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As a physical therapist, an important part of your job is to have an effective communication with your patients. Being able to describe their issues to them in detail, what to do to solve it, and how to do it. You also need to understand and be able to interpret all the patient’s signs of pain, as well as all the main spots of it. You need all the information in order to be able to treat them properly.

Since Spanish is one of the most spoken languages in the world, chances are you may be treating lots of Spanish-speaking patients on a daily basis. If communication is a barrier the treatment may be affected, either by how much you can understand of the spoken language, or the depth and detail you can explain to your patient. These things can negatively affect the long-term health of your patients.

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That’s why in today’s blog, we’ll be giving you these tips to make our job easier.

1- USEFUL PHRASES:

Here we have a list of phrases to introduce yourself and investigate the source of pain, all of these phases are in a formal manner:

  • Good morning, I’ll be your physical therapist, my name is (name here), it is a pleasure to meet you. – Buenos días, yo seré su fisioterapeuta, mi nombre es (name here), es un gusto conocerlo/la.
  • Tell me what are the areas of your body that you feel pain in and when that pain started. – Cuénteme en que zonas de su cuerpo siente dolor y cuando comenzó el mismo.
  • Have you fallen down, had any accident, or anything out of the ordinary that could have triggered this pain? – Ha usted tenido alguna caída, accidente o algo fuera de lo normal que pudo haber desencadenado este dolor? 
ENGLISH PHRASESSPANISH PHRASES
My name isMe llamo (your name)
I’m your Physical TherapistSoy su fisioterapeuta
What’s your name?Cómo se llama? or Cuál es su nombre?
How are you?Cómo esta?
What happened to you?Qué le pasó?
Did you fall?Se cayó?
Did you have an accident?Tuvo un accidente?
What happened?Qué ocurrió?
When did it happen?Cuando ocurrió?
How long have you had the problem?Por cuánto tiempo ha tenido el problema?
Did it ever happen before?Le ha ocurrido antes?
Do you have any relative with the same issue? Tiene algún antecedente familiar con el mismo problema?
You had surgery.Le practicaron una cirugía.
Where did you get hurt?En dónde se lastimó?
What do you do for a living?En qué trabaja? or A qué se dedica?
Where does it hurt?Dónde le duele?
Point to the pain.Señale dónde le duele.
Are you in pain?Tiene dolor?
How much pain do you feel on a scale from 0 to 10? Being zero the absence of pain and ten the maximum level of pain.En una escala del uno al diez que tan fuerte es su dolor? Con cero como la ausencia del dolor y diez siendo el dolor máximo.
If you have to describe your pain, you would say it is:Si tuviera que describir el dolor, sería
SharpAgudo
ShootingSúbito
StabbingPunzante
DullSordo
ThrobbingPalpitante
BurningQuemante
Do you have any numbness or tingling sensation in your body?Tiene entumecimiento u hormigueo en alguna parte de su cuerpo?
What gives you relief from the pain?Qué alivia el dolor? or ¿Qué calma el dolor?
Does it hurt when you walk, stand, sit, lift objects, bend, climb stairs or carry objects?Le duele al caminar, pararse, sentarse, levantar objetos, agacharse, subir escaleras o trasportar objetos?
What are your goals for therapy?Cuáles son sus objetivos con la terapia?
Is your (body part) rigid?Es su (body part) rígida?

2-PARTS OF THE BODY IN SPANISH:

The left/right side of the back. – La zona izquierda/derecha de la espalda. 

The upper/lower side of the back. – La zona alta/baja de la espalda. 

Around the neck/arm/torso. – Alrededor del cuello/brazo/torso.

Around the wrist/ leg/ waist. – Alrededor de la muñeca/pierna/ cintura. 

ENGLISH TERMSSPANISH TERMS
HeadCabeza
EyesOjos
EarsOrejas
FaceCara
NeckCuello
ShoulderHombro
NoseNariz
MouthBoca
ChestPecho
ArmBrazo
ElbowCodo
FingerDedo
ThumbPulgar
Ring fingerAnular
Index fingerÍndice
Pinky fingerMeñique
ForearmMuñeca
WristMuñeca
HandMano
HipCadera
AbdomenAbdomen
LegPierna
ThighMuslo
KneeRodilla
GroinIngle
ShinEspinilla
AnkleTobillo
FootPie
ToeDedo del pie
ScapulaEscápula
BackEspalda
SpineColumna vertebral
ButtocksGlúteos
HeelTalón
CalfPantorrilla

3-DIRECTIONS:

  • Do this exercise twice a day, once in the morning and once at night. – Haga este ejercicio dos veces al día, en la mañana y en la noche.
  • Take this medication in the morning before starting with your activities for the day. – Tome está medicacion por la mañana antes de comenzar con sus actividades.
  • Apply this cream in the area of the pain at night after your exercises. – Aplíquese está crema en la zona del dolor luego de sus ejercicios en la noche. 
DIRECTIONS IN ENGLISHDIRECTIONS IN SPANISH
Lie down in the examination table pleaseRecuéstese en la camilla por favor
Please sit upPárese por favor
Lie down on your backAcuéstese sobre su espalda
Lie down on your abdomenAcuéstese sobre su abdomen
Sit downSiéntese
Face downBoca abajo
Face upBoca arriba
Do you feel pain here?Siente dolor aquí?
If I apply pressure in this spot, does it hurt?Si presiono este punto, Siente dolor?
Turn over to the rightVoltéese a la derecha
Turn over to the leftVoltéese a la izquierda
Do you feel pain when doing this movement?Haciendo este movimiento, siente dolor?
Tell me how much it hurtsDígame cuanto le duele
Move your (body part)Mueva su (body part)
Raise your (body part)Levante su (body part)
I’m going to examine your strengthVoy a examinar su fuerza
I’m going to examina your range of motionVoy a examinar su rango de movimiento
Let me know if the pain is too much to bear.Avíseme si siente demasiado dolor
Hold this positionMantenga esta posición
Hold this position, don’t let me move youResista en esa posición, no me deje moverlo/la
Bend forwardInclínese hacia delante
Bend backwardInclínese hacia atrás
Bend to the leftDoble a la izquierda
Bend to the rightDoble a la derecha
Turn to the leftGire a la izquierda
Turn to the rightGire a la derecha
Keep it straightMantenga estirado
Walk towards meCamine hacia mi
Walk in the opposite directionCamine hacia el otro lado
Follow what I doSiga lo que hago
We’ll try harderIntentaremos más fuerte
RelaxRelájese
Take a breakTome un descanso
Good job!¡Buen trabajo!

4-DIAGNOSTIC AND TREATMENT:

  • You have (name of the pathology), you’ll need 6 months of treatment, three times a week. – Usted tiene (name of the pathology), va a necesitar 6 meses de tratamiento, tres veces por semana.
ENGLISH TERMSSPANISH TERMS
A ligament sprainedUn esguince de ligamento
A muscle strainedUn desgarro de músculo
Muscular weaknessDebilidad muscular
Muscular stiffnessRigidez muscular
A ligament strainedUn desgarro de ligamento
TendinitisTendinitis
A slipped discUna hernia discal
ArthritisArtritis
OsteoarthritisArtrosis
OsteoporosisOsteoporosis
Balance issuesProblemas de equilibrio
A deviation in your spine or scoliosisUna desviación de columna o escoliosis
Muscular inflammation due to a traumaInflamación muscular por traumatismo
BursitisBursitis
  • The treatment we’ll apply to you is (name of the treatment), in addition, we’ll teach you exercises for you to do at home. – El tratamiento que vamos a aplicarle será (name of the treatment), además le enseñaremos ejercicios para que realice en su hogar. 
ENGLISH TERMSSPANISH TERMS
Postural trainingEntrenamiento de la postura
StretchingEstiramiento
Therapeutic exerciseEjercicio terapéutico
MassagesMasajes
StrengtheningFortalecimiento
StabilizationEstabilización
Vibratory muscle stimulation and TENSEstimulación muscular vibratoria y TENS
Joint mobilizationsMovilizaciones articulares
Electrotherapy and ultrasoundElectroterapia y ultrasonido
MagnetotherapyMagnetoterapia
  • I would like you to come four times per week for three months – Quisiera que venga a la terapia -cuatro- veces por semana por -tres- meses.
  • You’ll need also to take this medication for a month, one pill a day, and apply this cream for two months in the affected area. – Usted necesita también tomar está medicacion por un mes, una píldora por día, y aplicarse está crema por dos meses en la zona afectada. 
ENGLISH TERMSSPANISH TERMS
OneUno
Two Dos
ThreeTres
FourCuatro
FiveCinco
SixSeis
DayDía
WeekSemana
MesMes
YearAño

About the Author:

Specializations: Spanish Tutors on Zoom

Bio: 28-year-old graphic designer and writer with 7 years of experience, passionate about communication in all its aspects as the main tool to forge links. I consider myself a detailed, patient, and empathetic person, so even if you consider yourself a difficult student, I will know how to guide you to reach the level of Spanish you need for whatever activity you have in mind. As a student of Literature, I always had the same love for books and their stories, as well as for the Spanish language and its formation. I believe that the best way to learn is to be passionate about what you are learning and that is what I always want to achieve with my students. I have worked with children, adolescents, and adults, so I have knowledge about the different learning stages that a person can go through and the different strategies to approach them.

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Other articles: Spanish For Law Enforcement, Spanish Phrases For Hotel Staff​, Spanish For Legal Professionals, English for Childcare Workers, Spanish & English Vocabulary for Painters

Disclaimer: The information found on this website is meant only to aid healthcare professionals who want to improve their Spanish skills to communicate with their Spanish-speaking patients and not to be used as medical advice. Medical professionals should not rely on the content of this website to evaluate, diagnose or treat any health related condition.

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