Medical Terms PATH Flashcards
Abduction
Movement away from the midline of the body. In the EAAT setting, this most often refers to the participant’s legs separating or moving away from each other
Adaptive Behavior
Behavior that allows an individual to accommodate the natural and social demands of the environment
Adduction
Movement toward the midline of the body. In the EAAT setting, this is most often used in reference to the participant’s legs moving together. An individual who has tight or spastic adductor muscles (inner thigh muscles) may have difficulty sitting astride the equine.
Anterior
The front of the body, OR toward the front of the body. In humans, anterior is synonymous with ventral, which means “toward the abdomen”
Asymmetrical
Lack of symmetry, or lack of similarity between corresponding parts or organs on opposite sides of the body that are normally alike. In the EAAT setting, this is most often used in reference to the participant’s position on the equine, as in and individual w/ hemiplegia or scoliosis
Ataxia
Incoordination that manifests especially when voluntary movements are attempted. A characteristic of types of brain injury and cerebral palsy. (my interpretation - Uncoordinated)
Athetosis
A condition that involves involuntary slow irregular twisting movements. It is a characteristic of damage to certain areas of the brain. It may be observed in athetoid or dyskinetic cerebral palsy
Bilateral
Affecting or occurring on both sides of the body. For ex, a participant who has bilateral hearing aids wears hearing aids on both ears
Bilateral Motor Coordination
Skill and performance is purposeful movement that requires interaction between both sides of the body in a smooth, refined manner
Central Nervous System
The brain and spinal cord
Congenital
Existing from birth
Contracture
A limitation of range of motion of a joint. This condition is due to shortening of muscles, tendons and/or ligaments around joints. Contractures of the hip may result in a contraindication to mounted EAA
Crossing midline
Crossing the vertical center line of the body, such as with an arm. An individual needs to use both sides of their brain in order to cross midline effectively
Cyanosis
A bluish or purplish discoloration (as of skin) due to deficient oxygen in the blood
Decubitus Ulcer
A skin lesion caused by pressure to an area of the body. Also known as a pressure sore or pressure injury. Decubitus ulcers on a weight-bearing surface of the body are a contraindication to riding
Developmental Disability
A disability that interrupts or delays the typical developmental sequence
Diplegia
Quadriplegia with greater involvement of the lower body than upper body. Commonly used with regards to cerebral palsy. An individual who has diplegic cerebral palsy has significant involvement (more affected) of their legs and trunk with the arms and hands less affected.
Distal
Further or furthest from the trunk (e.g. hand is distal to the elbow).
Dorsiflexion
Bending the ankle in a way that brings the toes up.
Edema
Swelling
Epilepsy
Seizure disorder
Equilibrium
A state of balance
Extension
To straighten the body or a joint. For ex: extension of the elbow results in straightening the arm
External Rotation
To rotate outward away from the body’s midline. In the realm of EAAT, external rotation of the hips is discussed most frequently. To externally rotate a hip, the thigh is turned away from the center of the body so that the knee points out, away from the other knee. Extreme external rotation puts the individual at risk for hip subluxation or dislocation
External Rotation
To rotate outward away from the body’s midline. In the realm of EAAT, external rotation of the hips is discussed most frequently. To externally rotate a hip, the thigh is turned away from the center of the body so that the knee points out, away from the other knee. Extreme external rotation puts the individual at risk for hip subluxation or dislocation
Flaccid
A complete lack of tension in muscles; excessively relaxed or floppy. An individual who has had a spinal cord injury may experience flaccid muscles below the level of injury. Flaccid muscles surrounding a joint can cause instability of the joint
Flexion
To bend the body or a joint. Ex: flexion of the knee results in the leg being bent.
Hemiplegia
Paralysis or paresis involving one side of the body, either right or left side. May be a characteristic of brain injury or cerebral palsy.
Hyperextension
Straightening of a joint beyond the joints normal position
Hypertonia
Increased resting tension of a muscle. This may make it more difficult to move a part of the body in a particular direction.
Hypotonia
Decreased resting tension of a muscle. This may cause the person to use greater effort to move or hold themselves up against gravity. Hypotonia may cause greater instability of joints
Inferior
Below or lower than, in reference to anatomy. Ex; the ankle is inferior to the knee
Internal Rotation
To rotate inward toward the body’s midline. In EAAT, it is most often discussed in relation to the hips. Internal rotation of the hip results in the thigh turning inward, toward the other leg, so that the knee points toward the other leg. Internal rotation of the hip results in increased susceptibility to hip subluxation or dislocation
Kinesthesia
Conscious perception of extent, direction, position and weight of movement of the body in space. Kinesthesia relies on the proprioceptive and vestibular senses.
Proprioception, otherwise known as kinesthesia, is your body’s ability to sense movement, action, and location.
relating to a vestibule, particularly that of the inner ear, or more generally to the sense of balance
Kyphosis
An abnormal spinal curvature resulting in an excessively rounded upper back. Kyphosis is a precaution or contraindication to riding
Lateral
Side, or to the side
Lateral Flexion
Movement of the head and/or trunk sideways, away from the midline of the body. Lateral flexion is observed in the rider’s trunk as they sit on a walking equine.
Lordosis
An abnormal spinal curvature resulting in an excessively arched lower back. Lordosis is a precaution or contraindication to riding
Medial
Toward the center of the bod
Microtrauma
Slight injury or lesion
