Glossary

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Daily Value or DV, is a dietary reference term required on food labels. The DV identifies the percent of each nutrient the serving of food provides and is shown as a percentage required of some substances.

Degrees of Freedom
The number motions possible (six) in the three planes of motion possible for a joint. The planes of motion include flexion/extension, abduction/adduction and internal rotation/external rotation.

Dehydration
The state of reduced water in the body resulting in a decrease in athletic performance, inefficient temperature regulation, and other possible health problems.

Delayed Onset Muscle Soreness (DOMS)
Pain in muscles that were exercised in the previous 24 to 72 hours. Pain is probably caused by skeletal muscle damage and spasms of affected muscles. This pain is not considered to be a direct result of lactic acid levels. Eccentric action is related more to DOMS than concentric action.

Diagonals
Exercises or motion patterns involving diagonal upward or downward motion, especially of the arms at the shoulder joint and the legs at the hip joints.

Diagonal 1 Flexion (D1 Flexion) starts from a position of being extended, abducted, and internally rotated and involves action toward flexion, adduction, and external rotation. In the case of the shoulder this diagonal motion pattern looks like a standing swordsman pulling a sword out of a sheath at the same side of the hip as the armed shoulder and crossing it and raising it across the upper body to an overhead position over the opposite shoulder.

Diagonal 1 Extension (D1 Extension) starts from a position of being flexed, adducted, and externally rotated and involves action toward extension, abduction, and internal rotation. In the case of the shoulder this diagonal motion pattern looks like a standing swordsman returning a sword to a sheath at the same side of the hip as the armed shoulder after crossing downward from a raised position over the opposite shoulder.

Diagonal 2 Flexion (D2 Flexion) starts from a position of being extended, adducted and internally rotated and involves action toward flexion, abduction, external rotation. In the case of the shoulder, this diagonal motion pattern looks like a swordsman drawing a sword from a sheath on the opposite hip and holding it overhead on the same-side-shoulder.

Diagonal 2 Extension (D2 Extension) starts from a position of the being flexed, abducted and externally rotated and involves action toward extension, adduction and internal rotation. In the case of the shoulder, this diagonal motion pattern looks like a swordsman returning his sword to a sheath on the opposite hip.

Diagonals are important in exercise training and rehabilitation because they acknowledge the line of action or vectors of muscles as they are anatomically positioned in relation to skeletal leverage and motion of the human body. Most muscles of the body tend to have some type of rotational components, which correspond to force transmission and attenuation with the bipedal nature of rotation and counter-rotation in walking, running, striking or throwing. For performance and injury prevention, it is important that the body is trained to comprehend the kinetic chain in terms of these fundamental and functional diagonal patterns -- locally on the body and in grounding forces with the earth.

Dietary Fiber
A zero-calorie substance that cannot be digested by the human body, found only in plants. Sources include fruits, vegetables, legumes (dried peas and beans), whole grains, nuts, and seeds. The recommended daily fiber intake is 20-30 grams to help keep the intestines healthy. Dietary fiber is important in wellness and long-term health for intestinal motility and possibly preventing cancer and bowel obstruction. However, it should be ingested with care when human performance is a priority and where fiber could cause discomfort or interfere with full absorption of proteins and complex carbohydrates needed for optimal fueling.

Dorsiflexion
Movement of the foot and toes especially from motion at the ankle that brings the end of the foot closer to the head.

Duration
The length of time of a training session at a given intensity. At the proper intensity, the duration needed for cardiovascular fitness effect is considered to be 15 minutes.

Dyspnea
Difficult breathing.

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