GLOSSARY
of terms....
I
have gathered these from all sorts of sites, people and places.
Hopefully it will help you decipher the strange language that is
peculiar to the disabled community. I have included body parts (bones,
muscles and other bits), prosthetic components & units, and
a couple of other words & abbreviations that have found their
way into the accepted gimp dictionary. If you have anything to add,
please let me know, and I will include them here. Here we go...all
alphabetically sorted for your reading pleasure!
Please
refresh your browser quickly, we update regularly.
Abduction:
Motion of a body part away from the midline of the body.
Abrasion:
Wearing away of the skin through rubbing or friction.
Adduction:
Motion of a body part toward the midline of the body.
AEA
/ AE: Above elbow amputee amputee
or "transhumoral" amputee.
AKA / AK: Above knee amputee or
"transfemoral" amputee
Alignment: position of prosthetic
socket in relation to foot and knee.
Amputation: Loss or absence of
all or part of a limb.
Anterior: Front
Assistive /Adaptive Equipment:
Devices that assist in activities or mobility, including ramps,
bars, changes in furniture heights, environmental control units
and other devices.
BAK / BAKA: Bilateral above knee
amputee.
BBK / BBKA: Bilateral below knee
amputee.
BE / BEA: Below elbow amputee or
"transradial" amputee.
Bilateral amputee: A person missing
either both arms or both legs, a double amputee.
Biomechanics: Applying mechanical
principles to the study of how the human body moves.
BK / BKA: Below knee amputee or
"transtibial" amputee.
BOC: Board for Orthotists/Prosthetists
Certification
Body Image: The awareness and perception
of one's own body related to both appearance and function.
Carpals: Small bones close to your
wrist.
Check or Test Socket: A temporary
socket, often transparent, made over the plaster model to aid in
obtaining proper fit and function of the prosthesis.
Congenital Amputee: Individual
born missing a limb(s).
Contracture: Tightening of muscles
around a joint which restricts the range of motion
Cosmesis: Refers to the appearance
of the prosthesis, whether a "naturalistic" treatment
is attempted with an outer cover.
CP (Certified Prosthetist): A person
who has attained Certification in Prosthetics.
CPO (Certified Prosthetist-Orthotist):
A person who has attained a Certification in Prosthetics and Orthotics.
Crutches - Axillary: A crutch that
extends up into your armpit and has a handle between the bars to
bear weight on with your hands.
Crutches - Forearm: A crutch that
extends up to a handle and has an additional extension that wraps
around your forearm for additional support.
Crutches - Folding: Something that
all amputees are hoping someone in South Africa will manufacture
locally. Come on guys!
DAK: Double (aka bilateral) above
knee amputee.
Definitive, or "Permanent" Prosthesis:
A replacement for a missing limb or part of a limb which meets accepted
check-out standards for comfort, fit, alignment, function, appearance,
and durability.
Desensitisation: The process of
making the residual limb less sensitive to touch by massaging, tapping
or using a vibrator.
Distal: (1) The end of the residual
limb. (2) Farther from the central portion of the body. Opposite
of proximal.
Disarticulation: an amputation
through a joint.
Dorsiflexion: pointing the toe/foot
upward.
ED: Elbow Disarticulation; an amputation
through the elbow joint.
Edema: A local or generalized condition
in which the body tissues contain an excess of fluid.
Elastic Wrap: Elasticized bandage
used to prevent swelling and encourage shrinkage and maturation
of the residual limb.
Elbow Disarticulation: Amputation
of the arm through the elbow.
Endoskeletal Prosthesis: prosthesis
built more like a human skeleton with support and components on
the inside.
Energy storing foot: A prosthetic
foot designed with a flexible heel.
Exoskeletal Prosthesis: a prosthesis
that is hollow on the inside with a hard outer surface to bear weight.
Extention (knee): standing position.
Flexion Contracture: When your
knee or hip is bent and you can't straighten it out.
Flexion (knee): sitting position.
Fibula: The smaller of the two
bones in your shin, located toward the rear and outside.
Forequarter Amputation (Interscapulthorasic):
Amputation of the Arm, shoulder, clavicle and scapula.
Gait Training: Learning how to
walk with your prosthesis or prostheses.
Gimp : Someone who walks with a
limp (slang).
HD (Hip Disarticulation): Amputation
which removes the leg at the hip joint, leaving the pelvis intact.
HP (Hemipelvectomy): An amputation
where approximately half of the pelvis is removed.
Ischial Containment Socket: is
a derivative of the Narrow ML, as a special attempt is made to form
a little pocket for the ischium to sit in.
Ischial Tuberosity: the large sitting
bone: A bone that protrudes from your pelvis that may get sore when
sitting on a hard surface for extended periods of time.
Ischium: The lower portion of the
hipbone. This is the bone that protrudes from your pelvis that may
get sore when sitting on a hard surface for extended periods of
time.
Knee Disarticulation (KD) or through
the knee (TDK): Amputation of the leg through the knee.
LAE: Left above elbow amputee.
LAK:Left below knee amputee.
LAK: Left above knee amputee.
Lateral: to the side, away from
the mid-line of the body.
LBE: Left below elbow amputee.
LBK:Left below knee amputee.
Liner: Suspension systems used
to attach prosthesis to the residual limb. These liners may be made
of silicon, pelite or gel substances.
MAS Socket: Marlo Anatomical Socket
(AK)- provides ssupport from the pubic ramus rather than the ischium
and features lower trim lines in the front and back.
Medial: toward the mid-line of
the body.
Metacarpals: Bones behind your
fingers.
Metatarsals: Bones behind your
toes.
Multiaxis foot: Allows inversion
and eversion and rotation of foot and is effective for walking on
uneven surfaces.
Neuroma: The end of a nerve left
after amputation, which continues to grow in a cauliflower shape.
NWB: Non-weight bearing.
Occupational Therapy/OT: Teaching
how to perform activities of daily living such as feeding, grooming,
bathing and dressing as independently as possible.
Orthotics: the profession of providing
devices to support and straighten the body.
Orthotist: A skilled professional
who fabricates orthotic devices that are prescribed by a physician.
Orthosis: A device that is used
to protect, support, or improve function of parts of the body that
move.
Paragliding: Something an amputee
should try at least once.
Pelvis / Pelvic Girdle: Series
of bones shaped like a basket just above your hips.
Phantom pain: Pain, which seems
to originate in the portion of the limb, which was removed.
Phantom sensation: The normal ghost
image of the absent limb may feel normal at times and at other times,
be uncomfortable or painful.
Physiatrist: A doctor of Rehabilitation
Medicine who specializes in the comprehensive management of patients
with impairments and disabilities arising from neuromuscular, musculoskeletal,
and vascular disorders.
Physical Therapist: A therapist
who is concerned with your gross motor activities such as transfers,
gait training, and how to function with or without a prosthesis.
Pistoning: Refers to the residual
limb slipping up and down inside the Prosthetic socket while walking.
Pneumatic/Hydraulic: Used in reference
to knee joints and provides controlled changes in the speed of walking.
Prosthesis: An artificial part
of the body. In the case of amputees, usually an arm or a leg.
Prosthetics: The profession of
providing cosmetic and/or functional restoration of missing human
parts.
Prosthetist: A person involved
in the science and art of prosthetics; one who designs and fits
artificial limbs.
Proximal: Nearer to the central
portion of the body; opposite of distal.
Posterior: The back side of the
body or part in question, i.e. posterior knee or patellar region.
PTB: Patellar Tendon Bearing BK
Prosthesis where weight is on the tendon below the kneecap.
PWB: Partial weight bearing.
PWD : People/persons with a disability.
Pylon: A rigid member, usually
tubular, between the socket or knee unit and the foot that provides
a weight bearing support shaft for an endoskeletal prosthesis.
Quad Socket: A socket designed
for an above the knee amputee which has four distinctive sides allowing
the muscles to function as much as possible.
RAE: Right above elbow amputee.
RAK: Right above knee amputee.
Radius: Forearem bone, on the same
side as your thumb.
Ramus: The middle portion of the
pubic bone, in the crotch area. The front middle portion of the
pubic bone, palpated just above the genitals
Range of motion: The amount of
movement a limb has in a specific direction at a specific joint
such as your hip or knee.
RBE: Right below elbow amputee.
RBK: Right below knee amputee.
Rehabilitation: The process of
restoring a person who has been debilitated by a disease or injury
to a functional life.
Residual limb: The portion of the
arm or leg remaining after the amputation. Some people refer to
it as a "stump".
SACH Foot: Solid-Ankle Cushion
Heel prosthetic foot.
Shock Pylon: A prosthetic pylon
that dampens the vertical forces exerted on the residual limb.
Shoulder Disarticulation (SD):
Amputation through the shoulder joint.
Shrinker: A prosthetic reducer
made of elastic material and designed to help control swelling of
the residual limb (edema) and/or shrink it in preparation for a
prosthetic fitting.
Single Axis Foot: This foot is
based on an ankle hinge that provides dorsiflexion and plantarflexion.
I.e. toe up & toe down.
Shock pylon: A shock absorber used
to cushion the impact of walking.
Shuttle lock: A mechanism that
locks a pin attached to the distal end of a liner locking the residual
limb into a socket.
Skydiving: Something an amputee
should try at least once.
Soft socket: A soft-liner built
into a prosthetic socket to provide cushioning or permit muscle
function.
Split hooks: Terminal devices with
two hook-shaped fingers operated through the action of harness and
cable systems.
Stance control: Friction device
with an adjustable brake mechanism to add stability to a prosthetic
knee unit.
Stump: A word commonly used to
refer to the residual limb.
Suction socket: A socket designed
to provide suspension by means of negative pressure vacuum in a
socket; achieved by forcing air out of the socket through a one-way
valve when donning and using the prosthesis.
Supercondular Suspension: A method
of holding on prosthesis by clamping on the bony prominence above
a joint, called "Condyles"
Suspension system(s): The method
used to hold the prosthesis on to the body. Includes locking pin,
TES belt, suspension sleeve, waist belt, supercondular, PTB and
suction.
Swing phase: Prosthesis moving
from full flexion to full extension. Usually used in reference to
prosthetic knee units.
Switch control: Use of electric
switches to control current from a battery to operate an electric
elbow, wrist rotator or terminal device
Symes amputation: An amputation
through the ankle joint that retains the fatty heel pad portion
and is intended to provide end weight bearing.
Temporary Prosthesis: A prosthesis
made soon after an amputation as an inexpensive way to help retrain
a person to walk and balance while shrinking the residual limb.
TEC: Total Environmental Control
liner
TES belt: A neoprene or Lycra suspension
system for AK prostheses that has a ring that the prosthesis slides
into. There is a neoprene belt that attaches around your waist by
Velcro/hook and loop fastener. Is use to give added suspension of
a prosthesis and/or control rotation.
Tibia: The larger of the two bones
in your shin.
Traumatic amputation: An amputation
that is the result of an injury.
Tuberosity: Projection of bone
that muscles and tendons hang onto.
Ulna: Forearm bone, on the side
away from your thumb.
Valgus: Knee bending inward toward
the midline of the body.
Varus: Knee bending outward away
from the midline of the body.
Wrist Disarticulation (WD): Amputation
through the wrist
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