Coordination and Movement Disorders

Vocabulary related to coordination and movement disorders, including terms and definitions associated with various conditions and symptoms.

What is Asthenia?

Asthenia refers to generalized muscle weakness.

What is Asynergia?

Asynergia is the loss of ability to coordinate muscles together for complex movements.

What is Delayed Reaction Time?

Delayed reaction time is the increased time required to initiate voluntary movement.

What is Dysarthria?

Dysarthria is a disorder affecting the motor component of speech articulation.

What is Dysdiadochokinesia?

Dysdiadochokinesia is the impaired ability to perform rapid alternating movements.

What is Dyssynergia?

Dyssynergia describes a movement pattern performed in a sequence of component parts rather than as a smooth activity; also known as decomposition.

What are Gait Disorders?

Gait disorders are characterized by an ataxic pattern, broad base of support, postural instability, and a high-guard position of upper extremities.

What is Hypotonia?

Hypotonia refers to a decrease in muscle tone.

What is Hypermetria?

Hypermetria is the overestimation of distance or range needed to accomplish a movement.

What is Hypometria?

Hypometria refers to the underestimation of distance or range needed to accomplish a movement.

What is Nystagmus?

Nystagmus is characterized by rhythmic, quick, oscillatory, back-and-forth movements of the eyes.

What is the Rebound Phenomenon?

The rebound phenomenon is the inability to halt forceful movements after the resistive stimulus is removed, resulting in sudden limb motion.

What is the Intention Tremor?

An intention tremor occurs during voluntary movement and increases as the limb nears the target, diminishing or absent at rest.

What is Postural Control?

Postural control refers to the maintenance of standing posture or a limb held against gravity.

What is a Tremor?

A tremor is an involuntary oscillatory movement resulting from alternate contractions of opposing muscle groups.

What is Titubation?

Titubation refers to rhythmic oscillations of the head, often with axial involvement of the trunk.

What is Akinesia?

Akinesia is the inability to initiate movement, often associated with fixed postures.

What is Athetosis?

Athetosis refers to slow, involuntary, writhing, twisting movements, frequently more pronounced in the distal upper extremities.

What is Bradykinesia?

Bradykinesia is characterized by decreased amplitude and velocity of voluntary movement.

What is Chorea?

Chorea involves involuntary, rapid, irregular, jerky movements that affect multiple joints, most apparent in the upper extremities.

What is Choreoathetosis?

Choreoathetosis describes movement disorders that exhibit features of both chorea and athetosis.

What is Dystonia?

Dystonia is defined as sustained involuntary contractions of agonist and antagonist muscles.

What is Hemiballismus?

Hemiballismus involves large-amplitude sudden, violent, flailing motions of the arm and leg on one side of the body.

What is Hyperkinesis?

Hyperkinesis is the condition of abnormally increased muscle activity or movement.

What is Hypokinesis?

Hypokinesis refers to decreased motor response, especially to a specific stimulus.

What is Rigidity?

Rigidity is an increase in muscle tone that causes greater resistance to passive movement, typically greater in flexor muscles.

What is Resting Tremor?

Resting tremor refers to an involuntary, rhythmic, oscillatory movement observed at rest.

What does coordination testing assess?

Coordination testing assesses aspects such as reciprocal motion, movement composition, movement accuracy, and fixation.

What is reciprocal motion in coordination testing?

Reciprocal motion refers to alternating movements of antagonistic muscle groups, such as flexion and extension.

What is movement composition in coordination testing?

Movement composition evaluates how well multiple body parts coordinate to perform a smooth and integrated movement.

What does movement accuracy measure in coordination testing?

Movement accuracy measures the precision with which a task is performed, ensuring the intended target is reached.

What is fixation in coordination testing?

Fixation refers to the ability to maintain a stable position while performing movements.

What is sequence in coordination testing?

Sequence examines the order of movements performed, ensuring they are executed in a correct and logical progression.

What does timing refer to in coordination testing?

Timing evaluates the speed and rhythm of movements during coordination tasks.

What is grading in coordination testing?

Grading assesses the strength and force applied during movements to ensure appropriate muscle tension.

What does speed distance measure in coordination testing?

Speed distance measures how quickly and accurately a movement can be performed over a specified distance.

What is direction in coordination assessment?

Direction refers to the path a movement takes and the ability to follow a targeted trajectory appropriately.

What is muscle tension in coordination testing?

Muscle tension refers to the degree of firmness in muscles during movement and the ability to regulate it appropriately.

What does recruitment mean in coordination testing?

Recruitment refers to the activation of muscle fibers needed to perform a movement adequately and effectively.

What is reversal in coordination testing?

Reversal evaluates the ability to switch from one movement pattern to another smoothly.

What is proximal fixation in coordination testing?

Proximal fixation refers to maintaining stability in proximal joints while performing distal movements.