BodyWiki · A–Z index
Entries starting with L
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Labor painLabor pain occurs as the uterus rhythmically tightens and relaxes as childbirth approaches.LabrumThe labrum is a rim of fibrocartilage that forms a ring around the edge of the socket in ball-and-socket joints such as the shoulder and hip.Lachman testThe Lachman test is a physical examination that assesses the condition of the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) by checking how far the shinbone moves forwaLactateLactate is a substance produced as your body turns glucose into energy.Lactate thresholdAnaerobic threshold and lactate threshold refer to the turning point at which exercise starts to feel demanding as intensity increases.Laptop postureA laptop’s screen and keyboard are joined together, so raising the screen to eye level makes things awkward for your hands, while keeping your hands comforLarge fiber neuropathyLarge fiber neuropathy primarily affects the large peripheral nerve fibers wrapped in a thick layer of myelin.LarynxThe larynx is a cartilage box at the front of the neck, between the throat (pharynx) and the trachea.Lateral ankle ligamentsThe lateral ankle ligaments are three bands of tissue that extend from the bony bump on the outside of your ankle and help keep it from rolling inward.Lateral collateral ligament of the kneeThe lateral collateral ligament is a thin, rounded, cord-like ligament on the outside of the knee that connects the thigh bone to the head of the fibula.Lateral epicondylitisTennis elbow is pain on the outside of the elbow that develops when repeated use fatigues the wrist extensor tendons attached to the bony prominence on theLateral femoral cutaneous nerveThe lateral femoral cutaneous nerve supplies sensation to the skin on the front and outer side of the thigh.Lateral patellofemoral ligamentThe lateral patellofemoral ligament (LPFL) is a thin band connecting the patella (kneecap) to the femur (thighbone) on the outer side of the knee.Lateral plantar nerveThe lateral plantar nerve supplies sensation to the outer half of the sole and sends signals to several small muscles within the foot that move the toes.Latissimus dorsiThe latissimus dorsi is the broadest muscle in the back.Latissimus dorsi tightnessLatissimus dorsi tightness is an aching, pulling sensation in the broad muscle that spans from the lower back to the sides of the torso and the armpits.Law of inertial massThe law of inertial mass is a principle governing pressure when working with the sacrum in Integrative Manual Therapy (IMT).Lawrence H. JonesLawrence Jones was an American osteopathic physician who developed Strain-counterstrain, a technique that locates points that hurt when pressed and eases tLeaky gut syndromeLeaky gut syndrome is a term for a state in which the gaps in the intestinal lining loosen, allowing substances that would normally be filtered out to crosLean mass hyper-responderLean mass hyper-responder (LMHR) is a term for people whose LDL, often called bad cholesterol, rises markedly after starting a very low-carbohydrate KetogeLeg cramps in pregnancySuddenly waking up with a painful cramp and a tight, hard calf is common during pregnancy.Leg elevationLeg elevation means lying down with your legs raised above your heart.Leg length discrepancyLeg length discrepancy is a difference in length between the left and right legs.Leg stiffnessLeg stiffness is a measure of how much your leg compresses and rebounds like a spring when you run or jump.Legg-Calvé-Perthes diseasePerthes disease is a condition in which blood flow to the femoral head (the ball at the top of the thighbone) in a young child's hip temporarily decreases,Levator aniThe levator ani is a broad muscle that spans the floor of the pelvis, supporting the bladder, rectum, and, in women, the uterus from below.Levator scapulaeThe levator scapulae is a long, slender muscle that runs diagonally down from the sides of the neck vertebrae to the upper inner corner of the shoulder blaLevator scapulae syndromeLevator scapulae syndrome is a term used to describe aching and pain in the area running from the side of the neck to the upper corner of the shoulder bladLevels of evidenceLevels of evidence indicate, in tiers, how trustworthy the research supporting a claim is.Levers and moment armsIf we think of bones as bars, joints as fulcrums, and muscles as the source of force, the body's movements can be explained through the principle of leversLifting techniqueBending your knees is not the only correct way to lift an object.LigamentLigaments are tough, cord-like bands of fibrous tissue that connect bones to other bones and help guide joints to move in the proper direction.Ligament Fiber TherapyLigament fiber therapy is an Integrative Manual Therapy (IMT) technique that addresses ligament fibers in transverse and longitudinal directions, aiming toLigament of the head of the femurThe ligament of the head of the femur is a small ligament inside the hip joint that connects the floor of the socket to a depression in the head of the thiLigament of TreitzThe ligament of Treitz is a thin band that suspends the bend where the duodenum ends and the jejunum begins from the upper part of the back wall inside theLigamentum flavumThe ligamentum flavum is a thin, broad ligament that connects adjacent vertebrae along the back of the spine.Ligamentum flavum hypertrophyLigamentum flavum hypertrophy is an age-related thickening of the ligamentum flavum, which forms the back of the spinal canal.Lighting environmentThe lighting environment encompasses the brightness, direction, reflection, and contrast of light reaching your desk, screen, and surrounding space.Limited mouth openingLimited mouth opening means having difficulty opening your mouth as wide as usual.LimpingLimping describes walking that is uneven or favors one side rather than following your usual pattern.Linea albaThe linea alba is a white band of connective tissue that runs vertically down the middle of the abdomen, connecting the left and right rectus abdominis musLipedemaLipedema refers to a condition in which fat accumulates symmetrically on both sides of the buttocks, thighs, calves, and sometimes the arms, potentially caLisfranc injuryA Lisfranc injury involves damage to the joints and ligaments that connect the metatarsal bones to the bones closer to the ankle in the middle of the foot.Listening techniqueThe listening technique is an assessment method in which the practitioner rests a hand lightly on the body and follows the direction in which the tissues dLittle League elbowLittle League elbow is the name for pain on the inside of the elbow in growing children who do a lot of throwing in sports such as baseball or softball.Little League shoulderLittle League shoulder is a condition in which repeated loading from throwing a ball causes fatigue to build up in the shoulder growth plate of young, growLiverThe liver is the body's largest internal organ, located in the upper right abdomen, inside the rib cage.Liver meridian of foot jueyinIn traditional Korean medicine, the liver meridian of foot jueyin is one of the twelve primary meridians connected to the liver.Load managementLoad management means adjusting the amount of activity placed on the body to match what its tissues can tolerate and recover from.Load spikeA load spike is a sudden, large increase in your usual activity level. Muscles catch up quickly, but tendons and bones take longer to adapt.Load-capacity relationshipThe load-capacity relationship is a way of understanding physical condition through the balance between the demands placed on the body (load) and its abiliLoading rateLoading rate is a measure of how quickly ground reaction force increases when you land—in other words, how quickly force is applied.Localized and widespread painPain clearly concentrated in one spot is called localized pain, while pain spread across multiple areas is called widespread pain.Localized warmthLocalized warmth is a sensation of heat in a particular part of the body.Locus of controlLocus of control is a psychological concept that describes whether you see outcomes as depending on your own actions or on luck or other people.LomilomiLomilomi is a traditional massage passed down in Hawaii, characterized by long, rhythmic movements of the forearms and hands that work across the whole bodLong plantar ligamentThe long plantar ligament is the longest ligament in the sole of the foot, extending from the underside of the heel bone, past the cuboid on the outer sideLong thoracic nerveThe long thoracic nerve emerges from the neck and travels down along the side of the chest to activate the Serratus anterior.Longissimus thoracisThe longissimus thoracis is a long muscle running vertically along either side of the spine, forming the middle column of the erector spinae, which keeps tLongus colli and longus capitis musclesThe longus colli and longus capitis are a pair of muscles deep in front of the cervical vertebrae that support the neck and head from the front.Lorimer MoseleyLorimer Moseley is an Australian physical therapist and pain scientist.Loss of cervical lordosisLoss of cervical lordosis describes a neck that appears straight because the gentle C-shaped curve normally seen in the cervical spine from the side is redLow back loading during childcareThe repeated movements of childcare—holding, lifting, changing diapers, and carrying a baby on one side—build up strain on your lower back and pelvis.Low back pain disability questionnairesThe ODI (Oswestry Disability Index) and RMDQ (Roland-Morris Disability Questionnaire) are questionnaires that score how much low back pain interferes with Low back pain in golfersThe low back is the area where golfers most commonly feel discomfort.Low-impact exerciseLow-impact exercise leaves out movements in which both feet leave the floor at the same time, reducing landing impact and floor vibration.Low-intensity steady-state exerciseLISS is aerobic exercise performed at a steady, comfortable intensity that does not leave you out of breath, for about 30 minutes to 1 hour.Low-level laser therapyLow-level laser therapy (LLLT) is a physical therapy method that applies weak laser or LED light to the body with almost no heat, helping support cells' owLower backThe lower back is the rear part of the trunk between the ribs and the pelvis.Lower crossed syndromeLower crossed syndrome is a postural pattern in which muscles around the lower back and pelvis that tend to become short and tight form diagonal pairs withLower limb edemaLower limb edema is swelling caused by more fluid than usual collecting between the tissues of the legs, feet, and ankles.Lower limb rotational alignmentLower limb rotational alignment describes how much the femur and tibia twist along their respective long axes, and which way their combined effect makes thLower limb strain from occupational standingWhen you work on your feet all day, your legs can easily feel heavy and swollen by evening, and the soles of your feet may tingle.Lumbar disc herniationLumbar disc herniation is a condition in which the jelly-like inner part of a disc that absorbs shock between the bones of the lower back pushes out througLumbar extension loading in swimming and gymnasticsRepeated back-arching movements, such as the undulating motion of butterfly or breaststroke, starts and turns, and back handsprings in gymnastics, can builLumbar facet joint syndromeLumbar facet joint syndrome refers to low back pain originating in the facet joints, the small joints at the back of the spine that connect the bones aboveLumbar hyperlordosisThis is a posture in which the lower back curves inward more deeply than usual, making the abdomen and buttocks appear more prominent at the front and backLumbar instabilityLumbar instability is a concept used to describe insufficient stabilization of the lumbar spinal segments during movement.Lumbar plexusThe lumbar plexus is a network of nerves formed deep in the lower back, where nerve roots emerging from between the lumbar vertebrae intertwine.Lumbar radiculopathyLumbar radiculopathy is a condition in which compression or irritation of a nerve root branching off in the lower back causes pain radiating into the leg, Lumbar spinal stenosisLumbar spinal stenosis is a narrowing of the spinal canal, the passage inside the lower spine through which nerves travel.Lumbar sprain and strainA lumbar sprain or strain is a painful condition in which the muscles or ligaments of the lower back are suddenly stretched while lifting something heavy oLumbar support beltA lumbar support belt is a belt-shaped aid that wraps around your waist to provide compression and support.Lumbar tractionLumbar traction is a physical therapy technique that uses belts to secure the pelvis and chest while gently pulling the lower back lengthwise.Lumbar vertebraeThe lumbar vertebrae are the five spinal bones (L1–L5) that form the lower back.Lumbosacral decompression in Integrative Manual TherapyLumbosacral decompression is a myofascial release technique in Integrative Manual Therapy (IMT) that uses very light force to separate the lowest lumbar veLumbosacral junctionThe lumbosacral junction is the joint region where the lowest lumbar vertebra, L5, meets the top of the sacrum, S1.Lunate boneThe lunate is a half-moon-shaped bone in the center of the wrist, among its eight carpal bones.LungeA lunge is a lower-body exercise in which you lower your body and stand back up with one foot in front and the other behind.LymphLymph is the clear fluid collected from the spaces between tissues outside blood vessels as it flows through lymphatic vessels.Lymph nodeLymph nodes are small, bean-shaped organs located at intervals along lymphatic vessels.Lymphatic circulationLymphatic circulation is the body's drainage pathway, collecting fluid left between tissues outside the blood vessels and returning it to the veins.LymphedemaLymphedema is persistent swelling caused by a buildup of fluid and protein in an arm or leg when lymph cannot drain properly.LymphocyteLymphocytes are a type of white blood cell involved in immunity.