A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | I | J | K | L | M | N | O | P | Q | R | S | T | U | V | W | X | Y | Z |
Ankylosis
Limitation (partial ankylosis) or absence (complete ankylosis) of movement in a joint , resulting from articular infection or injury.
Articular capsule
Membranous envelope maintaining contact between joint surfaces, and attached close to the articular cartilage. The outer surface is connected to the articular ligaments.
Articular rigidity
State of articular stiffness and inflexibility.
Atrophy
Reduction of the weight or volume of tissue, an organ or a cell. Muscular atrophy (or amyotrophy) is associated with a loss of strength, endurance and of capacity for work.
Bedsores
Cutaneous necrosis which forms on parts of the body subject to pressure or irritation in patients in patients confined to bed for long periods of time (decubitus), or in individuals with damage to the nervous system.
CLEMS
Closed-Loop Electrical Muscle Stimulation. Method of electrical neuro-muscular stimulation with closed-loop feedback control. feedback (retro-action) involves electronic sensors of articular position and force, which "mimic" the sensitive proprioceptive physiological functions. This method thus allows a precise control of movement.
Contracture (cramp)
A prolonged involuntary contraction, of one or several muscles, accompanied by rigidity.
Cybernetic
Science of control and command systems, of which the nervous system is just one example. It governs regulation and control in human beings and automatic machines.
Electrical neuro-muscular stimulation
Process of muscular contraction using successive very weak electrical impulses, transmitted by electrodes to the selected neuro-muscular system, and which can replace a voluntary motor neural impulse.
Facilitation
Process through which a reflex becomes established more easily when the stimulation of this reflex is repeated more frequently.
Hypertonia
Abnormal increase of muscle tone - i.e. the normal degree of slight tension permanently present in the muscle.
Ligament
Fibrous fascicle, strong but with little inherent elasticity, connecting two bones, especially at a joint.
Metabolism
Process in organism or single cell by which nutritive material is built up into living matter or protoplasm is broken down into simpler substances for special functions.
Neuronal plasticity
Neuronal plasticity describes the capacity of a neurone to change the type of response that it makes to the same stimulation.
Orthosis
Device designed to "remedy" a loss of locomotor function, by immobilising, supporting, bracing correcting or re-educating. Differing from a prosthesis as it does not replace a missing anatomical element. As required, the orthosis can be rigid or mobile.
Osteoporosis
Brittleness of bones due to porosity from loss of mineral substances. Clinical symptoms include pain, impotence, deformation of the bones, and sometimes fractures.
Proprioceptor
Any tactile receptor, linked to a sensory nerve, sensitive to the stimulation produced by movements of the body. These receptors are situated close to bones, joints and muscles.
Prosthesis
Apparatus or device intended to "replace" an organ, a limb, or part of a limb which has become damaged or severely injured.
Retraction
Shrinking, loss of volume of tissue or an organ. A "musculo-tendinous" retraction can result from muscular atrophy due to non-utilisation. A "capsulo-ligamentary" retraction can result from the immobilisation of a joint. Both can cause a limitation in articular movement (ankylosis).
Spasm
Sudden and transitory involuntary contraction of one or several muscles.
Spasticity
Pronounced hypertonicity of the skeletal muscles, with rigidity and exaggeration of the osteo-tendinous reflexes. Clinical symptoms are cramps or spasms.
Stimulo-active (mobilisation)
"Active" mobilisation, initiated by CLEMS-type electrical stimulation of the neuro-muscular system, when this is rendered inoperative by paralysis due to injury of the central nervous system. This mobilisation can effectively replace "passive" mobilisation.
