Common Abbreviations in Massage Therapy – A Complete List

Abbreviations and acronyms are commonly used in all fields within the healthcare industry including massage therapy. Individual professions such as massage therapists, nurses, physicians, dentists and physical therapists tend to have their own set of abbreviations that they use most often. There are other abbreviations such as DOB, Dx, Hx, and SOAP that are consistently used across all health and wellness professions. It can be confusing, especially for new therapists, to remember the correct way to abbreviate commonly used terms when documenting or when reading another practitioner’s notes.

What are abbreviations? Abbreviations are a shortened form of commonly used words, terms or phrases. Abbreviations have been used in the medical field ever since the first medical texts, prescriptions and notes were written. This form of shorthand speeds up the written communication process, and may also involve the use of symbols.

This post was created as a guide to abbreviations for massage therapists. In this reference article, you’ll find a list of 200 of the most common abbreviations that massage therapists encounter in the course of performing their job, and may use when charting their client treatments.

Why use abbreviations when charting?

Most healthcare providers including massage therapists use abbreviations when charting their treatment notes. There are three main reasons why massage therapists and other healthcare providers use abbreviations:

1. To save time. Documentation can be a time-consuming task for massage therapists, and abbreviating terms can save time. Of the three reasons, this is the probably the most common.
2. To save space. Using abbreviations when charting can also save space on your massage forms. Limited space is less of an issue when electronic documentation systems are used.
3. To avoid spelling. Many massage terms that therapists need to document are long and can be difficult to spell, especially anatomy terms. For example, instead of writing sternocleidomastoid, acromioclavicular, or interphalangeal, the therapist may choose to write SCM, AC or IP. These abbreviations can also make your charting more concise and less awkward.

What’s the difference between an abbreviation and an acronym?

An abbreviation, as defined above, is a shortened or contracted word or phrase. Acronyms are a specific type of abbreviation. An acronym is formed by using the first letter of each word in a multi-word term to create a new and pronounceable term. Examples of acronyms include ROM (range of motion), SITS muscles of the shoulder (supraspinatus, infraspinatus, teres minor, subscapularis), SOAP note (Subjective, Objective, Assessment, Plan), SMART goals (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, Time-bound), and AIDS (acquired immunodeficiency syndrome).

An initialism is a specific type of acronym. It is formed the same way by using the first letters of each word, but the newly formed term is not pronounced as a word. Instead, the letters are just read out. Examples of initialisms related to massage include AMTA (American Massage Therapy Association), FSMTB (Federation of State Massage Therapy Boards), FAQ (frequently asked questions), and NCBTMB (National Certification Board of Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork). Some terms such as MBLEx (Massage and Bodywork Licensing Exam) could be considered an acronym or initialism.

Another special type of abbreviation is a mnemonic, which is used as a memorization technique. These are often used by students studying anatomy and physiology, and are not intended to be used in clinical documentation.

Uses of Abbreviations in Massage Documentation

There are several uses for abbreviations in massage documentation:

• Treatment techniques. Massage therapists may use abbreviations to quickly document the treatment techniques that they use during a client session. Examples of abbreviations for massage modalities and techniques include MFR (myofascial release), TPT (trigger point therapy), FBM (full body massage), MET (muscle energy technique), CST (craniosacral therapy), and DTM (deep tissue massage).
• General abbreviations. These include standard abbreviations used across most healthcare settings, or even in other industries. Some of these include: R (right), Min (minimum), Max (maximum), > (greater than), (+) (positive), and MVA (motor vehicle accident).
• Medical abbreviations. This type of abbreviation is used throughout most medical offices. These include abbreviations for diagnoses, vital signs, tests, conditions, injuries, common pathologies, procedures and medications. As with all types of abbreviations, it is important to use only standard abbreviations that cannot be misinterpreted. Examples of standardized abbreviations are BP (blood pressure), HTN (hypertension), MRI (magnetic resonance imaging), ACL (anterior cruciate ligament), LBP (low back pain), DVT (deep vein thrombosis), OA (osteoarthritis), and NSAID (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug).
• Anatomy abbreviations. Anatomy terms can be quite long, so abbreviating them can save time and space when charting. These may include directions of movement, relative position or region of the body. Examples of anatomical abbreviations include: C-spine (cervical spine), ASIS (anterior superior iliac spine), DF (dorsiflexion), RUQ (right upper quadrant), LS (lumbosacral), Dist. (distal), BLE (bilateral lower extremities), and PF (plantarflexion).
• Abbreviations for muscles. Many of the muscle groups, individual muscles, and other soft tissue structures that massage therapists treat during a client session can be abbreviated too. For example: abs (abdominal muscles), glutes (gluteal muscles), traps (trapezius muscles), hams (hamstring muscle group), and lats (latissimus dorsi muscle).
• Professional titles. Massage therapists may use abbreviations for the titles, licensure or certifications of healthcare professionals that they communicate with. Therapists may encounter these abbreviated titles in referrals from various physicians, or in client intake documentation. Examples of these include: LMT (Licensed Massage Therapist), DO (Doctor of Osteopathy), MD (Doctor of Medicine), DC (Doctor of Chiropractic), PT (Physical Therapist), and NP (Naturopathic Physician).

Problems with Abbreviations

There are a few pitfalls to watch out for when using abbreviations and acronyms in your documentation. The main potential problem is that abbreviations can be misinterpreted. One term can have multiple ways that it can be abbreviated. Another problem is that one abbreviation could stand for multiple things. Here are a few examples:

• MR can stand for mitral regurgitation or mental retardation.
• MS can mean multiple sclerosis or morphine sulfate (common hospital error).
• DOA can mean Date of Admission or Dead on Arrival.

Fortunately for massage therapists, the consequences of misinterpreting an abbreviation are typically less severe than for other healthcare providers, such as for pharmacists or surgeons. It’s also important to be aware that different groups have different abbreviations. Fx may mean “friction” for a massage therapist, but Fx means “fracture” to most other healthcare providers.

It’s best to use standardized abbreviations and avoid making up your own abbreviations unless you are the only person who will be reading your massage documentation. Consistency is key. If you’re not sure what the abbreviation is, it’s best to go ahead and write it out. “When in doubt, spell it out.”

Massage therapists can also run into problems when using electronic documentation if their computer system does not have a definition for the abbreviation. Or if it assumes a different definition entirely. This could result in some auto-correct errors.

*Tip: Always assume that your clients do not know medical or massage abbreviations. So if you send your client home with some instructions such as some home exercises or how to perform a certain self-care modality, avoid using abbreviations or jargon that they may not understand.

Recommended Massage Abbreviations and Symbols

The following table presents a list of abbreviations that massage therapists commonly use in their documentation. The abbreviations below are fairly standard, but your massage office may have a specific list of abbreviations that they want all clinicians to use in order to be more consistent, especially if you work at a medical or rehab clinic. The important thing is to be clear and be consistent.

Abbreviation or Symbol	Meaning
1o	Primary
2o	Secondary
(-)	Negative
(+)	Positive
@	At
=	Equal to
↓	Decrease
↑	Increase
Δ	Change
/	Elevation
\	Depression
<	Less than
>	Greater than
~	Approximate, about
ā	Before
AA	Active assisted
AAROM	Active-assisted range of motion
ABD	Abduction
AC	Acromioclavicular
ACL	Anterior cruciate ligament
ADD	Adduction
ADH	Adhesion
ADL	Activities of daily living
AFO	Ankle-foot orthosis
AIS	Active Isolated Stretching
Ant	Anterior
AP	Anterior to posterior
Approx.	Approximately
AROM	Active range of motion
ASA	Aspirin
ASAP	As soon as possible
ASIS	Anterior superior iliac spine
BID	Two times per day
Bilat. or circled “B”	Bilateral
BLE	Bilateral lower extremities
BOS	Base of support
BP	Blood pressure
bpm	Beats per minute
BUE	Bilateral upper extremities
č	With
C-spine	Cervical spine
C/O	Complains of
CA	Cancer
CC	Chief complaint
CI	Contraindication
CL	Client
CMT	Certified Massage Therapist
COG	Center of gravity
Cont.	Continue
CPR	Cardiopulmonary resuscitation
CSF	Cerebrospinal fluid
CST	Craniosacral therapy
CT	Connective tissue
CTS	Carpal tunnel syndrome
Cx	Cancel
D/C	Discontinue or discharge
DC	Doctor of Chiropractic
DDD	Degenerative disc disease
Delt.	Deltoid
DF	Dorsiflexion
DIP	Distal interphalangeal (joints)
Dist	Distal
DJD	Degenerative joint disease
DM	Diabetes mellitus
DNT	Did not test
DO	Doctor of Osteopathy
DOB	Date of birth
d/t	Due to
DT	Deep tissue
DTM	Deep tissue massage
DVT	Deep vein thrombosis
Dx	Diagnosis
e.g.	For example
EFF	Effleurage
ES	Erector spinae muscle group (spinalis, longissimus, iliocostalis)
EW	Energy work
Ext. or Ex	Extension
f/b	Followed by
FBM	Full body massage
fib	Fibula
Flex	Flexion
FNP	Family Nurse Practitioner
Freq.	Frequent or frequency
Fx	Friction or fracture
gastroc	Gastrocnemius muscle
glutes	Gluteal muscles
GP	General practitioner (doctor)
HA	Headache
hams	Hamstring muscles
HNP	Herniated nucleus pulposus
HTN	Hypertension
Hx	History
IP	Inpatient or interphalangeal
ITB	Iliotibial band
L	Left
L-spine	Lumbar spine
Lat	Lateral
Lats	Latissimus dorsi
LB	Low back
LBP	Low back pain
LCL	Lateral collateral ligament
Lev scap	Levator scapula muscle
LLE	Left lower extremity
LLQ	Left lower quadrant (of the abdomen)
LMT	Licensed Massage Therapist
LOB	Loss of balance
LS	Lumbosacral
LTG	Long-term goal
LUE	Left upper extremity
LUQ	Left upper quadrant (of the abdomen)
Max	Maximum
MCL	Medial Collateral Ligament
MD	Medical doctor
Med	Medial
meds	Medication
MET	Muscle energy technique
MFR	Myofascial release
MH	Moist heat (from hot pack or fomentation)
Min	Minimum
MLD	Manual lymphatic drainage
mm	Muscles
MMT	Manual muscle test
Mod	Moderate
MT	Massage Therapist
MVA	Motor vehicle accident
N/A	Not applicable
NMT	Neuromuscular therapy
NSAID	Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug
NWB	Non weight bearing
OA	Osteoarthritis
OP	Outpatient or osteoporosis
OT	Occupational Therapist / Therapy
p (with line over it)	After
P or Pn	Pain
PA	Posterior to anterior, or Physician Assistant
Palp	Palpation
PCL	Posterior cruciate ligament
pecs	Pectoral muscles
Pet	Petrissage
PF	Plantarflexion
PIP	Proximal interphalangeal (joints)
Pirif.	Piriformis muscle
PMHx	Past medical history
PNF	Proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation
Post	After or posterior
Pre	before
PRN	As needed
PROM	Passive range of motion
Prox	Proximal
PSIS	Posterior superior iliac spine
PT	Physical Therapist / Therapy
Pt.	Patient
PVD	Peripheral vascular disease
q	Every
QL	Quadratus lumborum muscle
QOL	Quality of life
quads	Quadricep muscle group
R	Right
R/O	Rule out (e.g. R/O contraindications for massage)
RA	Rheumatoid arthritis
RC	Rotator cuff
Rec	Recommend
rhomb	Rhomboid muscles
RI	Reciprocal inhibition
RICE	Rest, Ice, Compression, Elevation (first aid)
RLE	Right lower extremity
RLQ	Right lower quadrant (of abdomen)
RMT	Registered Massage Therapist, or Remedial Massage Therapist
RN	Registered Nurse
ROM	Range of motion
Rot	Rotate or rotation
RROM	Resisted range of motion
RUE	Right upper extremity
RUQ	Right upper quadrant (of abdomen)
Rx	Prescription
S/A	Same as
S/P	Status post (after a treatment or procedure)
SB	Sidebending
SCM	Sternocleidomastoid (muscle)
SI	Sacroiliac (region)
SIJ	Sacroiliac joint
SL	Sidelying
SOAP	Subjective, Objective, Assessment, Plan (i.e. SOAP note)
SOB	Shortness of breath
STG	Short-term goal
Sx	Symptoms
T-spine	Thoracic spine
TFL	Tensor fascia latae
Therex	Therapeutic exercise
tib	Tibia
THA	Total hip arthroplasty
TKA	Total knee arthroplasty
TMJ	Temporomandibular joint
TOS	Thoracic outlet syndrome
TP or TrP	Trigger point
TPT	Trigger point therapy
Traps	Trapezius muscle
Tx	Treatment
w/o	Without
WFL	Within functional limits
WNL	Within normal limits
x	times or repetitions
XFF	Cross fiber friction