When your child sees a doctor or physiotherapist, you may hear medical terminology.  Listed below are definitions of some commonly used words you may hear.

Acute: A condition that has started suddenly (the opposite of chronic)

Active Movements: The movements a child does with little or no help

Associated Movements: Normal involuntary movements, eg arm swinging when walking

Associated Reactions: An abnormal increase in muscle tone in a limb, due to effort

Asymmetrical: One side of the body is different from the other, unequal.

Bilateral: Both sides

Chronic: A condition or symptom lasting 3 months of longer.  It is not an indication of severity.

Co-ordination:  Muscles working together to achieve smooth, efficient movements.

Contracture: Reduced range of movement caused by permanently tight muscles or joints

Developmental Milestone: The age at which a baby or child is expected to do certain activities, eg sit, crawl, walk

Distal(ly): Away from the centre of the body, towards the hands or feet

Dorsiflexion: Ankle movement, when the foot bends upwards towards the leg

Eversion: Movement where the sole of the foot moves outwards

Extension: Straightening or backward movement of the trunk, arms and legs

Fine Motor Skills: Dextrous activities using hands, e.g. writing, sewing

Flexion: The bending movement of the trunk, arms or legs

Hypotonic / Hypotonia: Low muscle tone. Children with hypotonia are often described as ‘floppy’

Hypertonic / Hypertonia: High muscle tone, causing all or part of a child’s body to feel stiff .  Spasticity is a type of hypertonia.

Gross Motor Skills: PE type activities such as walking, running and jumping

Inversion: Turning in of the foot so the soles face each other, (the opposite of eversion)

Involuntary Movements: Unintentional movements occurring without warning

Kyphosis: Increase rounding of the top of the back.  Previously known as ‘humpback’

Lordosis: The arch in the bottom of the back, also known as the ‘lumbar lordosis’ or ‘sway back’

Plantargrade: The neutral position of the foot, with the ankle at a right angle

Plantar flexion: Ankle movement when the foot points downwards away from the body

Prone: Lying on the tummy

Pronation: Movement of the forearm, where the hand turns so the palm faces downwards

Proximal(ly): Towards the centre of the body, the trunk, shoulders and pelvis

Reflexes: Involuntary reactions or automatic postures and movements, not under the our control

Scoliosis: An abnormal sideways curve of the spine

Supine: Lying on the back.

Supination: Turning of the hand, with palm facing upwards or foot with the sole turning upwards

Symmetrical: Both sides equal

Tone: Firmness of the muscles / Readiness to move

Valgus: The angulation of a part of the limb away from the body.  ‘Valgus feet’ describes the posture known as ‘flat feet’

Voluntary Movements: Movements occurring with thought and intention