PRE

Medical abbreviation · Rehabilitation

PRE
Stands forProgressive resistive exercise
CategoriesMedical

PRE stands for Progressive resistive exercise, a rehabilitation abbreviation.

Strength training that systematically increases resistance as the patient gets stronger, using weights, bands or machines. It is the basis of most rehabilitation strengthening programs.

Example: PRE: leg press 40 lb 3 x 10, increase 5 lb when completed easily.

Usage notes

Introduced by US Army physician Thomas DeLorme in the 1940s, who used repetition maximums to set loads. The principle of progressive overload remains central to modern strength training. Elastic bands of increasing stiffness give a simple home version.

More rehabilitation abbreviations

  • ODI – Oswestry Disability Index
  • OKC – Open kinetic chain
  • OT – Occupational therapy
  • PLOF – Prior level of function
  • PM&R – Physical medicine and rehabilitation
  • PNF – Proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation
  • PROM – Passive range of motion
  • PT – Physical therapy
  • PWB – Partial weight bearing
  • QC – Quad cane
  • RICE – Rest, ice, compression, elevation
  • ROM – Range of motion

See all 98 rehabilitation abbreviations →

Edited by the AbbreviationList.com team. Spotted an error or a missing meaning? Contact us.

This entry is for general education and is not medical advice. Abbreviation use varies between institutions; always confirm in context.