovascular system | The system in your body responsible for distributing blood throughout the body. The cardiovascular system is made up of the heart, arteries, capillaries and veins. |
| Carpal Tunnel Syndrome | A progressive and sometimes painful joint disorder caused by compression of the median nerve of your hand. |
| Cartilage | A connective tissue that lines the ends of bones and most joints. It lines the facet joints of the spine. |
| Cavitation | Pop that occurs in a spinal joint when vertebral surfaces are separated to create a vacuum that pulls in nitrogen gas. |
| Cervical Spine | The upper portion of your spine; also called the neck. |
| Cervical vertebrae | There are seven vertebrae in the cervical or neck area of the spine. |
| Chinese Medicine | The general term to describe the numerous techniques utilized in China for many thousands of years to heal bodily ailments. These may include massage, herbs, acupuncture and Qi Gong. |
| Chiropractic | Comes from the Greek words meaning hand and practice. Chiropractic focuses primarily on restoring normal position, motion and function in the body's structures; especially the spine. |
| Chiropractic Biophysics (CBP) | Method of chiropractic analysis and treatment in which spinal corrections are based on theoretical calculations related to posture and spinal curvature. |
| Chiropractor | Also known as a doctor of chiropractic, diagnoses and treats a broad range of physical conditions in patients with muscular, nervous, and skeletal problems, especially the spine. |
| Cholesterol | A fat-like substance made by the body and found naturally in animal foods. When cholesterol levels are high, some may be deposited on the walls of blood vessels. |
| Chronic back pain | Back pain episode that lasts more than three months. |
| Chronic Pain | Pain that has lasted for more than three months generally having significant psychological and emotional affects and limiting a person's ability to fully function. |
| Coccyx | The small bone at the lower tip of the spine. Also called the tailbone, a triangular-shaped bone at the bottom of the lumbar area. |
| Cognitive Restructuring | A therapy focused on learning to recognize and then change or restructure thought processes, reframing thoughts in less stressful terms. |
| Complementary Medicine | The use of various non-drug, non-surgical related therapies. Using natural means of treatment. |
| Compressed Nerve | Material from a bulging or herniated disk pushes against a nerve in the spinal cord causing severe pain. |
| Computed Tomography (CT) scan | A sophisticated x-ray using a computer to produce a detailed cross-sectional three-dimensional picture of bone and discs. |
| Cordotomy | Surgery to cut some of the fibers of the spinal cord; used to relieve pain. |
| Cortisol | A hormone released from the adrenal glands in response to stress that facilitates fat storage and has a catabolic effect on muscle and connective tissue. |
| Cranio-Sacral Therapy | A manual therapy focusing on manipulation of the bones in the skull and sacrum. |
| Cyclooxygenase | An enzyme that comes in two forms, I and II. Type I maintains body functions. Type II is associated with the development of inflammation. |
| D.C. | Abbreviation for doctor of chiropractic. |
| Degenerative Arthritis | The wearing away of cartilage that protects and cushions joints including those in the spine, hands and feet. |
| Degenerative Disc Disease | A general term applied to degeneration of lumbar spinal discs which serve as cushions between the spinal vertebrae. |
| Diabetes Mellitus | A disease that occurs when the body is not able to use blood glucose properly. Blood sugar levels are controlled by insulin. |
| Diet | What a person eats and drinks. Any type of eating plan. |
| Disc Annulus | The outer lining of a disk. |
| Disc Nucleus | The inner core of a disk. |
| Discectomy | Surgical removal of part or the entire herniated intervertebral disc. |
| Dynamic thrust | Chiropractic adjustment delivered suddenly and forcefully to move vertebrae, often resulting in a popping sound. |
| Electrical nerve stimulation | A type of physical therapy treatment that utilizes various frequencies and wave forms of electrical current. |
| Electromyography (EMG) | Procedure that tests nerves and muscles providing information to help determine if surgery may be required. |
| Endorphins | Chemical messengers released by the body during vigorous exercise that stimulate the brain to feel good, happy and relaxed. |
| Energy expenditure | The amount of energy, measured in calories, that a person uses. |
| Epidural Injection | Into the spinal column but outside of the spinal cord. |
| Exercise | Exercise is physical activity that is planned or structured to improve or maintain physical fitness. |
| Exercise Therapy | A form of chiropractic treatment used to help manage pain, rehabilitate damaged soft tissues, and restore normal range of motion and function. |
| Extensor Muscles | Muscles that cause your joints to straighten, such as back and gluteus muscles that help keep your back straight. |
| Facet Joint Syndrome | Pain resulting from degeneration, wear, pressure and inflammation of the facet joints. |
| Facet joints | The paired joints located between vertebral bodies connecting the spine and allowing it to bend. |
| Fascia | A band of connective tissue separating muscles and organs in the body. |
| Fat | A major source of energy in the diet. All food fats have 9 calories per gram. |
| Fibromyalgia | Fibromyalgia is a condition that causes pain in muscles, joints, ligaments and tendons. |
| Fibrositis | Pain arising from damaged tendons or muscles. |
| Flexor Muscles | The muscles that cause your joints to bend, such as biceps muscles on the front of the upper arm. |
| Foraminal Stenosis | Narrowing of a vertebral opening. |
| Fusion | A surgical procedure to unite two or more vertebrae with bone graft and sometimes metal supports. |
| Gestational diabetes | A type of diabetes mellitus that can occur when a woman is pregnant. |
| Ghrelin | A hormone released from the stomach and small intestine that creates the sensation of hunger. |
| Glucagon | A hormone released from the pancreas that elevates blood sugar by stimulating glucose release. |
| Glucose | A building block for most carbohydrates. After digestion, glucose is carried in the blood and used or stored. |
| Glycemic index | A measure of a food's ability to raise the body's blood glucose level. |
| Golfer's Elbow | A type of elbow pain that originates near the inside part of the bony protrusion. |
| Gonstead technique | System of correcting pelvic and sacral subluxations to correct secondary subluxations elsewhere in the spine. |
| Healthy Weight | A body weight less likely to be linked with weight-related health problems such as diabetes, heart disease, high blood pressure, or cancers. |
| Heat Therapy | A form of therapy often used in patients with chronic or long-lasting pain. |
| Herniated Disc | A disc that protrudes from its normal position between two vertebrae, often due to annulus injury. |
| High blood pressure | See Hypertension. |
| High-density lipoprotein (HDL) | A form of cholesterol in the blood commonly called good cholesterol. |
| Hip circumference | A measure of the hips used with waist circumference, body weight and percent body fat. |
| Hypertension | A resting blood pressure greater than or equal to 140/90 mm Hg. |
| Hypothalamus | A small brain area that regulates eating and sleeping behavior and binds sites for hunger hormones. |
| Ice Massage | A form of therapy involving ice application to treat many kinds of injuries and reduce swelling. |
| Ideal body weight | The weight your body would be if you had a 20% body fat. |
| Imagery | A method of pain relief that uses mental images produced by memory or imagination. |
| Inflammation | A pathologic process associated with redness, heat, swelling, pain, and loss of function. |
| Instrument Adjustment | A form of chiropractic adjustment using a spring-loaded device called an Activator. |
| Insulin | A hormone that helps move glucose from the blood to muscles and other tissues. |
| Interferential Current (IFC) | A form of therapy using high-frequency electrical impulses introduced deep into tissue near the center of pain. |
| Irritable Bowel Syndrome | A condition characterized by a combination of abdominal pain and altered bowel function. |
| Kinesiology | The study of muscles and their relation to movement and pain relief. |
| Kyphosis | Normal curve of the thoracic spine. Also describes excess curvature of the thoracic spine. |
| Laminectomy | A surgical procedure that removes part of the plate serving as the back of the spinal canal. |
| Leptin | A hormone produced by the small intestine that signals the brain to stop eating. |
| Ligament | Strong, dense bands of connective tissue that stabilize a joint. |
| Lipoprotein | Compounds of protein that carry fats and fat-like substances in the blood. |
| Local anesthetics | Drugs that block nerve conduction in the region where they are applied. |
| Locked spinal joint | Sudden binding when two joint surfaces shift out of normal alignment by an awkward movement. |
| Lordosis | The curve in the cervical and lumbar spine. |
| Low back pain | Pain at the base of the spine that can be caused by several factors. |
| Low-density lipoprotein (LDL) | A form of cholesterol in the blood commonly called bad cholesterol. |
| Lumbalgia | A general term meaning low back pain. |
| Lumbar | The lower five weight-bearing vertebrae located between the thoracic vertebrae and the sacrum. |
| Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) | Magnetic radio frequency energy used to see internal structures of the body, including bone, discs, and nerves. |
| Manipulation | Manual movement of spinal bones or joints to restore normal function. |
| Massage Therapy | A general term to describe various bodywork techniques. |
| Maximum heart rate | A person's maximum heart rate is based on age and can be used to classify exercise intensity. |
| Meditation | A general term for practices where one focuses awareness on one thing such as breath or a short phrase. |
| Metabolism | All processes that occur in the body that turn food into energy your body can use. |
| Moderate-Intensity Physical Activity | Physical activity that generally requires sustained rhythmic movements of an intense enough level to elevate heart rate. |
| Monounsaturated fat | Fats found in foods such as canola oil, olives, nuts, seeds, and avocados. |
| Muscle Spasm | A sudden violent involuntary contraction of a muscle or group of muscles. |
| Muscle Tension | A state where the muscles are in a general state of contraction. |
| Muscles | Soft tissues that provide strength and assist with motor ability or movement. |
| Musculoskeletal | Referring to structures involving tendons, muscles, ligaments, and joints. |
| Myofascial Pain | Referred pain caused by trigger points, or hard nodules in muscle tissue. |
| Myofascial Release | Releasing the fascia by gentle movements. |
| Narcotic | Pain relieving drug related in action and structure to opiates. |
| Nerve | The body's communication system; nerves carry messages back and forth between the brain and body. |
| Nerve Block | Pain relief method in which an anesthetic is injected into a nerve. |
| Nerve root | One of the nerve bundles emerging from the spinal cord that join to form a segmental spinal nerve. |
| Neurologist | A physician who specializes in treating diseases of the nervous system. |
| Neuropeptide Y | The key hunger transmitter in the brain. It signals the hypothalamus to eat. |
| Neurosurgeon | A physician who specializes in surgery on the brain, nerves, and spinal cord. |
| Neurotransmitter | A chemical produced in the brain that sends messages between nerve cells. |
| Nucleus pulposus | Soft center of an intervertebral disc, made up of gel-like substance. |
| Nutrition | The relationship of food to the well-being of the body. |
| Obesity | Having an excessive amount of body fat. |
| Oleylethanolamine (OEA) | A fatty acid found in some foods that sends a strong signal to the brain to stop eating. |
| Opiate | Pain-killing drug chemically related to opium. |
| Orthopedic Surgeon | A doctor who specializes in diseases of the musculoskeletal system. |
| Osteoarthritis | Degenerative arthritis mostly affecting middle-aged and elderly people and often involving cartilage breakdown. |
| Osteopathic Medicine | Particular attention is paid to muscles, joints, bones, and nerves through osteopathic manipulations. |
| Osteophytes | Additional bone material or overgrowths attributed to a wide variety of ailments. |
| Osteoporosis | A disease characterized by loss of bone density, resulting in brittleness. |
| Overload principle | Strength training term for pushing muscles near maximum effort. |
| Overuse injuries | Injuries that occur during everyday activities or exercise. Symptoms may include pain, muscle spasms, and stiffness. |
| Overweight | Carrying too much body fat. |
| Pancreas | A gland that helps break down nutrients in food and produces hormones including insulin and glucagon. |
| Pedometer | A small device that counts steps taken, total distance walked, or related measures. |
| Phenylethanolamine (PEA) | A chemical found in chocolate that elevates mood and is linked to chocolate cravings. |
| Physical activity | Any form of exercise or movement. |
| Physical fitness | The measure of a person's ability to perform physical activities requiring endurance, strength, or flexibility. |
| Physical Therapy | A health profession that treats pain in muscles, nerves, joints, and bones with exercise and devices. |
| Piriformis syndrome | A condition caused by the sciatic nerve getting pinched as it exits the spinal column. |
| Plantar fasciitis | Inflammation of the ligament running from the front of the heel bone through the bottom of the foot. |
| Recommended Dietary Allowance (RDA) | The level of dietary intake of essential nutrients considered sufficient to meet minimum nutritional needs. |
| Relaxation Techniques | A natural process learned to reverse the effects of stress on the body's physiology. |
| Repetitions or Reps | A single full execution of an exercise movement. |
| Rheumatoid Arthritis | An inflammatory disease that affects facet joints in the spine and other joints in the body. |
| Routine | This term encompasses virtually every aspect of what you do in an exercise session. |
| Ruptured Disk | Herniated disk where material from the disk pushes through the outer lining of the disk. |
| Sacrum | The triangular bone that serves as a base for the spinal column. |
| Satiety | A mechanism to tell the body it has had enough food. |
| Saturated Fat | A fat that is solid at room temperature. |
| Sciatic Nerve | The nerve that serves the legs and originates from several levels of the lower back. |
| Sciatica | An inflammation of the sciatic nerve usually marked by tenderness along the nerve course. |
| Scoliosis | An abnormal curve of the spine. |
| Sedentary | A person who engages in little to no leisure-time physical activity. |
| Serotonin | A neurotransmitter in the brain that elevates mood and decreases appetite. |
| Set | A group of repetitions performed without rest. |
| Slipped Disk | Herniated disk where material pushes through the outer lining of the disk. |
| Spina Bifida | A congenital defect of the spine where arches of the lower lumbar spine fail to form. |
| Spinal adjustment | A term used to describe methods used to correct spinal problems. |
| Spinal Canal | The opening at the center of the spine through which the spinal cord runs. |
| Spinal Column | The spine. |
| Spinal Cord | The root section of the central nervous system going down from the brain through the spinal column. |
| Spinal Fracture | Broken vertebrae in the spine. |
| Spinal Fusion | A process in which disc and cartilage are removed and bone grafts are placed between vertebrae. |
| Spinal Stenosis | A narrowing of the spinal canal that compresses the spinal cord or nerve roots. |
| Spondylitis | Inflammation of the spine generally caused by infection. |
| Spondyloarthropathy | A group of disorders that causes inflammatory arthritis of the spine. |
| Spondylolisthesis | A spinal abnormality with anterior displacement of a vertebra on the one below. |
| Starvation metabolism | Slowing of basal energy expenditure caused by chronic underfeeding. |
| Stenosis | Narrowing of a portion of the spinal canal. |
| Strength Training | Training that helps tone muscles and keep bones strong. |
| Subluxation | A misalignment in body structures of the spine that can create pressure or irritation on nerves. |
| Tendon | White fibrous bands of tissue that attach muscle to bone. |
| Tennis Elbow | Pain on the lateral elbow near the bony protrusion, usually caused by overuse of wrist extensor muscles. |
| Therapeutic Massage | Massage involving manipulation of soft tissues to decrease muscle spasm, pain and improve movement. |
| Thoracic Spine | Twelve vertebrae above the lumbar spine and below the cervical spine. |
| Thyroid hormone | A hormone released by the thyroid gland that stimulates metabolism. |
| Tolerance | Decreasing effect of a drug with the same dose or need to increase the dose for the same effect. |
| Tranquilizer | A drug used to treat anxiety. |
| Trigger Point Therapy | The application of pressure on tender trigger points in the muscles to relieve pain and tension. |
| Trigger Points | A generally small area of muscle that is tightly knotted and in spasm causing referred pain. |
| Underwater Weighing | A research method for estimating body fat by comparing weight underwater with weight on land. |
| Unsaturated Fat | A fat that is liquid at room temperature. Vegetable oils and many nuts, olives, and avocados contain unsaturated fats. |
| Vertebra | Bony segment of the spine that encircles and helps protect the spinal cord and nerves. |
| Vertebrae | The 24 cylindrical segments of bone that make up the vertebral column. |
| Vertebral Column | The flexible structure that forms the backbone of the skeleton. |
| Vertebral Subluxation Complex | Another term for subluxation used in the chiropractic profession. |
| Vigorous-Intensity Physical Activity | Physical activity requiring sustained rhythmic movements intense enough to elevate heart rate significantly. |
| Waist Circumference | A measurement of the waist associated with obesity-related health problems. |
| Weight Control | Achieving and maintaining a healthy weight by eating well and getting regular physical activity. |
| Weight-Cycle | Losing and gaining weight over and over again. |
| Whiplash | An injury to the cervical spine that occurs from rapid hyper-flexion, hyper-extension and compression movements. |
| Wrist Circumference | A measurement of the wrist at its thinnest point used to estimate skeletal structure size. |
| X-Ray | A diagnostic imaging method that exposes photographic film with radiation passed through the body to diagnose structural problems. |
