Glossary
Searchable terminology from accessibility, web standards, and related fields.
21 results found in motor disability.
- Akinesia (Poverty of Movement)
- The loss or impairment of the ability to initiate voluntary movement, distinct from muscle weakness or paralysis. In Parkinson's Disease, akinesia manifests as difficulty starting movements, reduced s…
- Athetoid Cerebral Palsy (dyskinetic cerebral palsy, athetosis)
- A type of cerebral palsy characterized by involuntary, slow, writhing movements (athetosis) that affect the face, trunk, and limbs. It accounts for about 10-15% of cerebral palsy cases and results fro…
- Drop Foot (Foot Drop, Peroneal Nerve Palsy)
- A condition characterized by difficulty lifting the front part of the foot, causing the toes to drag along the ground during walking. Drop foot is not a disease itself but a symptom of an underlying n…
- Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (DMD, Duchenne MD)
- Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (DMD) is a severe genetic disorder characterized by progressive muscle degeneration and weakness, caused by mutations in the dystrophin gene on the X chromosome. It primari…
- Dyspraxia (Developmental Coordination Disorder, DCD)
- A neurodevelopmental condition affecting motor planning, coordination, and the sequencing of movements. People with dyspraxia have difficulty translating intended actions into coordinated physical mov…
- Dystonia (Dystonic Movements)
- A movement disorder characterized by sustained or intermittent muscle contractions causing abnormal, often repetitive movements, postures, or both. Dystonia can affect a single body part (focal dyston…
- Exoskeleton (Robotic Exoskeleton, Wearable Exoskeleton)
- A wearable mechanical or robotic device that fits around a part of the body — typically the hand, arm, or leg — and provides powered movement assistance, resistance, or guided motion. In rehabilitatio…
- Facial Palsy (Bell's Palsy, Facial Paralysis, Unilateral Facial Palsy, UFP)
- Facial palsy is a condition involving weakness or paralysis of the facial muscles, typically caused by damage to the facial nerve (cranial nerve VII). Bell's palsy is the most common form, appearing s…
- Micrographia (Small Handwriting)
- A condition characterized by abnormally small, cramped handwriting that often becomes progressively smaller within a line or paragraph. Micrographia is a common early sign of Parkinson's Disease, resu…
- Motor Disability (Motor Impairment, Physical Disability, Movement Disorder)
- A condition that affects a person's ability to control voluntary muscle movements, impacting mobility, dexterity, coordination, or speech production. Motor disabilities can result from neurological co…
- Motor Fluctuation (On-Off Phenomenon, Wearing Off, On-Off Periods)
- Variations in motor function experienced by people with Parkinson's Disease, typically related to medication timing. During 'on' periods when medication is working optimally, motor symptoms are contro…
- Muscular Dystrophy (MD)
- A group of inherited genetic conditions that cause progressive weakness and loss of muscle mass, affecting mobility, upper limb function, and in some forms, respiratory and cardiac function. People wi…
- Muscular Dystrophy (MD)
- A group of inherited genetic conditions that cause progressive weakness and degeneration of skeletal muscles, the muscles that control movement. There are many types of muscular dystrophy varying in s…
- Myopathy (Muscle Disease)
- A group of disorders affecting skeletal muscle function, characterized by muscle weakness, cramping, stiffness, or wasting. Myopathies can be inherited (muscular dystrophies) or acquired (inflammatory…
- Reach Envelope (Workspace Envelope, Reach Zone, Comfort Zone)
- The three-dimensional volume of space that a person can physically access with their hands or arms from a given position, taking into account their specific motor abilities, range of motion, and comfo…
- Rigidity (Muscle Rigidity, Stiffness)
- Increased muscle tone causing stiffness and resistance to passive movement, commonly experienced in Parkinson's Disease and other neurological conditions. Unlike spasticity (which varies with movement…
- Sensory Based Motor Disorder (SBMD)
- A subtype of Sensory Processing Disorder in which the brain has difficulty using sensory information to plan and execute motor actions. SBMD encompasses two sub-types: postural disorder, which affects…
- Spinal Cord Injury (SCI)
- Damage to the spinal cord that results in partial or complete loss of motor function, sensation, or both below the level of injury. The location of injury along the spine determines which abilities ar…
- Upper Limb Motor Impairment (Upper Extremity Motor Disability, Hand and Arm Motor Impairment)
- A condition affecting movement, strength, coordination, or fine motor control in the hands, wrists, arms, or shoulders that impacts a person's ability to use standard computer input devices. Causes in…
- Upper-Body Motor Impairment (Upper Extremity Impairment, Upper Limb Impairment)
- Motor impairments affecting the upper extremities — including the arms, hands, fingers, shoulders, and neck — that limit a person's ability to perform tasks requiring fine motor control, gross motor m…