Neuro Terminology Flashcards
Allodynia
Non-noxious stimulus produces pain
Analgesia
Loss of pain sensitivity (inability to feel pain)
Do NOT get confused with analgesic - means it helps relieve pain
Causalgia
Burning painful sensation, often along nerve distruptions
Dysesthesia
Touch sensation produces pain
Hyperalgesia
Heightened sensitivity to (pain) noxious stimuli
Noxious thresholds to stimulate are dropping
Hyperasthesia
Heightened sensitivity to sensory stimulus
Hypoalgesia
Decreased sensitivity to pain
Paresthesia
Abnormal sensation with no apparent cause (eg. numbness, tingling)
Paresis
Muscle weakness
Tone
Definition & Abnormalities
Resistance of muscles to passive elongation while the individual is attempting to stay relaxed (residual contraction at rest)
Hypertonia: INC tonicity (above resting levels)
- Spasticiity
- Rigidity
Hypertonia: DEC tonicity (below normal resting levels)
Dystonia: disordered tonicity = contractions can cause twisting or withering mvmts &/or abnormal posturing
Spasiticity
Definition & Types
Velocity DEPENDENT resistance to passive elongation
INC stretch = INC resistance
CLASP-KNIFE RESPONSE - spastic catch followed by sudden inhibition (letting go) in response to a passive elongation of a muscle
Rigidity
Definition & Types
Velocity INDEPENDENT hypertonic state of muscle
LEADPIPE Rigidity: Constant uniform resistance throughout entire range of motion
COGWHEEL Rigidity: Hypertonic state with rachet-like jerkiness during muscle elongation
Dystonia
Definition & Types
A movement disorder that is characterized by involuntary twisting and repetitive mvmts, abnormal fixed postures, and disordered tone
Dystonic posturing: co-contaction of muscles causing a sustained abnormal posture
Generalized: start to develop dystonic postures/mvmts - normally starts in legs & moves up
Focal (only one body part): ex. torticollis
Segmental (affects two or more adjacent areas): ex torticollis + UE
Postural Control
The ability to maintain stability and orientation (with the COM over the BOS)
Postural Orientation
The ability to maintain appropraite control of body segments in relation to each other and gravity
Balance
Ability to maintain COM within the BOS. All forces acting on the body must be balanced in order to maintain balance
Center of Mass
An imaginary balancing point representing the average position of all the parts of the system according to their masses. Aslo known as Center of Gravity (CoG)
Naval - COM on a human
** COM does not have to be inside someone’s body - can lay outside
Base of Support
The area of the body or an extension of the body in contact witha support surface (ie chair or assistive device)
Limits of Stability (LOS)
The maximum distance that one can lean to without losing balance or having to change the BOS
COM in relation to that imaginary line
Apraxia
Motor planning.
The loss of ability to execute or carry out skilled movement and gestures, despite having the physical ability and desire to perform them