- activity
- purposeful movement, such as walking
- activity of daily living (ADL)
- an essential, routine task that most people can do independently most of the time
- adult day service
- a facility where adults who are unable to support all their ADL needs or who are unsafe to be alone for long periods can go for care during the day while their families or caregivers work
- aerobic exercise
- continuous physical activity that increases the heart rate and improves the function of the cardiovascular system
- aging in place
- the state of growing older in one’s home, with or without caregivers, rather than moving to a nursing home
- alignment
- proper body position
- antagonist
- a muscle that moves in the opposite direction of the prime mover
- articular cartilage
- thin, spongy layer of cartilage that covers articulations
- assisted ADL
- an ADL that an individual can help with, but they need hands-on help from another to perform fully
- assistive device
- equipment, such as a lift or sliding sheets, that enables healthcare professionals to care for patients more safely
- ataxia
- loss of coordination
- atrophy
- the shrinking of a muscle due to lack of exercise or activity
- balance
- the ability to maintain an upright alignment that prevents an individual from falling
- balance training
- a practice used to improve an individual’s ability to remain upright while stationary or moving and to decrease the chance of falling
- basic activity of daily living (BADL)
- a physical ADL learned as children that allows individuals to care for their bodies: transferring, continence, eating, toileting, dressing, bathing, and grooming
- body mechanics
- intentional movements and muscle use designed to maintain an individual’s posture and alignment, decreasing the chance of injury
- bone
- hard, dense connective tissue that form most of the adult skeleton, the primary support structure of the body
- bone density
- a measurement of the amount of hard minerals that are present in bone and that account for its strength and resilience
- cardiac muscle
- muscle specifically related to cardiac tissue
- cartilage
- type of connective tissue that provides structural support and flexibility and helps reduce friction during joint movement
- central nervous system (CNS)
- the primary processing center of the body; includes the brain and spinal cord
- circulation
- the continuous, controlled movement of blood throughout the body, facilitated by the heart, blood vessels, and blood
- contraction
- the act of a muscle working by shortening the muscle fibers to make a joint bend
- coordination
- the ability to change position effectively and intentionally
- core
- the lower torso, including the abdomen and lower back, that controls lower body postural stabilization
- dependent ADL
- an ADL that an individual is unable to help with at all and requires someone else to do for them
- dynamic posture
- how an individual holds their body during movement
- dysarthria
- the slurring of speech or changing of vocal volume
- dysmetria
- the inability to control or judge the range needed for a motion
- endurance
- ability to withstand or tolerate prolonged physical activity or hardship over time
- ergonomics
- the design and arrangement of workspaces, tools, equipment, and tasks to optimize comfort, efficiency, and safety for employees
- exercise
- purposeful, structured, repetitive physical activity that requires sustained effort
- flexibility
- the ability to move a joint through its entire range of motion
- functional ability
- the ability to independently perform expected tasks
- functional assessment
- a measure of ADL performance
- independent ADL
- an ADL that an individual can do with no help or coaching
- instrumental activity of daily living (IADL)
- a more-complex skill needed to function independently in a community, such as shopping for and preparing food, paying bills, and managing medications
- isometric training
- exercise that involves contracting a muscle against an unmoving force
- isotonic training
- exercise that involves contracting a muscle against a force that moves
- joint
- a location where bones come into contact, allowing for movement
- lifestyle variable
- a daily action or activity related to work, leisure, and diet
- ligament
- tough but flexible fibrous tissue that connects bones or holds joints together
- myopathy
- the name for a set of health conditions characterized by failure of the muscle fibers to work effectively, causing pain, stiffness, and weakness
- neuromuscular junction (NMJ)
- the site where a motor neuron’s terminal meets the muscle fiber and responds to motor signals
- neuron
- a component of a nerve that passes information to and from the spinal cord and brain
- osteoporosis
- a condition characterized by loss of bone density, making bones weak and prone to fracture
- peripheral nervous system (PNS)
- the portion of the nervous system located on the periphery of the central nervous system containing peripheral structures including ganglia and nerves
- postural reflex
- an unconscious, involuntary correction that the nervous and musculoskeletal systems make together to keep postural alignment when something threatens to disrupt it
- posture
- how an individual holds their body
- prime mover
- the main muscle making a movement happen
- quality of life (QoL)
- an individual’s overall enjoyment of life and sense of well-being
- range of motion
- the extent and direction of movement that a joint or a group of joints can achieve
- relaxation
- the act of muscle fibers returning to their resting state as a muscle stops working
- safe patient handling and mobility (SPHM)
- a series of interconnected techniques designed to allow high-quality patient care, decreasing the risk of injury to both patients and staff
- skeletal muscle
- muscle that attaches to bone and creates intentional movement as it contracts and relaxes, causing the bones to move
- skeletal system
- the bones, joints, and other structures that allow for movement, form the body, make blood cells, and shield organs
- smooth muscle
- muscle in the walls of hollow organs such as the urinary bladder, uterus, stomach, and intestines
- somatic nervous system
- the part of the peripheral nervous system that controls voluntary movements of skeletal muscle
- stamina
- physical and mental capacity to endure prolonged periods of exertion or activity without experiencing fatigue
- static posture
- how an individual holds their posture when still
- strength training (resistance training)
- the practice of contracting a muscle against a load, such as free weights, elastic bands, water, or one’s body weight
- stretch
- a slow, steady exercise or movement designed to extend or lengthen specific muscles or muscle groups in the body
- striated muscle
- muscle that appears striped, allowing for the muscle fibers to slide apart or together during movement
- supervised ADL
- an ADL that an individual can do themselves, but they require coaching or supervision to perform them safely and effectively
- synergist
- a muscle that helps the prime mover muscle by providing stability or assistance
- synovial fluid
- liquid in joints that allows bones to glide over each other freely with decreased friction, preventing pain and erosion at the articulations
- synovial joint
- a movable joint characterized by a fluid-filled cavity in the space where bones articulate
- tendon
- a tough connective tissue located on each side of a joint that controls joint movement
- tremor
- uncontrolled shaking when attempting purposeful movement or resting
- vestibular system
- the body system located in the inner ear that functions to maintain homeostasis in balance