HOSA Neuromuscular Conditions

Cerebrovascular Accident (CVA)

neurologic problems arising from disruption of blood flow in the brain; blockage may be caused by hemorrhage or blockage from a clot that results in ischemia (decreased oxygen)

Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI)

severe brain trauma often associated with fractures, dislocations, lacerations, and the like; most often caused by motor vehicle accidents, falls, or violence

Spinal Cord Injury (SCI)

trauma to the spinal cord; most often results from motor vehicle accidents, falls, violence (especially gunshot wounds), and sports (diving and football)

Tetraplegia

SCI that effects all limbs

Paraplegia

SCI that effects the lower part of the trunk and legs

Vertigo

a sensation of whirling and loss of balance

Multiple Sclerosis (MS)

a disease in which patches of demyelination in the nervous system lead to disturbances i the conduction of messages along the nerves

Demyelination

damaging of the myelin sheath of neurons that impairs the conduction of signals in the effected nerves

Parkinson Disease (Paralysis Agitans and Idiopathic Parkinsonism)

a progressive condition that is characterized by a classic triad of symptoms: Tremor, Rigidity, and Bradykinesia or Akinesia

Tremor

alternating contractions of opposing muscle groups which tends to occur at rest

Rigidity

a disturbance in muscle tone which is manifested as resistance when the limbs are passively moved

Bradykinesia

slowness of movements

Akinesia

a poverty of movements

Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis

a rapidly progressive neurologic disorder associated with the degeneration of motor nerve cells; characterized by weakness, atrophy, fasciculations, and spasticity

Fasciculations

muscle twitches

Computed (axial) Tomography (CAT or CT)

computer synthesis of x-rays transmitted through a specific plane of the body

Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI)

creation of computer images by placing the body part in a magnetic field

Angiography

injecting radiopaque material into blood vessels to better visualize and identify problems such as occlusion of blood vessels, aneurysms, and vascular malformations

Occlusion

blockage

Lumbar Puncture

procedure used to measure intracranial pressure, to inject a radiopaque substance for a myelogram, or to obtain a sample of cerebrospinal fluid for examination; a needle is inserted between L3 and L4 until it reaches the subarachnoid space

Electroenchephalography (EEG)

recording the electrical potential or activity in the brain by placement of electrodes on the scalp; essential to diagnosis and management of patients with seizure disorders

Electromyography (EMG)

recording the electrical activity in muscle during a state of rest and during voluntary contraction; helps differentiate disorders primarily related to muscle pathology and those secondary to nerve or neuromuscular junction disorders

Nerve Conduction Velocity (NCV)

recording the rate at which electrical signals are transmitted along peripheral nerves; help clarify and differentiate disorders that affect the axons from those that affect the myelin sheath covering the axons

Receptive Aphasia

a diminished ability to receive and interpret verbal or written communication

Expressive Aphasia

impaired ability to communicate by speech

Tone

the tension exerted or maintained by muscles at rest and during movement

Hypotonia

low tone

Hypertonia

high tone

Spasticity

velocity-dependent hypertonia

Sensation

the ability to receive sensory input from within and outside the body and transmit it through the peripheral nerves and tracts in the spinal cord to the brain

Perception

the ability to both integrate various simultaneous sensory inputs and respond appropriately

Proprioceptive Neuromuscular Facilitation (PNF)

technique used to enhance movement and motor control, emphasizing proprioceptive stimuli but also using tactile, visual, and auditory stimuli

Brunnstrom Approach

the detailed observation and description of the pattern of recovery of movement and function for CVA victims

Neurodevelopmental Treatment (NDT)

approach based on observations of children with Cerebral Palsy and adult patients with stroke; aim of treatment is to inhibit the abnormal patterns of movement and facilitate integrated, automatic reactions and voluntary functional activity

Motor Development

age-related processes of change in motor bahavior

Motor Control

neural control of posture and movement

Motor Learning

process of acquisition or modification of movement

Neuroplasticity

the ability of neurons in the brain to compensate for injury or disease

System Model

suggests that movement results from a dynamic interplay between perceptual, cognitive, and action symptoms

Task-Oriented Apprach

approaches that put less emphasis on passive handling of the patient, and recommend more active involvement by the patient, especially in terms of problem solving and finding appropriate solutions

Constraint-Induced Movement Therapy (CIMT)

focuses on regaining the use of a limb after a stroke; involves constraining the uninvolved arm and engaging the affected arm in intensive training which results in growth and development of new neural pathways and connections

Locomotor Training

training technique that focuses on facilitating automatic walking patterns using intensive task-specific training; patient wears harness that attaches to an overhead suspension system