Glossary

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Acalculia Inability to perform simple arithmetic operations; inability to calculate.

Acceleration The rate of change of velocity with respect to time.

Accelerometer Device used to measure the vertical, anterior-posterior, and medial-lateral accelerations of the body.

Accessibility The degree to which an environment affords use of its resources with respect to an individual's level of function.

Accessible design Structural plan of buildings or dwellings that meet prescribed standards for accessibility.

Accessory (joint play) motions Motions between adjacent joint surfaces that occur when a bone moves through a range of motion. These motions are not under voluntary control and include glides (slides), distractions, compressions, rolls, and spins.

Acting out Instead of expressing feelings verbally, the patient uses actions to release stress.

Active range of motion (AROM) See Range of motion.

Activities of daily living (ADL) Daily living skills necessary for an individual to manage his or her life.

• Basic ADL (BADL) include skills such as oral hygiene, showering or bathing, dressing, feeding, toilet hygiene, and personal device care (e.g., a splint).

• Instrumental ADL (IADL) include housekeeping, preparing meals, shopping, telephoning, and managing finances, as well as work and leisure activities, functional communication and socialization, community mobility, and health maintenance. Often included in IADL are sexual expression, medication routine, and emergency response.

Activity (WHO/ICF) The execution of a task or action by an individual.

Activity limitations (WHO/ICF) The difficulties an individual may have in executing activities.

Acute coronary syndrome (ACS) (ischemic heart disease, coronary artery disease) A spectrum of entities that suddenly impairs blood flow through the coronary arteries, ranging from the least involved condition on the spectrum (unstable angina) to acute myocardial infarction and sudden cardiac death.

Acute pain See Pain.

Acute stress disorder (ASD) subset Diagnostic of "stress disorders" that generally indicate a sudden onset of relatively short duration. According to DSM-IV-TR criteria, symptoms must range in duration between 2 days and 4 weeks.

Adaptability The ability to adapt and refine a learned skill to changing task and environmental demands.

Adaptation Alteration of a skill or the environment to compensate for dysfunction.

Adaptive equipment Devices or equipment designed and fabricated to improve performance in activities of daily living.

Agility The ability to perform coordinated movements combined with upright standing balance.

Agoraphobia Fear of going outdoors or leaving one's home.

Agraphia Disorder of writing not due to motor difficulties in letter formation.

Akathisia Motor restlessness and intolerance of inactivity.

Akinesia Complete or partial loss of voluntary muscle movement.

Algometer Instrument used to measure sensitivity to pain.

Alignment Position of one component relative ...