Aphasia

Loss or impairment in language

Flaccid/Hypotonicity

Low Muscle Tone

Dysphagia

Difficulty with swallowing

Perseveration

Non-purposeful repetition of words, motor activity, or tasks

Hemiplegia

Complete paralysis on one half of the body

Hemiparesis

Partial paralysis on one half of the body

Associated Reaction

When the affected side is stressed, or a particular muscle group is innervated with a lot of stimuli, the other muscle groups respond with non-purposeful movement

Hemianopsia (Homonymous)

Loss of vision in half of the eye

Proprioception

An awareness of one's joints in space in relation to the body

Orthostatic hypotension

complication for SCI patient; a decrease in BP associated with postural changes

Heterotopic ossification

abnormal bony deposits in muscle tissue, joints, and tendons

decorticate posture

seen with TBI; flexor posturing and rigidity; UE are flexed while LE are extended; indicated damage to cerebral hemisphere but not brainstem

muscle contraction

firing of a muscle that causes it to shrink

flexor synergy pattern

A pattern where the elbow and wrist are flexed, the shoulder is raised and internally rotated

abstract reasoning

higher level cognitive function; enables person to see relationships between objects, events or ideas and to discriminate between relevant and irrelevant details

spasticity/hypertonicity

high muscle tone

labile

inappropriate expression of moods; random and sudden onset of moods

apraxia

inability to perform motor planning

ataxia

uncoordination caused by damage to the cerebellum; marked by abnormal gait patterns and a wide base of support while standing

agnosia

inability to recognize sights, words, sounds, or other sensory information

unilateral neglect

the neglect of one side of the body

spinal shock

a period of altered reflex activity after a SCI; flaccidity below the level of injury; lasts 1 week to 3 months

autonomic dysreflexia

caused by noxious stimuli below the level of spinal cord injury marked by an exaggerated response of the ANS; BP raises significantly

Quadriplegia

Paralysis in all four limbs and trunk

Decerebrate Posture

extensor posturing that indicates damage to the brain stem; UE and LE extension, internal rotation of the hips and shoulders, adduction of the wrists and feet

contracture

fixed rigidity of a limb due to muscle shortening

extensor synergy pattern

a pattern where the UE is extended, the wrist is either flexed or extended, and the shoulder is depressed

subluxation

separation of the joint structures due to muscle flaccidity, paralysis and lack of use

dysphagia

trouble swallowing

aspiration

inhaling of substances into the lungs

impulsivity

inability to resist impulses

dysarthria

inarticulate or jumbled speech with no presents of aphasia

atrophy

lack of growth of the muscles

decubiti

bed or pressure sores

osteoporosis

weakening of bones marked by brittleness and a porous texture

paraplegia

paralysis in the LE and possibly portions of the trunk

coma

a non-sleep state of unconsciousness with decreased brain activity and no response to external stimuli

PROM

joint movements performed by someone other than the patient; person does not use their own energy to move joints through ROM

Tremor

an involuntary quivering of a limb or parts of the body caused by contractions of opposing muscles