Glossary
Searchable terminology from accessibility, web standards, and related fields.
30 results found in Motor Disability.
- Athetoid (Athetosis, Athetoid Movement)
- A type of involuntary movement characterised by slow, continuous, writhing motions, particularly affecting the hands, fingers, and face. Athetoid movements are commonly associated with athetoid cerebr…
- Athetoid Cerebral Palsy (Dyskinetic Cerebral Palsy, Athetosis)
- A form of cerebral palsy characterized by involuntary, uncontrolled, slow writhing movements, particularly affecting the hands, feet, arms, and legs, and sometimes the muscles of the face and tongue. …
- Becker Muscular Dystrophy (BMD)
- A genetic neuromuscular disorder caused by mutations in the dystrophin gene on the X chromosome, resulting in progressive muscle weakness and wasting. Becker Muscular Dystrophy is similar to Duchenne …
- Cueing (External Cueing, Sensory Cueing)
- In rehabilitation, cueing is the delivery of external sensory stimuli - visual, auditory, or somatosensory - that guide or trigger a motor action. Cueing is used most prominently in Parkinson's diseas…
- Electronic Assistive Technology (EAT, Electronic AT)
- Computer-based devices and systems that enable people with severe disabilities to perform tasks they would otherwise be unable to accomplish, including communication, environmental control, mobility, …
- Gait Training (Gait Rehabilitation)
- Gait training is therapeutic practice aimed at improving walking function - velocity, stride length, symmetry, stability, and cadence - in people with neurological or musculoskeletal impairments. It i…
- Gross Motor Function Classification System (GMFCS)
- A standardized five-level classification system used to describe the gross motor function of children with cerebral palsy, based on self-initiated movement with emphasis on sitting, walking, and mobil…
- Gross Motor Movement (Gross Motor Skills, Gross Motor Control)
- Large body movements involving the major muscle groups of the arms, legs, and torso, as opposed to fine motor movements that require precise control of small muscles in the fingers and hands. In assis…
- Intention Tremor (Cerebellar Tremor, Action Tremor)
- A type of tremor that appears or worsens during voluntary, goal-directed movement — particularly as a limb approaches its target — and is typically absent at rest. Intention tremor is most often cause…
- Motor Neuron Disease (MND, ALS, Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis, Lou Gehrig's Disease)
- A group of progressive neurological disorders that destroy motor neurons, the cells controlling voluntary muscle activity including speaking, walking, breathing, and swallowing. ALS (amyotrophic later…
- Multimodal Cueing
- Multimodal cueing is the simultaneous or selectable use of two or more sensory channels - typically visual, auditory, and somatosensory (vibrotactile) - to guide motor behaviour during rehabilitation …
- Neuromuscular Disease (Neuromuscular Disorder, NMD)
- A broad category of conditions that affect the nerves controlling voluntary muscles, the muscles themselves, or the communication between nerves and muscles. Neuromuscular diseases include muscular dy…
- Neuromuscular Disorders (Neuromuscular Diseases, NMDs)
- A broad group of medical conditions that impair the functioning of muscles, either through direct pathology of the muscle tissue, the peripheral nerves that control them, or the neuromuscular junction…
- Oral Motor Impairment (Oral-Motor Dysfunction, Oromotor Impairment)
- A condition affecting the muscles and movements of the mouth, jaw, lips, and tongue that are involved in speech production, feeding, and swallowing. Oral motor impairments can result from neurological…
- Orthotics (Orthosis, Orthoses, Orthotic Device)
- Externally applied devices used to modify the structural and functional characteristics of the neuromuscular and skeletal systems — including braces, splints, and supports for the spine, limbs, hands,…
- Osteoarthritis (OA, Degenerative Joint Disease)
- The most common form of arthritis, caused by progressive breakdown of the cartilage that cushions the ends of bones. Osteoarthritis produces joint pain, stiffness, swelling, and reduced range of motio…
- Overlap Error (Key Overlap Error, Simultaneous Key Press Error)
- A typing error that occurs when two keys are pressed down at the same time, typically when a finger accidentally activates an adjacent key while moving toward the intended key, or when a user's hand r…
- Paralysis (Paralyzed, Paresis)
- The partial or complete loss of voluntary muscle function, resulting from damage to the motor nervous system. Common causes include spinal cord injury, stroke, traumatic brain injury, motor neuron dis…
- Paresis (Partial Paralysis)
- A partial loss of voluntary muscle movement, distinguished from full paralysis (plegia). Paresis can affect a single limb (monoparesis), one side of the body (hemiparesis), or all four limbs (tetrapar…
- People with Severe Motor Disabilities (PSMD)
- A term used in assistive technology and human-robot interaction research to describe individuals whose motor impairments are severe enough that they cannot reliably use their hands or arms for everyda…