glossary of terms

Abduction:
Movement of limb away from body midline

Adduction:
Movement of limb towards body midline

AFO’s (see Factsheet ):
Ankle Foot Orthoses; splints to minimise foot deformities, provide a stable base and influence posture and gait

Associated Reactions:
Increase of stiffness in spastic arms and legs resulting from effort, excitement etc.

Assymetrical:
One side of the body different from the other

Asphyxia:
Lack of oxygen

Ataxic Child:
Poor balance and uncoordinated movements

Athetoid:
Uncontrolled and involuntary

Cerebral Palsy (see Factsheet ):
Disorder of posture and movement resulting from brain damage

Chorea:
Uncontrollable small, jerky movements particularly of toes and fingers

Clonus:
Trembling movements of spastic muscles

Contracture:
Permanently tight muscles, resulting in reduced movement in a joint

Diplegia:
Legs mostly affected

Epilepsy:
Disorder characterised by periodic loss of consciousness with or without seizures

Eversion:
Turning outward (usually refers to feet)

Extension:
Straightening of trunk and limbs

Facilitation (see Factsheet ):
Making it easier for the child to move

Fine Motor:
Small muscle movements, generally of hands or fingers

Flexion:
Bending of a joint e.g. elbows, hips, knees etc.

Function:
Ability to carry out task of daily living

Gastrostomy (see Factsheet ):
Surgical procedure to insert tube into stomach for feeding

Gross Motor:
Large muscle movements

Hemiplegia:
One side of the body affcted

Inversion:
Turning inward (usually refers to feet)

Motor Patterns (see Factsheet ):
The ways in which the body and limbs work together to make movement possible

Passive Movement:
That which is done to the child without his help

Pathological:
Abnormal

Primitive Movements:
Early or baby movements

Pronation:
Turning of the hand with the palm down

Prone:
Lying on tummy

Quadriplegia:
Whole body affected

Range of Movements:
Flexibility of joints e.g. hips, elbows

Reflexes:
Automatic movements that are unconsciously performed

Rigidity:
Very strong resistance to movement

Scoliosis:
Abnormal curvature of the spine

Spasm:
Sudden tightening of muscles

Spasticity:
Stiffness in muscles

Supination:
Turning of hand with palm up

Symmetrical:
Both sides equal

Tone:
Normal tension in muscles
Hypotonic: Decreased tension (tone) in muscles
Hypertonic: Increased tension (tone) in muscles

Assymetrical Tonic Neck Reflex (ATNR):
When the turning of the head to one side causes the arm on that side to straighten and stiffen and the other arm and leg to bend

Valgus:
Commonly used to describe the deformity of flat feet

Varus:
Commonly used to describe the deformity of turned in feet