Glossary Abnormal Movement Strategies: Movement Patterns That
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Glossary abnormal movement strategies: Movement patterns that are inefficient, exaggerated, or stereotypic when an individual uses that movement pattern either in an activity or an isolated volitional movement. abulia: A loss or deficiency of will power. acquired brain injury: A brain injury that occurred after birth. The individual was considered to have a normal CNS prior to that injury. ACTH (adrenocorticotropic hormone): A hormone released by the adenohypophysis, which stimulates the adrenal cortex to secrete its entire spectrum of hormones. Thought to be immunosuppressive and antiinflammatory in treating multiple sclerosis. activity limitations (functional limitations): Difficulties an individual may have when executing activities. actuators: Engineering devices that translate the inputs to perform the desired movement or task, drive a robot interacting with a human according to control inputs, or impose controlled actions on wearable robotics with reference trajectories. acute spinal cord injury: The period of time immediately following an injury when the management of all primary injuries and the prevention of further complications are the emphasis of care. acute pain: Pain that arises from nociceptor stimulation and functions as a warning system of impending or actual tissue injury. adaptation: The process or state of changing to fit new circumstances or conditions. adaptive response: An appropriate response to an environmental demand. Adaptive responses require good sensory integration; they also allow progression of the sensory integrative process. adjustment: The ongoing process of responding to the world with a positive adaptive response that allows the person and significant others to grow and mature in regard to all aspects of life. advanced robotics: The integration of enabling technologies and attributes embracing manipulators, mobility, sensors, computing, and hierarchical control to result in a robot capable of autonomously complimenting man’s endeavors in unstructured and hostile environments. adverse drug reactions: An unexpected reaction following administration of a specific drug that has potentially negative affects on some system within the patient. agraphia: Loss of the ability to write. aging: A normal process of changing with time, especially during the later part of life. AIDS (acquired immune deficiency syndrome): A disease of the immune system caused by infection with the retrovirus HIV (human immunodeficiency virus) which destroys certain white blood cells and is transmitted through blood or bodily secretions such as semen. alcoholism: A disease characterized by chronic, heavy consumption of alcohol, which may lead to peripheral nerve disease, cerebellar degeneration, and other systemic and psychiatric symptoms that impair health and the ability to function. alexia: The inability to recognize or comprehend written or printed words; also known as word blindness. Alzheimer's disease: A term used as a diagnosis when, based on the symptoms of confusion and impaired intellectual functioning, all other possible causes have been eliminated. It is not possible to ascertain whether a client has this disease until an autopsy or brain biopsy has been performed. At present, there is no known cause or treatment for Alzheimer's disease, but clients and families can be helped to improve coping skills with the presenting losses of intellectual functioning. amblyopia: Dimness of vision not caused by refractive error or organic disease of the eye. Amigo: A scooter-like, battery-operated vehicle. amniocentesis: A procedure in which a needle is passed through the mother's abdomen and uterus into the amniotic sac of the fetus. Amniotic fluid is withdrawn and analyzed for a variety of abnormalities. amygdala: A nuclear mass within the anterior portion of the temporal lobe involved with limbic function, especially arousal, motivation, and declarative learning. amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS): A fatal degenerative disease of the central nervous system marked by axonal death in the lateral columns of the spinal cord with residual muscle weakness and atrophy. It is also called Lou Gehrig's disease. angiography: The visualization of blood vessels by injection of a nontoxic radiopaque material. ankle-foot orthosis (AFO): An external device that controls the foot and ankle complex and can be utilized to generate forces around the knee. ANS (autonomic nervous system) pain: Pain arising from injuries within the sympathetic or parasympathetic nervous systems. anterior or toe lever arm: An orthotic device that creates a substitute for the strength of the anterior lever arm. anterograde amnesia: The inability to establish new memories. anticholinergic: Blocking the passage of impulses at cholinergic postsynaptic receptor sites; also an agent that has this effect. anticipatory responses: The use of information about the environment and from experience to plan and program intended actions for the immediate future. anticipatory postural adjustments: Similar to automatic postural responses but occur before the actual disturbance. anxiolytic: An agent that reduces anxiety. aphasia: An impairment caused by brain damage that interferes with the ability to process language symbols. It is disproportionate to impairment of other intellectual functions and is not caused by dementia, sensory loss, or motor dysfunction. apraxia of speech: An articulatory disorder resulting from the inability to program the position of speech muscles and the sequence of muscle movements in order to volitionally produce speech. The disorder results from an impairment arising from brain damage. ARM: Assistive Robotic Manipulator. Arnold-Chiari malformation: A deformity in which the medulla and pons are reduced in size and the cerebellum herniates into the spinal canal. ASIA: American Spinal Injury Association. aspiration: The act of inhaling fluids or substances into the lungs or the removal of fluids and gases from a cavity by suction. assistive robotics: Robots designed to assist patients with the performance of tasks for eating/drinking, personal hygiene, work and leisure, mobility and reaching. Can also be divided into three main areas that include robots that operate in a fixed location, robots that can be moved around, and robots that attach to wheelchairs. asthenia: The chronic lack of strength and energy. astrocytoma: A malignant nerve-tissue tumor composed of comparatively large and much- branded astrocytes. ataxia: The loss of muscular coordination. ataxia-telangiectasia: An inherited disorder characterized by progressive ataxia, oculocutaneous dilation of terminal arteries and capillaries, sinopulmonary disease, and abnormal eye movements. athetosis: From the Greek origin of the word: “without posture”; a dyskinetic condition that includes inadequate timing, force, accuracy, and coordination of movement in the limbs and trunk. atypical movements: Not conforming to the usual type or expected pattern of movement. augmented intervention: The use of therapeutic intervention strategies, such as the therapist's hands, to augment or enhance the patient's ability to perform or participate in a functional activity or therapeutic procedure. autism: A disorder that in childhood is characterized by withdrawal behavior, reduced socialization, perseveration, bizarre behavior, lack of purposeful verbal communication, and echolalia. autogenic movement patterns (AMPs): Movements of body segments (e.g., head, limbs, trunk) that are the result of spontaneous activity of motor neurons; in contrast to reflexive or volitional (voluntary) movements. autoimmune: A disease in which the body produces a disordered immunological response against its own tissue. Antibodies against normal parts of the body are produced to an extent that causes tissue injury. automatic postural responses: Functionally organized, long-loop responses that produce muscle activation to bring the body's center of gravity into a state of equilibrium. Examples: ankle strategy, hip strategy. automatic speech: Words or phrases spoken without voluntary control, such as curse words, expletives, and greetings. autonomic dysfunction: An uncompensated reaction from either the parasympathetic or sympathetic division of the autonomic nervous system following disease, injury, or chemical ims; more often observed within the sympathetic nervous system as a reaction to a noxious stimulus that exhibits itself as a visceral response, such as sweating or increased heart rate. autonomic dysreflexia: An uninhibited and exaggerated reflex response of the autonomic nervous system to stimulation. It is often referred to as autonomic hyperreflexia. autonomic hyperreflexia: A reaction of the autonomic (involuntary) nervous system to over- stimulation. This reaction may include high blood pressure, change in heart rate, skin color changes (pallor, redness, blue-gray coloration), and profuse sweating. automatic postural responses: A set of functionally organized, long-loop responses that act to keep the body in a state of equilibrium. axonal damage: Damage to a section of the nerve between the cell body and the presynaptic cleft or presynaptic junction. axonotmesis: Interruption of the axon with subsequent wallerian degeneration; connective tissue of the nerve, including the Schwann cell basement membrane, remains intact. babbling: A stage in speech development characterized by the production of strings of speech sounds in vocal play. balance: The ability to control the center of gravity in a given sensory environment.