Partial weight bearing: Definition, Uses, and Clinical Overview

Partial weight bearing means putting only some of your body weight through an injured or healing leg when standing or walking. It is a temporary mobility restriction used to protect bones, joints, implants, and soft tissues while they recover. It is commonly prescribed after hip, pelvis, or lower-extremity surgery, and after certain fractures or overuse injuries. The exact amount allowed is defined by the treating clinician and may change over time.

Partial hip replacement: Definition, Uses, and Clinical Overview

Partial hip replacement is a surgery that replaces the “ball” of the hip joint while leaving the socket in place. Clinicians may also call it a *hemiarthroplasty* of the hip. It is most commonly used after certain hip fractures, especially femoral neck fractures. It can also be used in select non-fracture conditions when only the femoral head needs replacement.

PAO: Definition, Uses, and Clinical Overview

PAO most commonly refers to **periacetabular osteotomy**. It is a **hip-preserving pelvic surgery** used to improve how the hip socket covers the femoral head. PAO is most often discussed in the context of **hip dysplasia** in adolescents and adults. Orthopedic hip specialists use PAO to **reorient the acetabulum (hip socket)** to better distribute joint forces.

Patrick test: Definition, Uses, and Clinical Overview

Patrick test is a hands-on physical exam maneuver used to evaluate hip and pelvic pain. It is also widely known as the FABER test (Flexion, ABduction, External Rotation). Clinicians commonly use it in orthopedics, sports medicine, and physical therapy. It helps narrow down whether symptoms may relate to the hip joint or the sacroiliac region.

Paroxysmal nocturnal dyspnea (not applicable): Definition, Uses, and Clinical Overview

Paroxysmal nocturnal dyspnea (not applicable) is sudden shortness of breath that wakes a person from sleep. It is a symptom description, not a diagnosis or a procedure. It is most commonly used in general medicine and cardiology when discussing breathing symptoms at night. In orthopedic settings, it may appear in a patient’s medical history or preoperative evaluation.

Paralabral cyst MRI finding: Definition, Uses, and Clinical Overview

A Paralabral cyst MRI finding means an MRI scan shows a small fluid-filled sac next to a joint’s labrum. The labrum is a ring of cartilage that helps deepen and stabilize a ball-and-socket joint. This finding is most commonly discussed in the hip and the shoulder. It is usually reported as an imaging observation that may relate to a labral tear or joint irritation.

Paralabral cyst: Definition, Uses, and Clinical Overview

A Paralabral cyst is a fluid-filled sac that forms next to a joint’s labrum. It most often develops near the hip or shoulder labrum when there is a labral tear. It is commonly discussed in orthopedic imaging and sports medicine evaluations for joint pain. It can be an incidental MRI finding or a contributor to symptoms when it presses on nearby tissues.

Pain hip: Definition, Uses, and Clinical Overview

Pain hip is a general term for pain felt in or around the hip region. It is commonly used by patients to describe symptoms and by clinicians as a starting complaint. Pain hip can reflect problems in the hip joint, nearby muscles and tendons, or pain referred from the back or pelvis. The meaning depends on the exact location, timing, and associated symptoms.

Ober test: Definition, Uses, and Clinical Overview

The Ober test is a hands-on physical exam maneuver used to assess tightness along the outside of the hip and thigh. It is most commonly associated with the iliotibial band (IT band) and the tensor fasciae latae (TFL) muscle. Clinicians use it in orthopedic, sports medicine, and physical therapy evaluations of hip, thigh, and some knee symptoms. It is one piece of a broader hip exam, not a diagnosis by itself.

Outpatient PT: Definition, Uses, and Clinical Overview

Outpatient PT means physical therapy delivered in a clinic or outpatient facility. It is used when a person can live at home and travel to scheduled therapy visits. It commonly supports recovery after injury, surgery, or flare-ups of joint and muscle pain. It is widely used in orthopedics, sports medicine, and rehabilitation medicine.