Term
|
Definition
|
|
Abduction (ABD)
|
Movement of an arm or leg away from the
midline of the body.
|
|
Adaptive/Cognitive skills
|
Those skills associated with mental development.
The skills that include how the child solves problems,
anticipates an event, and interacts with his environment.
|
|
Adduction (ADD)
|
Movement of an arm or leg towards the
midline of the body.
|
|
Bilateral
|
Affecting both sides of the body
|
|
Adjusted/calculated chronological
age (CCA)
|
Age of the child, taking into consideration
the amount of prematurity. An example: A child who
was born on January 1, but was due on March 1 is two
months premature. Therefore, on July 1, his CCA is
4 months.
|
|
Chronological Age (CA)
|
Actual age from your child’s birth
date.
|
|
Crawl
|
To move with arms and legs and tummy on
the floor, "commando style"
|
|
Creep
|
To move with arms and legs, with the tummy
off the floor.
|
|
Extension
|
The straightening of the trunk and limbs,
the opposite of flexion.
|
|
Fine motor
|
The area of development concerned with
using hands, eyes, and hands and eyes together, such
as grasping, reaching. Refers to the small muscles.
|
|
Flexion
|
Decreasing the angle or bending of a joint,
the opposite of extension.
|
|
Gross motor
|
The area of development concerned with
how a child controls his larger body movements, such
as head control, sitting, and walking.
|
|
Hypertonia
|
Increase tension of the muscles which
can make movement difficult. Also referred to as increased
muscle tone.
|
|
Hypotonia
|
Decrease tension of the muscles, making
upright postures difficult to hold. Sometimes referred
to "floppy" or decreased muscle tone. The
opposite of hypertonia.
|
|
Prone
|
Lying on the stomach
|
|
Reaction
|
A reflex which appears in infancy or childhood
which remains throughout life and are necessary for
protection, balance and equilibrium.
|
|
Reflex
|
Activity performed automatically and without
conscious volition. They are the raw material from
which the central nervous system may build volitional
movements.
|
|
Spasticity
|
Hypertonicity that is velocity dependent,
ie: the faster the movement the stronger the resistance.
|
|
Supine
|
Lying on the back
|
|
Tone
|
The state of muscle tension. Normal tone
is that which is high enough to resist the effects
of gravity in both posture and movement yet low enough
to allow freedom of movement.
|
|
Within normal limits (WNL)
|
Within the range of typical for that particular
age child.
|
