The Most Common Occupational Therapy Abbreviations

Occupational therapy professionals rely on abbreviations daily—but they can sometimes be difficult to interpret. Strengthen your understanding by reviewing some of the most commonly used ones.

If you work in occupational therapy, chances are you encounter numerous abbreviations in your daily practice. However, keeping up with them all can be a challenge, particularly as new terms emerge regularly. In a profession where clarity is critical, a misinterpreted abbreviation can lead to errors.

To support clear and effective communication, we've gathered a list of commonly used occupational therapy abbreviations across various settings. While this list isn't exhaustive, and each workplace may have its own unique terminology, it provides a valuable foundation for reference.

We also have created a list of common PT abbreviations here.

Common Clinical and Nonclinical Occupational Therapy Abbreviations

Clinical Abbreviations

A:

A&O: alert and oriented

A/P: anterior/posterior

AAROM: active assistive range of motion

ABD: abduction

AC: acromioclavicular

ACA: anterior cerebral artery

ACDF: anterior cervical discectomy and fusion

ACJ: acromioclavicular joint

ACL: anterior cruciate ligament

AD: assistive device

ADD: adduction

ADL: activity/activities of daily living

AFO: ankle foot orthosis

AICD: automatic implantable cardiac defibrillator

AKA: above-knee amputation

ALS: amyotrophic lateral sclerosis

AMA: against medical advice

Amb: ambulation

AROM: active range of motion

B:

B: bilateral

Bed Mob: bed mobility

BID: twice a day

BKA: below-knee amputation

BOS: base of support

BP: blood pressure

BPM: beats per minute

C:

c (with a line over it): with

C-Collar: cervical collar

CABG: coronary artery bypass graft (open heart surgery)

CAD: coronary artery disease

CAM Boot: control ankle motion boot

CGA: contact guard assist

CHF: congestive heart failure

CKC: closed kinetic chain

CMC: carpometacarpal (joint)

CNS: central nervous system

C/O: complains of

Cont: continue

COPD: chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

CPM: continuous passive motion

CTS: carpal tunnel syndrome

CTx: cervical traction

CVA: cerebrovascular accident

D:

DC or D/C: Discharge

DDD: degenerative disc disease

DF: dorsiflexion

DIP: distal interphalangeal (joint)

DJD: degenerative joint disease

DM: diabetes mellitus

DME: durable medical equipment

DNR: do not resuscitate

DVT: deep vein thrombosis

E:

ECC, EKG: electrocardiogram

EEG: electroencephalogram

EOB: edge of bed

EMR: Electronic Medical Record

ER: external rotation

Estim or ES: electrical stimulation

ETOH: ethanol (alcohol)

Ex: exercise

Ex Lap: exploratory laparotomy or laparoscopy

Ext (or /): extension

Eval: evaluation

F:

FES: functional electronic stimulation

Flex (or ✓): flexion

FOB: foot of bed

FWB: full weight-bearing

FWW: front-wheeled walker

G:

GCS: Glasgow coma scale

GERD: gastroesophageal reflux disease

GH: glenohumeral (joint)

GI: gastrointestinal

GSW: gunshot wound

H:

H/A: headache

HAP: Home activity program

Hemi: hemiplegia or hemiparesis

HEP: home exercise program

HKAFO: hip-knee-ankle foot orthosis

HNP: herniated nucleus pulposus (herniated disc)

H/o: history of

HOB: head of bed

H&P: history and physical

Horiz: horizontal

HP: hot pack

HR: humeroradial (joint) or heart rate

HVGS: high-voltage galvanic stimulation

Hx: history

I:

I (or Ind): independent

IADL: Instrumental activity/activities of daily living

I&D: incision and drainage (debridement)

I&O: intake and output

ICD-10: 10th revision: International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Relate Health Problems

ICU: intensive care unit

IDDM: insulin dependent diabetes mellitus

IE: Initial evaluation

Ionto: iontophoresis

IP: interphalangeal (joint)

IR: internal rotation

ITB: iliotibial band

J:

Jt: joint

K:

KAFO: knee ankle foot orthosis

L:

L/S: lumbar spine

L: left

LAQ: long-arc quad

LB: lower body

LBP: low back pain

LBQC: large-base quad cane

LCL: lateral collateral ligament

LE: lower extremity

LLE: left lower extremity

LOA: level of assist

LOS: length of stay

LQ: lower quadrant

LSO: lumbosacral orthosis

LTG: long-term goals

LUE: left upper extremity

M:

Max A: maximum assist

Max: maximum

MCL: medial collateral ligament

MCP: metacarpophalangeal (joint)

MD: medical doctor

MFR: myofascial release

MHP: moist hot pack

MI: myocardial infarction

Min A: minimum assist

MLT: muscle length test

Mm: muscle

MMT: manual muscle test

Mob: mobilization

Mod A: moderate assistance

MRI: magnetic resonance imaging

MRSA: methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus

MTP: metatarsophalangeal joint

MVA: motor vehicle accident

Mod I: modified independent

N:

N&V: nausea and vomiting

NBQC: narrow base quad cane

NDT: neuro-developmental technique

NG: nasogastric

NICU: neonatal intensive care unit

NIDDM: non-insulin dependent diabetes mellitus

NKA: no known allergies

NMES: neuromuscular electrical stimulation

NPO: nothing by mouth

NVD: nausea, vomiting, diarrhea

NWB: non-weight bearing

O:

O2: oxygen

OA: osteoarthritis

OKC: open kinetic chain

OOB: out of bed

P:

P: pain

PACU: post anesthesia care unit

PAMs: Physical Agent Modalities

PCL: posterior cruciate ligament

PCP: primary care provider

PD: peritoneal dialysis or Parkinson’s disease

PE: pulmonary embolism

PEDS: pediatrics

PEG: percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy

PF: plantarflexion

Pfin: paraffin bath

PFPS: patellofemoral pain syndrome

Phono: phonophoresis

PICC: peripherally inserted central catheter

PIP: proximal interphalangeal (joint)

PLIF: posterior lumbar interbody fusion

PMH: past medical history

PNF: proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation

POC: plan of care

PROM: passive range of motion

Pt: patient

PVD: peripheral vascular disease

PWB: partial weight bearing

Q:

Q: every

QC: quad cane

QD: every day

QID: four times a day

R:

R: right

RA: rheumatoid arthritis

RBC: red blood cell/count

RC: rotator cuff

RCT: randomized controlled trial or rotator cuff tear

RD: radial deviation

Re-eval: Re-evaluation

Rehab: rehabilitation

Reps: repetitions

RICE: rest, ice, compression, elevation

RLA: Rancho Los Amigos scale

RLE: right lower extremity

RN: registered nurse

R/O: rule out

ROM: range of motion

Rot: rotation

RT: respiratory therapist/therapy

RTC: rotator cuff

RU: radioulnar (joint)

RUE: right upper extremity

RW: rolling walker

Rx: treatment or prescription

S:

S (with a line over it): without

SAQ: short arc quad

SB: side bending (or Swiss ball)

SBA: stand-by assist

SBQC: small base quad cane

SC: straight cane or sternoclavicular (joint)

SCI: spinal cord injury

Script: prescription

SICU: surgical intensive care unit

SLP: speech-language pathology/pathologist

SLPA: speech-language pathology/pathologist assistant

SLR: straight leg raise

SOB: shortness of breath

S/P: status post

SPC: single-point cane

SNF: Skilled nursing Facility

S/S: signs and symptoms

ST: speech therapy

STG: short-term goals

STM: soft tissue mobilization

STS: sit-to-stand

Sup: supination or supervision/supervised (level of assist)

SW: standard walker

T:

TB: TheraBand or tuberculosis

TBI: traumatic brain injury

TDWB: touch-down weight bearing

TENS: transcutaneous electrical neuromuscular stimulation

THA: total hip arthroplasty

Ther Ex: therapeutic exercise

THR: total hip replacement

TIA: transient ischemic attack

TID: three times a day

TKA: total knee arthroplasty

TKR: total knee replacement

TLSO: thoracic lumbar sacral orthosis

TLIF: transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion

TM: treadmill

TMJ: temporomandibular joint

Total A: total assist

Trxn: traction

T/S: thoracic spine

TTWB: toe-touch weight bearing

Tx: treatment

U:

UB: upper body

UBE: upper body ergometer

UD: ulnar deviation

UE: upper extremity

UQ: upper quadrant

US: ultrasound

UTI: urinary tract infection

V:

VC: verbal cue

Vent: ventilator

VO: verbal order

W:

WB: weight bearing

WBAT: weight bearing as tolerated

WBQC: wide-base quad cane

WC (or w/c): wheelchair

WFL: within functional limits

WHO: wrist hand orthosis

WNL: within normal limits

WW: wheeled walker

4WW: four-wheeled walker

#: pounds

Nonclinical Abbreviations

Auth: Authorization

COTA: Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant

Cx: Cancel

DC: Discharge

Ded: Deductible

DOB: Birth date

DN: Daily note

EMR: Electronic medical record

f/b: Followed by

HC: Home care

HHA: Home health aide

IE: Initial evaluation

Ins: Insurance

IV: Insurance verification

l/m: Left message

MC: Medicare

ML: Monthly letter

n/s: No show for appointment

OON: Out of network

OT: Occupational therapy

OTA: Occupational therapy assistant

PA: Physician’s assistant

POC: Plan of care

PN: Progress note

RE: Re-evaluation

Confirm Before You Assume!

Abbreviations are a time-saving tool in occupational therapy, but they also pose a risk of miscommunication. As you can see from the list above, some abbreviations (such as PD) can have multiple definitions, which may lead to confusion.

While this resource is designed to help you navigate abbreviations more confidently, always take the extra step to confirm their meaning when uncertainty arises. Face-to-face communication remains essential for ensuring accuracy and maintaining patient safety.