MORE OT Terminology

Muscular Dystrophy

A group of genetic, progressive diseases characterized by progressive muscle weakness and degeneration of skeletal muscles over time.

Referral

The initial request or doctor's order for occupational therapy services.

Screening

A brief review or observation to determine if a client actually needs a formal OT evaluation.

Evaluation

The formal process of gathering history, interviewing the client, and measuring their specific performance and limitations.

Intervention Planning

The stage where the OT sets functional goals and selects the appropriate Models and Frames of Reference.

Intervention Implementation

The ongoing therapy sessions where the OTA and OT partner with the client to perform therapeutic activities.

Re-evaluation

The formal process of measuring the client's progress to see if goals are being met or need to be changed.

Discharge

The final step where therapy ends because the client has met their goals or achieved maximum independence.

Flaccidity

Complete loss of muscle tone and voluntary movement, causing limbs to become limp; common immediately after a stroke or brain injury.

Contracture

A permanent shortening and tightening of muscles, tendons, or scar tissue that freezes a joint and prevents normal movement.

Orthostatic Hypotension

A sudden, dangerous drop in blood pressure (usually a drop of 20 mmHg or more systolic) when a person moves to an upright position, causing dizziness or fainting.

Autonomic Dysreflexia

A life-threatening medical emergency in spinal cord injuries (above T6) where a minor problem below the injury causes a sudden, massive spike in blood pressure.

Sensory Hyper-responsiveness

An over-reaction to ordinary sensory inputs, where things like background noise or textures feel painfully overwhelming or distracting.

Sensory Hypo-responsiveness

An under-reaction to sensory inputs, where a client appears quiet, sluggish, or tuned out because their brain isn't registering the environment.

Cognitive Distortion

An unhelpful, irrational, or exaggerated thought pattern (like "I will ruin everything") that causes anxiety and leads to avoiding activities.

Remediation

A treatment approach focused on completely fixing or restoring a damaged body function or tissue.

Compensation

A treatment approach focused on using adaptive tools or changing the way a task is done to work around a permanent limitation.

Precautions

Specific "warning flag" safety guidelines that an OT professional must carefully monitor to prevent injury during a session.

Contraindications

Specific activities, movements, or treatments that are strictly forbidden because they are highly dangerous for the patient's medical condition.

Alter Strategy

An EHP intervention that involves moving a person out of a bad environment and dropping them into an existing context that fits them better.

Adapt/Modify Strategy

An EHP or PEO strategy that involves physically changing the current tools, environment, or task rules to make it accessible.

Prevent Strategy

An EHP intervention pathway focused on teaching safety habits or altering contexts before a medical issue or injury can happen.