Glossary of Medical Terms

An Accredited Member is an Orthotist or Prosthetist who hold a qualification recognised by NZOPA as listed in the NZOPA Rules Appendix “A”, and or a qualification that is recognised by the New Zealand Qualifications Framework as being Level 7 or above.

The movement of a limb away from the median, or midline, of the body.

The movement of a limb towards the median, or midline, of the body.

 A prosthesis utilized for acquired amputations or congenital absences of the hand, forearm and elbow, above the elbow.

 A prosthesis utilized for acquired amputations or congenital absences of the foot, ankle, shin and thigh, above the knee joint level.

 A determination by the NZOPA in that an eligible person satisfactorily complies with all applicable standards.

 A orthosis utilized for the treatment of disorders only involving the ankle.

 A orthosis utilized for the treatment of disorders of the ankle and foot below the knee joint.

 The front of the body.

 A prosthesis utilized for acquired amputations or congenital absences of the hand or forearm below the elbow.

 A prosthesis utilized for acquired amputations or congenital absences of the foot and ankle below the knee.

 Any neuromuscular disability caused by lesions in the brain occurring before birth, at birth, or during infancy.

 A orthosis utilized for the treatment of disorders only involving the cervical spine.

 A orthosis utilized for the treatment of disorders involving the cervical and/or thoracic spine.

A orthosis utilized for the treatment of disorders involving the cervical, thoracic and/or lumbosacral spine.

The circular motion of a limb that is created when the movements of flexion, extension, abduction, and adduction are sequentially performed.

 Education and experiences beyond initial professional preparation that are relevant to the type of patient care delivered; providing current knowledge relevant to the individual’s discipline of practice.

 The verification of an individual’s education, training and experience from primary sources.

 Orthoses which are custom made and designed from an anatomical positive model, specific anatomical measurements and/or contour drawings of the affected limb, torso or spine for the purpose of providing support and/or control of complex neuromuscular and/or musculoskeletal disorders.

 Prostheses are custom made from an anatomical positive model of an individual’s residual limb and in accordance with anatomical measurements of the sound limb.  Note, all prostheses are custom designed.

 Orthoses which are pre-made in specific anatomical sizes and are modified and custom fitted to the effected limb or spine to control moderate or complex neuromuscular and/or musculoskeletal disorders.

 Paralysis of all for extremities, with the lower extremities more severely involved than the upper extremities.

 A structure that is located farther away from the attached end of a limb.

 The top of the foot and the back of the hand.

 Bending the wrist so the dorsal surface of the hand points toward the forearm; bending the ankle so the foot points upward.

 An excessive accumulation of fluid in the tissue spaces; commonly known as swelling.

 A prosthesis utilized for acquired amputations or congenital absences of the hand or forearm through the elbow joint.

 A orthosis utilized for the treatment of disorders only involving the elbow.

 A orthosis utilized for the treatment of disorders of the elbow, wrist, hand, and/or fingers below the shoulder joint.

 An electric powered elbow, wrist, hand, or hook component utilized to provide controlled positioning for functional use in the design of a prostheses.

 Prostheses designed with an internal supporting structural components.

The outward rotation of the plantar surface, or sole, of the foot so that it faces away from the median, or midline, of the body.

Prostheses designed with a rigid external supporting structural shell.

The act of straightening a limb at a joint.

Orthoses fabricated of cloth fabrics or neoprene as the primary materials in the design of the device.

The act of bending a limb at a joint, thus forming an angle.

A orthosis utilized for the treatment of disorders of the foot below the ankle joint.

Condition in which the knee is hyperextended.

Commonly known as knock-knee.

Commonly known as bowlegs.

A orthosis utilized for the treatment of disorders of the hand and/or fingers below the wrist joint.

A prosthesis utilized for acquired amputations or congenital absences of the complete leg involving the foot, ankle, shin, thigh, hip, and pelvis.

Paralysis of one-half of the body, specifically the upper and lower extremities on the same side, and half the trunk of the body.

A prosthesis utilized for acquired amputations or congenital absences of the complete leg involving the foot, ankle, shin and thigh at the hip joint level.

A orthosis utilized for the treatment of disorders only involving the hip.

A orthosis utilized for the treatment of disorders of the hip, knee, ankle, and foot.

A blend of mechanical, electric powered, and/or passive-mechanical, shoulder, elbow, wrist, hand and/or hook components utilized in the design of the prostheses.

Extending the extremity beyond anatomical position.

The inward rotation of the plantar surface, or sole, of the foot so that it faces toward the median, or midline, of the body.

A prosthesis utilized for acquired amputations or congenital absences of the foot, ankle and shin at the knee joint level.

A orthosis utilized for the treatment of disorders only involving the knee.

A orthosis utilized for the treatment of disorders of the knee, ankle, and foot below the hip joint.

Exaggerated posterior, or backward, curvature in the thoracic region. (Hunchback)

The rotation of a body part away from the median, or midline, of the body. Also referred to as external rotation.

Exaggerated anterior, or forward, curvature in the lumbar or cervical regions.

A orthosis utilized for the treatment of disorders only involving the lumbosacral spine.

The rotation of a body part toward the median, or midline, of the body. Also referred to as internal rotation.

The vertical plane that divides the body into right and left halves.

Orthoses fabricated of either thermoplastic or thermoset resin plastics and metal joints as the primary materials in the design of the device.

Orthoses fabricated of either thermoplastic or thermoset resin plastics as the primary material in design of the device.

Paralysis of any one extremity.

 A hereditary disease involving progressive destruction of the skeletal and cardiac muscles.

 Pertains to the muscles and skeleton.

 A prosthetic control technique which utilizes skin surface EMG muscle potentials for the actuation and movement of an electric powered prosthetic component.

Cellular or tissue death within the living body, such as with gangrene.

Custom designed and/or fitted anatomical devices applied externally on the human body which are intended to provide support and/or control of disorders associated with neuromuscular and/or musculoskeletal dysfunctions.

The practice and science of providing orthotic rehabilitation engineering services related to the assessment, design and development of external assistive, supportive, and/or corrective anatomical devices, referred to as orthoses, for the purpose of restoring specific neuromuscular and/or musculoskeletal disorders of the human body.

An allied health practitioner specifically trained in providing orthotic services at the direction of, and in consultation with, a licensed practicing physician.

Bending the wrist so the palmar surface of the hand points toward the forearm.

The front, or palm, of the hand. Also referred to as the volar surface.

Complete loss of the ability to control muscular activity in various locations.

Paralysis of one-half of the body, specifically the lower portion of the trunk and both lower extremities.

A prosthesis utilized for acquired amputations or congenital absences of the foot and/or toes below the ankle.

A prosthesis utilized for acquired amputations or congenital absences of the hand and/or fingers below the wrist.

For partial surgical removal or congenital absence of the breast.

Prostheses controlled by using pre-positioning of a manually operated friction, free motion, or locking type joint for the actuation and movement of a mechanical prosthetic component.

Mechanical shoulder, elbow wrist, hand and/or hook components with friction or positive locking joints controlled by manual positioning and/or static positioning for functional or semi-functional use of the components utilized in the design of the prostheses.

An acquired deformity where the weight is borne on the inner border of the foot and the sole is turned outward. Also referred to as talipes valgus.

A deformity in which the weight is borne on the outer border of the foot and the sole of the foot is turned inward. Also referred to as talipes varus.

Present when the ankle is dorsiflexed and the toes are elevated. This causes the weight to be borne primarily on the heel.

The exaggerated height of the longitudinal arch of the foot.

Present when the ankle is plantar flexed and the heel is elevated. This causes the weight to be borne primarily on the toes.

Commonly known as flatfoot, the foot looks flat and is almost always bent out-ward. Also referred to as planovalgus.

Bending the ankle so the foot points downward.

The bottom, or sole, of the foot.

The back of the body.

An Orthosis which is pre-made in general anatomical sizes, ie. small, medium, and large, and are fitted to the effected limb or spine to control mild neuromuscular and/or musculoskeletal disorders, or for the purpose of evaluating the need for a custom designed orthosis.

Prostheses are not pre-made in general anatomical sizes except for a temporary residual limb interface utilized in the design for a preparatory prosthesis.

The movement of the forearm so that the hand rests palm down on a surface.

Custom designed and/or fitted anatomical devices applied externally to the human body for the purpose of restoring congenital and/or acquired neuromuscular and musculoskeletal dysfunctions of the human body associated with the complete or partial absence of a limb.

The practice and science of providing prosthetic rehabilitation engineering services related to the assessment, design, and development of external assistive, supportive, and/or corrective anatomical devices, referred to as prostheses, for the purpose of restoring neuromuscular and musculoskeletal functions of the human body associated with the congenital and/or acquired absence of a limb.

An allied health practitioner specifically trained in providing prosthetic services at the direction of, and in consultation with, a licensed practicing physician.

The forward movement of a body part such as the shoulder.

A structure that is located closer to the attached end of a limb.

Paralysis of all four extremities and the trunk. Also referred to as tetraplegia.

Those individuals or organizations qualified to refer a patient for orthotic/prosthetic treatment.

The portion of the limb remaining after amputation.

The backward movement of a body part such as the shoulder.

A circular or turning movement of a body part, such as the back or head, around its axis.

A orthosis utilized for the treatment of disorders only involving the sacrum.

A prosthesis utilized for acquired amputations or congenital absences of the complete arm involving the hand, forearm, elbow, upper arm, shoulder through the scapular-thoracic juncture.

Lateral, or outward, curvature of the spine in the thoracic and/or lumbar regions.

A prosthesis utilized for acquired amputations or congenital absences of the complete arm involving the hand, forearm, elbow, and upper arm through the shoulder joint.

A orthosis utilized for the treatment of disorders only involving the shoulder.

A orthosis utilized for the treatment of disorders of the shoulder, elbow, wrist, hand, and/or fingers.

A single EMG muscle potential site used for proportional or digital actuation of a single function of an electric powered component with a single myoelectric control processor.

A single EMG muscle potential site used for proportional or digital actuation of two opposing functions of an electric powered component with a dual control myoelectric control processor.

A congenital malformation of the vertebral column. In prenatal life the column fails to develop and close normally, and a portion of the bony spine remains separated in two sections.

The movement of the forearm so that the hand rests palm up on a surface.

Prostheses controlled by using shoulder and arm movements for the actuation and movement of an electric powered prosthetic component.

A prosthesis utilized for acquired amputations of the foot and ankle just above the ankle joint.

Commonly known as clubfoot. In this disorder the foot has a small, elevated heel; a broad twisted forefoot; and a curved outer border.

A orthosis utilized for the treatment of disorders involving the thoracic and lumbosacral spine.

Paralysis of any three extremities.

Deformity of the foot resulting in the outward rotation of the plantar surface, or sole, of the foot so that it faces away from the median, or midline, of the body.

Deformity of the foot resulting in the inward rotation of the plantar surface, or sole, of the foot so that it faces toward the median, or midline, of the body.

A prosthesis utilized for acquired amputations or congenital absences of the hand or forearm through the wrist joint.

A orthosis utilized for the treatment of disorders only involving the wrist.

A orthosis utilized for the treatment of disorders of the wrist, hand, and/or fingers below the elbow joint.