Chapter 3: Factors Influencing Movement — Contextual and Environmental Factors (Vocabulary Flashcards)

Vocabulary flashcards covering contextual and environmental factors, forces in nature, open/closed chains, simple machines, levers, and related concepts in kinesiology for occupational therapy.

Contextual factors

Contextual and Environmental factors specific to each client (AOTA, 2020).

Environmental factors

Natural or human-made aspects of the environment that influence function and participation; include products/technology, support and relationships, attitudes, and services/policies (aligned with OTPF-4 and ICF).

Social factors

A category of Environmental factors related to social interactions, relationships, and societal context that affect participation.

Physical factors

Environmental factor category related to the physical environment (natural or built) and its forces (gravity, friction, etc.).

Attitudinal factors

Attitudes, values, and beliefs of others that can impact participation and personal experience.

Personal factors

Unique features of the person (e.g., race/ethnicity, culture, education, SES) that influence functioning; not intended to stereotype.

Race and ethnicity

Personal factors involving racial and ethnic background shaping cultural experiences.

Cultural identification

How an individual identifies with a culture or cultural group.

Cultural attitudes

Beliefs and attitudes related to culture that influence behavior and participation.

OTPF-4

Occupational Therapy Practice Framework, Domain and Process, Fourth Edition.

ICF

International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (World Health Organization).

Natural environment

Natural features such as landforms, bodies of water, sensory aspects; includes physical forces like gravity and friction.

Built environment

Human-made environments (buildings, roads, etc.) and effects of human activity (pollution, disease, etc.).

Universal design

Design that is usable by everyone, with or without adaptation.

Accessibility

Ease of participation; the extent to which an environment is usable by people with diverse abilities.

Negotiability

The extent to which environmental features or policies can be negotiated to support participation.

Open chain

Distal segment freely movable; one joint can move without impacting other joints; typically nonweight-bearing.

Closed chain

Distal segment stabilized or fixed; movement at one joint necessitates movement at other joints; used for stability and generally weight-bearing.

Kinematic chain

Sequential movement of bones and joints; may be open or closed.

Open-pack position

Joint position with the least contact between surfaces; least stable.

Close-pack (Closed-pack) position

Joint position with the largest contact area between surfaces; most stable; optimal fit.

Simple machines

Inclined plane, wheel and axle, pulley, screw, wedge, lever.

Inclined plane

Slanted surface that reduces effort to raise/lower a load (e.g., wheelchair ramp).

Wheel and axle

Wheel connected to an axle; changes direction of motion and can reduce effort.

Pulley

Changes the direction of a force; can alter the effective load or effort.

Screw

Inclined plane wrapped around a cylinder; converts rotation to linear motion.

Wedge

Two inclined planes joined; used to split, cut, or separate objects.

Lever

Rigid bar that pivots about an axis to move a load; can change magnitude/direction of force.

First class lever

Axis between force and resistance; designed for balance or changing direction of force.

Second class lever

Resistance between axis and force; designed to increase strength.

Third class lever

Force between axis and resistance; designed to increase speed and range of motion.

Force arm

Distance from the axis to the line of action of the applied force; a longer force arm makes tasks easier.

Resistance arm

Distance from the axis to the resistance; shortening this arm makes tasks easier.

Active insufficiency

Muscle cannot contract sufficiently to produce full ROM at all joints it crosses; requires active contraction.

Passive insufficiency

Muscle cannot stretch sufficiently to allow full ROM across all joints it crosses; may require passive stretch.

Tenodesis

Special case of passive insufficiency that enables increased grasp.

Normal reaction

Per Newton's third law, contact forces are paired; the normal reaction is the perpendicular response at a contact surface.

Friction

Force opposite to desired movement at the contact between surfaces; can hinder or assist movement and may cause shear.

Newton’s third law

For every action there is an equal and opposite reaction; interaction pairs.

Buoyancy

Upward force equal to weight of displaced fluid; greater effect in water; unloads weight in aquatic environments.