Stroke Rehab Lingo

Question 1

Definition of Acute

Answer 1

Rapid onset, severe symptoms, and a short course; not chronic.

Question 2

Define Atrophy

Answer 2

A continuous decline of a body part or tissue, usually a muscle, following a period of disuse or immobility.

Question 3

What is Biofeedback?

Answer 3

A relearning technique that teaches patients how to gain voluntary control over muscle tension, brain waves and other bodily functions and processes by providing them access to physiological information about which they are unaware.

Question 4

What is the part of the nervous system consisting of the brain and spinal cord which coordinates the entire nervous system of the body?

Answer 4

Central Nervous System (CNS)

Question 5

Define Chronic

Answer 5

A disease (or condition) that is long lasting or permanent. In the case of stroke, chronic may be applied to a condition that persistent past three, six or 12 months.

Question 6

Define Muscle Contraction

Answer 6

A muscle contraction occurs when a muscle cell lengthens or shortens. Contraction is controlled by the central nervous system comprised of the brain and spinal cord.

Question 7

Define Contracture

Answer 7

A chronic loss of joint motion due to structural changes in non-bony tissue (i.e. muscles, ligaments, and tendons), and may be the result of immobilization due to nerve injury, such as stroke, or other injury or disease.

Question 8

What are conditions under which a device (or medication or procured) is not advisable. Opposite of “indicated” or “clinical indication”.

Answer 8

Contraindicated

Question 9

Paralysis or severe weakness (paresis) of one side of the body, usually due to injury or disease of the brain or spinal cord is known as:

Answer 9

Hemiplegia

Question 10

What is hypertonia?

Answer 10

A condition marked by an abnormal increase in the tightness of muscle tone and a reduced ability of the muscle to stretch (ie. Increased stiffness) It is generally accompanied by (increased) spasticity of a particular muscle.

Question 11

What is hypotonia?

Answer 11

Reduced tension, relaxation of arteries. Loss of muscle tone.

Question 12

Define Ischemia:

Answer 12

Not receiving the needed blood flow in a body part.

Question 13

Define Distal:

Answer 13

Moving further from the midline of the body.

Question 14

What is the name of a sensor placed on the surface of the skin, directly above the muscles, that detects small electrical current or signals that comes from active muscles and may be used to evaluate the functional status of skeletal muscles and assist in neuromuscular training and rehabilitation.

Answer 14

sEMG sensor (surface Electromyography sensor)

Question 15

What are EMG-controlled robotics?

Answer 15

Robotic devices that are initiated and controlled by a sEMG sensor to move a body part or initiate a muscle contraction.

Question 16

Define Gross Motor Skills:

Answer 16

Skills that involve larger muscles; generally larger muscles develop before smaller ones; thus, gross motor development is generally considered the foundation for developing skills in other areas (such as fine motor skills).

Question 17

Define Motor Skill

Answer 17

A skill that requires a patient to use their skeletal muscles properly and is dependent (along with motor control) upon the proper functioning of the brain, skeleton, joints and nervous system.

Question 18

The development of action and coordination of one’s limbs, as well as the development of strength, posture control, balance and perceptual skills is known as:

Answer 18

Motor Development

Question 19

Motor learning is:

Answer 19

The process of improving the motor skills, smoothness and accuracy of movements. The cerebellum and basal ganglia are critical for motor learning.

Question 20

Motions that may occur in more than one plane of motion (front & back, side to side, twisting)

Answer 20

Multi-plane movements

Question 21

The complex system that includes the bones, joints, ligaments, tendons, muscles, and nerves.

Answer 21

Musculoskeletal system

Question 22

The human system that coordinates the activity of the muscles, monitors the organs, constructs and also stops input from the senses, and initiates actions

Answer 22

Nervous system

Question 23

What is a neuron?

Answer 23

A cell specialized to conduct and generate electrical impulses and to carry information from one part of the brain to another.

Question 24

A person versed in neurology, usually a physician who specializes in the diagnosis and treatment of disorders of the nervous system and the study of its functioning.

Answer 24

Neurologist

Question 25

Define Neuroplasticity:

Answer 25

(also referred to as brain plasticity or cortical plasticity): refers to the ability of the brain and/or certain parts of the nervous system to change in order to adapt to new conditions, such as an injury. Neuroplasticity supports the scientific basis for goal-directed neurorehabilitation therapy technqiues.

Question 26

The physician who specializes in physical medicine and rehabilitation is referred to as a:

Answer 26

Physiatrist

Question 27

What is proprioception?

Answer 27

The awareness of posture, movement, and changes in equilibrium and the knowledge of position, weight, and resistance of an object in relation to the body

Question 28

Closer to the midline or origin; opposite of distal.

Answer 28

Proximal

Question 29

Pertaining to or conveying sensation (i.e., pain, touch, temperature).

Answer 29

Sensory

Question 30

Refers to sensory signals from all tissues of the body including skin, viscera, muscles, and joints.

Answer 30

Somatosensory

Question 31

Stiffness or position that is difficult to release due to muscle overactivity; may occur following damage to the neurons, or nerve cells that send signals from the brain to the muscles to cause movement.

Answer 31

Spasticity

Question 32

Phase between acute and chronic.

Answer 32

Subacute

Question 33

The degree of movement that can occur in a joint

Answer 33

Range of motion (ROM)

Question 34

What is Tone?

Answer 34

(aka residual muscle tension, muscle tone, tonus): the continuous and passive partial contraction of the muscles.