Glossary
This glossary of terms, lingo, and abbreviations is here for your use. It not only pertains to the contents of this manual, but also to the word usage you will hear during rehabilitation. You may wish to look these terms over to get a feel for SCI service terminology.
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A
Abdominal binder
A cloth and elastic support worn wrapped around the abdomen to provide support for the abdominal wall muscles.
Acute stage
The time right after your injury when you are in the hospital and may have many kinds of medical problems.
Adaptive equipment
Equipment that is used to help adapt your environment to your personal needs. Examples include ramps, splints to hold pens or forks, and hand controls to drive vehicles.
ADL--activities of daily living
Self-care activities such as bathing, dressing, toileting, eating, grooming, etc.
Advocate
Someone who goes to bat for you and represents your best interests in a given situation.
Airways management
Methods to help you get the air you need into your lungs.
Anemia
A lack of red blood cells to carry oxygen to the tissues of the body.
Apartment
See Independent Living Unit
Appliance
A device used to perform or help you perform a certain activity.
ASIA classification of spinal cord injury
The ASIA classification system uses standardized muscle testing and sensory examination to determine the level of spinal cord injury and predict the amount of preserved muscle function.
Assumption
Something that is taken to be right without proof or demonstration.
Atherosclerosis
Thickening of artery walls, hardening of the arteries.
Atrophy
A condition in which muscles diminish in size due to lack of stimulation from nerves.
Attendant
An individual (family, friend, paid staff, etc.) hired to assist with household tasks or personal care on a routine basis.
Automobile adaptive equipment
Items and/or devices necessary to permit the safe operation of or the ability to get in and out of an automobile or other types of vehicles.
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B
Bedridden
Being confined to bed for medical treatment.
Bladder dysfunction
General term used to describe changes in the urinary bladder’s ability to store and empty urine.
Bowel care
The procedure for starting and completing a bowel movement.
Bowel program
The total, individualized management plan to regularly empty the colon of stool. It includes diet, exercise, medication, and regularly scheduled bowel care.
Braces
Splints used to support, align, or hold parts of your body in correct position.
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C
Capillary
A fine vessel that carries blood to tissues.
Carbohydrates
Sugar and starches, a primary source of energy in the average U.S. diet. Complex carbohydrates (beans, peas, nuts, seeds, fruits, vegetables, whole grain breads, and cereals) supply fiber and many essential nutrients as well as calories.
Caregiver
General term used to describe any person who gives you physical, emotional, psychological or social care.
Cath
Slang for catheterization.
Catheterization
Inserting a small special tube into your bladder to empty urine.
Cervical
Refers to conditions or things associated with the levels of your spine at the neck; also refers to the cervix, the necklike end of the uterus.
Cholesterol
A waxy-like, non-fat substance found in blood that is made by your liver or taken in from food sources of animal origin.
Chronic pain
Pain that has usually been present longer than six months and is out of proportion of physical and laboratory test results, for which pain medication does not work, and that becomes central to the lifestyle of the sufferer.
Chux
Absorbent pads used to protect a mattress, also known as "blue pads".
Cirrhosis
A disease of the liver aggravated by excessive alcohol consumption.
Clothing allowance
An annual sum of money specified by Congress to be paid to each veteran who, because if his or her service-connected disability, wears or uses a prosthetic or orthotic appliance (including a wheelchair) that tends to wear out or tear the clothing.
Contractures
Permanent limitation of joint movement usually due to not doing range of motion exercises, poor positioning, and/or severe spasms.
Contraindicated, contraindication
Bad for your health; a symptom, condition, or medication whose presence indicates some other treatment or medication should not be used.
Crede
A method of emptying the bladder by firm pressure on the abdomen with the hands to push the urine out.
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D
Decubitus ulcer
Bed sore, pressure sore, pressure ulcer--a reddened area or open sore usually found on the skin over bony areas such as your hipbone or tailbone. Too much pressure on those areas usually causes them.
Digital stimulation
Gentle movement of a gloved finger in a circular pattern in the rectum to relax the sphincter muscle so that stool may pass during bowel care.
Discharge planning
See Chapter 21.
Dosage
The amount of medication you should take and when to take it.
Drugs
Substances that cause effects on the body or mind. This includes both medications you take to get better and substances that are abused.
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E
Edema
Fluid collecting in a given area of the body, causing swelling.
Eligibility
The determination of whether you qualify for certain entitlement programs. VA benefit payments are based on certain facts, including your period of service, whether you had an honorable or other discharge from the service, income guidelines, and a documented physical disability.
Embolus
A thrombus, or blood clot, that has broken loose and is passing freely through the bloodstream.
EMG--electromyogram
A test to find out how your nerves and muscles are working, using electronic equipment.
Evaluation
The careful study of something to determine its significance or value.
Extension
Unbending of a joint, for example, straightening your arm.
Extremity
A medical term referring to your arm or leg. Upper extremity includes your arms, forearms, and hand; lower extremity includes your thigh, lower leg, and foot.
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F
Fabricate
To construct, assemble, or manufacture.
Flaccid
Lacking muscle tone.
Flexion
Bending of a joint, such as bending your leg at the knee.
Foley
Short for a foley catheter, a tube used to continuously drain urine from your bladder.
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G
Gait
Description of an individual’s style of walking.
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H
Halo
A metal ring worn around your head used to treat broken necks. When used with a plastic vest, this keeps your neck and body straight.
HBHC--hospital based home care
The service offered by the hospital that tends to the care of people in their own homes.
Health promotion
Those activities and attitudes that help you live a healthy life.
Health risks
Those things, such as living conditions, heredity, attitudes, or activities, that increase your chances for poor health.
Hubbard tank
A tank of water used for exercise or treatment of pressure sores.
Hygiene
Condition or practices leading to health; usually used in reference to personal cleanliness.
Hypersensitive
Excessively sensitive, a condition in which there is exaggerated response by the body to stimulation such as touching, stretching, or movement.
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I
ICP
See intermittent catheterization program
Impaction
Something that gets lodged in and clogs a space, such as an impaction of the bowel.
Incentive spirometer
A device used to build up lung volume and control.
Incontinence
Inability to exercise voluntary control over your bowel or bladder, leading to leaking or other accidents.
Independent Living Unit
A full apartment on the SCI unit where patients can test new skills and be evaluated on what they have learned in therapy sessions.
Intermittent catheterization program
ICP or cath--a routine program by which the bladder is emptied at regular intervals by catheterization to prevent urinary accidents and infections.
Involuntary
Independent of the will; not under voluntary control.
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L
Ligament
A band or sheet of fibrous tissue connecting two or more bones, cartilages, or other structures.
LPN--licensed practical nurse
A person trained and licensed to provide routine nursing care.
Lumbar
Refers to a condition or thing in the area of the mid to lower back.
Lung capacity
The volume of air you can breathe and your lungs can hold.
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M
MD--doctor of medicine
Someone who has completed four years of medical school. May be an intern, resident, or staff doctor.
Medical history
The important information about your (and your family’s) past and present health.
Medication--medicine
A therapeutic substance you take that is prescribed by your doctor or purchased "over the counter".
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N
NA--nursing assistant
Someone who assists nurses by performing routine, nonclinical tasks, such as serving meals and making beds.
Neurogenic
Refers to a condition or thing that is controlled by nerves or in which the control by the nerves has been damaged.
Nutrition
The food you eat and how your body uses it to live, grow, keep healthy, and get the energy you need for work and recreation.
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O
Occupational therapy or therapist--OT
The profession or professional that focuses on the range of motion; strength; and coordination of fine, or small, movement of muscles and joints, with or without adaptive devices. The end result is to enable you to perform ADL tasks or various vocational skills.
Oral
Pertaining to or taken through your mouth.
Orthosis, orthotics
A device applied to the exterior of the body to support, aid, and align the body and limbs or to influence motion by assisting, resisting, blocking, or unloading part of the body weight. These devices may include, but are not limited to, braces, binders, corsets, belts, and trusses.
Orthostatic hypotension
A form of low blood pressure that occurs in a standing posture.
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P
Pandemic
An epidemic that affects an unusually large area and population.
Para--paraplegia
Paralysis of the legs and lower body.
Paralysis
The inability to control movement of a part of your body.
Paraparesis
Incomplete paralysis or weakness of the legs only.
Personality
Thoughts, feelings, and behaviors that are specific to an individual, often representing a particular pattern or style of life.
Physiotherapy, physical therapy, therapist--PT
The profession or professional that deals with the strength, coordination, and range of motion of gross movements of your muscles and joints.
Pneumonia
Inflammation of the lung tissue characterized by filling of air sacks with fluids. Most cases are due to infections by bacteria or viruses.
Pressure reliefs
Changes in position in the wheelchair or bed to let your skin rest and increase circulation of blood flow in the buttocks or areas of pressure; used to prevent decubitus ulcers.
Primary care
The medical care of routine illnesses such as colds, flu, etc.
Prone
Lying flat on your stomach.
Prosthesis
An artificial substitute for a missing body part.
Prosthetic appliances
All aids, appliances, parts, or accessories that are required to replace, support, or substitute for a deformed, weakened, or missing anatomical portion of the body. Artificial limbs, terminal devices, stump socks, braces, hearing aids and batteries, cosmetic facial or body restorations, eyeglasses, mechanical or motorized wheelchairs, orthopedic shoes, and similar items are included under this broad term.
Psychological
Related to mental and emotional factors that influence behavior (motivation, awareness, personality, etc).
PT--physical therapy, physical therapist
See Physiotherapy.
Pulmonary
Having to do with your lungs and breathing.
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Q
Quad--quadriplegia, tetraplegia
Paralysis of all four limbs.
Quadriparesis
Weakness or incomplete paralysis involving the arms and legs.
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R
Range of motion--ROM
An arc of movement of a joint of your body, also used to refer to the exercises done to maintain and increase the arc of movement.
Registered nurse--RN
A professional, trained and authorized by a state board of nursing examiners, who plans and provides nursing care. Your primary care planner is usually an RN.
Rehab--rehabilitation
The process of doing away with, adapting to, or compensating for disabilities.
Residual
In the case of bladder voiding, urine left in the bladder after voiding has taken place.
Respiratory
Having to do with breathing.
Respiratory therapy, therapist--RT
The profession or professional that centers on therapy of the lungs and breathing.
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S
Sacral
Refers to a condition or thing in the area at the lowest part of your spine around your tailbone.
SCI--spinal cord injury
An injury to the back or neck causing damage to the spinal cord, leading to paralysis.
Sensation
Physical feelings of vibration, touch, pain, hot and cold, or awareness of where a body part is in space.
Side effects
The effects of something, usually medication, that are different from the reason for which it was originally planned.
Smoker’s robot
A mechanical device that holds a cigarette safely away from the smoker. The cigarette can then be smoked through a piece of tubing. "Safely" refers to prevention of burns from falling ashes and embers, not the toxic effects of cigarette smoking.
Spasm
A sudden, often uncontrolled, contraction of a muscle; a muscle jerk.
Spasticity
Movement in your arms and legs due to muscle spasms that may occur as a result of spinal cord injury. It may be somewhat controllable. Spasticity may also be useful in maintaining muscle size, bone strength, and circulation.
Spine immobilizers
Braces or devices that keep you from moving your back or neck.
Spine stabilization
Use of a brace or device that aids in supporting or stabilizing your back or neck.
Splint
A rigid or flexible appliance used for the fixation (holding in place) or support of a displaced or movable part of the body.
Stones
Solid, hard masses that can become stuck in the urinary track and block normal urine drainage from the kidney or bladder.
Suctioning
Removal of mucous from the throat and lungs by a small tube attached to suction.
Support system
The people who are important to you because they strengthen your emotional, physical, and social well-being. They include your family, friends, co-workers, neighbors, members of your church, or veterans group.
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T
Tenodesis
The action of fingers and thumb pinching together when wrist is bent upwards.
Tetraplegia
See quadriplegia.
Therapy
Treatment of diseases, disorders, or disabilities.
Thoracic
Refers to a condition or thing in the region of the spine at the chest or mid-back level.
Thrombus
A blood clot anchored somewhere in the bloodstream.
TRS--therapeutic recreation specialist
The person responsible for your recreational therapy.
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U
Urinalysis
A sampling test of urine to evaluate the contents of the urine and check for problems.
Urinary system
The body parts that turn wastes into urine, store it, and get rid of it. Kidneys filter blood to wash it clean and make the urine. Ureters are tubes to bring the urine from the kidneys to the bladder. The bladder is a dynamic storage tank for the urine. The urethra is a tube to bring the urine from the bladder to the outside.
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V
VA--U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
The branch of the federal government responsible for providing health care and other benefits to eligible veterans of the armed forces.
VBA--Veterans Benefits Administration
Branch of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs responsible for administering compensation and pension benefits to eligible veterans.
Ventilator
A piece of equipment that helps you to breathe when you cannot do it yourself.
Vocational
Work or job-related activities.
Voc rehab--vocational rehabilitation
Developing skills to improve work habits or to increase employment potential.
Void
To empty the bladder.
VRS--vocational rehabilitation specialist
The person who assists you in developing skills and determining changes or improvements in your job or vocational status.
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W
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Glossary