Table 1 Acronyms used in manual therapy to summarize examination procedures

P ain: location, quality, intensity of pain or tenderness

T issue texture changes: temperature, tense, flabby, edematous, fibrotic, indurated, hypertonic, hypertrophied

A symmetry: of sectional or regional spinal components identified by static palpation of structures

A symmetry in joint motion; e.g., compared with contralateral tissues

R ange of motion: Decrease or loss of specific active or passive movements identified by motion palpation

R estriction of joint motion: degree and quality of pliability, mobility, stability; quality of end-feel

T one, T exture, T emperature: changes in specific soft tissues identified through palpation

T enderness (or sensitivity) of soft tissues: unnaturally sensitive, tender, painful, numb with pressure or on active/passive movement

S pecial tests: linked to proprietary technique systems, not in general use