Glossary

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Acquired Disability(also: Adventitious Disability, Late-onset Disability)

A disability that develops after birth, typically due to illness, injury, or aging, as opposed to congenital disabilities present from birth. Common causes include stroke, traumatic brain injury, spinal cord injury, progressive diseases (such as multiple sclerosis or macular…

Activities of Daily Living(also: ADLs, Daily Living Activities, ADL)

Routine tasks that people perform every day for self-care and independent functioning, including reading, cooking, grooming, dressing, and managing household items. For people with low vision, performing ADLs can be significantly impacted by reduced visual acuity, contrast…

Adherence(also: Treatment Adherence, Exercise Adherence, Compliance)

The extent to which a person follows prescribed medical treatments, exercise routines, or therapy programs. In physical therapy and rehabilitation, adherence is often framed as an individual responsibility, with non-adherence viewed as patient failure. However, accessibility…

Ankle Foot Orthosis(also: AFO, Ankle Brace, Foot Drop Brace)

An external medical device that encompasses the ankle joint and all or part of the foot, designed to support the ankle and improve gait in people with muscle weakness, spasticity, or structural deformity. AFOs are commonly prescribed for conditions such as cerebral palsy,…

Ankle-Foot Orthosis(also: AFO)

A lower-limb orthosis that supports the ankle and foot, typically prescribed to control foot drop, improve toe clearance during swing, and stabilise the ankle during stance. AFOs come in solid, hinged, posterior leaf-spring (PLS), and dynamic forms, made from thermoplastics,…

Assistive Device(also: Assistive Aid, Low-Vision Aid)

Any device, tool, or technology that helps a person with a disability perform tasks that might otherwise be difficult or impossible. In low-vision contexts, assistive devices range from optical aids (magnifiers, telescopes, specialized glasses) to electronic devices (video…

Assistive Technology Assessment(also: AT Assessment, Assistive Technology Evaluation, AT Evaluation)

An assistive technology assessment is a systematic evaluation process to identify the most appropriate assistive technology solutions for an individual with a disability. The assessment typically considers the person's abilities, goals, environments, and tasks to recommend…

Assistive device customization(also: AT personalization, Custom assistive technology)

The process of tailoring assistive technology devices to match an individual's specific physical dimensions, functional abilities, preferences, and activity requirements. Traditional AT customization involves ordering from catalogs with limited options and long wait times, or…

Augmented Feedback(also: Extrinsic Feedback)

Feedback provided by an external system - visual, auditory, haptic, or multimodal - that supplements the intrinsic sensory feedback a learner receives from their own body during a motor task. Augmented feedback is widely used in motor learning, rehabilitation, and embodied skill…

Biomechanics(also: Human Biomechanics, Movement Science)

The study of the mechanical principles governing the movement and structure of living organisms, particularly the human body. In accessibility and rehabilitation, biomechanics is applied to understand how disabilities affect movement, design assistive devices like orthoses and…

Center of Pressure(also: COP, Centre of Pressure)

The point on a surface where the total sum of pressure forces acts, used as a key measure in balance and postural stability assessment. In standing balance evaluation, COP is measured using force plates or pressure-sensing devices like the Nintendo Wii Balance Board. COP path,…

Clinical Reasoning(also: CR)

The cognitive and reflective process by which healthcare clinicians — particularly physical and occupational therapists — individualize care under patient and contextual uncertainty. Clinical reasoning blends analytic processes (hypothetico-deductive generation, pattern…

Cognitive Orthotic(also: Cognitive Orthosis, Cognitive Support Device)

A cognitive orthotic is an assistive technology device or system designed to compensate for cognitive impairments by providing external support for functions such as memory, planning, sequencing, and decision-making. Analogous to a physical orthotic that supports a weakened…

Cognitive Rehabilitation(also: Cognitive Rehab, Neuropsychological Rehabilitation)

A structured program of therapeutic activities designed to restore or compensate for cognitive functions impaired by brain injury, stroke, or other neurological conditions. Cognitive rehabilitation targets specific domains such as memory, attention, executive function, language,…

Community-Based Rehabilitation(also: CBR)

Community-based rehabilitation (CBR) is a strategy for enhancing the quality of life of people with disabilities by improving service delivery, providing equitable opportunities, and promoting their rights and social inclusion within their own communities. CBR programs operate…

Constraint-Induced Movement Therapy(also: CIMT, CI Therapy, Constraint-Induced Therapy)

A rehabilitation technique for individuals with hemiparesis (weakness on one side of the body), typically following stroke. The therapy involves constraining the stronger, unaffected limb—traditionally by placing it in a sling or mitt—while intensively training the weaker,…

Cortical Plasticity(also: Brain Plasticity, Neural Plasticity, Cortical Reorganization)

The brain's ability to reorganize its neural connections and functional organization in response to injury, learning, or environmental changes. In the context of disability and rehabilitation, cortical plasticity is the mechanism by which undamaged brain areas can assume…

Cued Naming Therapy(also: Cued Naming, Cueing Hierarchy Therapy)

A structured aphasia therapy approach in which clinicians provide progressively stronger hints (cues) to help a person retrieve a target word. Cues may be phonological (providing the first sound or syllable), semantic (giving a related word or category), orthographic (showing…

Cueing(also: External Cueing, Sensory Cueing)

In rehabilitation, cueing is the delivery of external sensory stimuli - visual, auditory, or somatosensory - that guide or trigger a motor action. Cueing is used most prominently in Parkinson's disease, where basal ganglia dysfunction impairs internally generated movement…

Diaphragmatic Breathing(also: Belly Breathing, Abdominal Breathing)

A breathing technique that emphasises movement of the abdominal wall and diaphragm during inspiration rather than the accessory muscles of the neck and shoulders. By engaging the diaphragm more fully, diaphragmatic breathing increases tidal volume, decreases respiratory…

Dichoptic presentation(also: Dichoptic display, Dichoptic filtering, Dichoptic stimulation)

A technique in which different visual information is presented separately to each eye, typically using color-filtered glasses (red-cyan or red-green anaglyph), polarized lenses, or head-mounted displays. In clinical settings, dichoptic presentation is used as a therapeutic…

Eccentric Viewing(also: Eccentric Fixation)

A visual strategy used by people with central vision loss (such as from macular degeneration) in which they learn to use a peripheral area of the retina — called a preferred retinal locus (PRL) — to look at objects instead of the damaged central macula. Eccentric viewing…

Eccentric viewing(also: Preferred retinal locus, PRL)

A viewing strategy used by people with central vision loss (such as from macular degeneration) in which they learn to look slightly off-center to use a healthier area of the retina instead of the damaged macula. The part of the retina they train themselves to use is called the…

Electrical Muscle Stimulation(also: EMS, Neuromuscular Electrical Stimulation, NMES)

A technique that uses electrical impulses delivered through surface electrodes to elicit muscle contractions. EMS is used therapeutically for muscle re-education, spasticity management, and rehabilitation, and has been explored in HCI as an output modality — for example, guiding…

Exergame(also: Exercise Game, Active Video Game, Exergaming)

A video game that requires physical movement or exercise as the primary input mechanism, combining gameplay with physical activity. Exergames have been developed for consoles, virtual reality systems, and mobile devices, with applications in rehabilitation, fitness, and physical…

Exergame(also: Exercise Game, Exergaming, Active Video Game)

A video game that requires physical activity beyond traditional handheld controller manipulation, combining gaming with exercise. Exergames use motion sensors, cameras, balance boards, or other input devices to track body movements as game controls. In rehabilitation contexts,…

Exergames(also: Exertion games, Active video games, AVGs)

Video games designed to require physical exertion — whole-body movement, resistance, or sustained aerobic activity — as the primary input modality. Exergames span consumer titles (e.g., Wii Fit, Ring Fit Adventure) and clinical applications for rehabilitation, balance training,…

Exoskeleton(also: Robotic Exoskeleton, Wearable Exoskeleton)

A wearable mechanical or robotic device that fits around a part of the body — typically the hand, arm, or leg — and provides powered movement assistance, resistance, or guided motion. In rehabilitation contexts, exoskeletons are used to support intensive, repetitive motor…

Fall Prevention(also: Fall Risk Reduction, Falls Prevention)

Strategies, interventions, and technologies designed to reduce the risk of falls, particularly among older adults and people with mobility or balance impairments. Falls are a leading cause of injury, hospitalization, and loss of independence in aging populations. Fall prevention…

Fractionation(also: Finger Fractionation, Finger Independence)

The ability to move individual fingers independently of one another, a key measure of fine motor control assessed in stroke rehabilitation. After a stroke, patients often lose fractionation, meaning that attempting to move one finger causes involuntary coupled movement in…

Functional Capacity(also: Functional Ability)

The maximum level at which a person can perform a given physical or cognitive activity under standardised conditions. Functional capacity represents what a person is capable of doing, as opposed to what they typically do in daily life (functional performance). In assistive…

Functional Electrical Stimulation(also: FES)

A rehabilitation technique that uses low-level electrical currents to activate paralyzed or weakened muscles in people with neurological conditions such as spinal cord injury, stroke, or multiple sclerosis. Electrodes placed on the skin or implanted near motor nerves deliver…

Functional Limitation(also: Functional Restriction)

A restriction or lack of ability to perform a physical or cognitive action in the manner or within the range considered typical. In the context of accessibility and rehabilitation, functional limitations are the specific constraints on what a person can do — such as limited grip…

Functional Vision(also: Functional Visual Ability)

How well a person uses their residual vision to perform routine tasks under various conditions throughout the day. Functional vision goes beyond clinical measures like visual acuity to assess practical visual ability in real-world contexts — such as reading, identifying objects,…

Gait(also: Walking Pattern, Locomotion Pattern)

The pattern of movement during walking, characterized by measurable parameters including walking velocity, cadence (steps per minute), step length, stride length, step time, cycle time, and swing time. Gait analysis is important in accessibility and rehabilitation because many…

Gait Analysis(also: Gait Assessment, Walking Analysis)

The systematic study of human locomotion using observation, measurement, and analysis of body mechanics during walking. Gait analysis measures parameters such as stride length, step duration, joint angles, stance and swing phase timing, and symmetry between left and right legs.…

Gait Cycle(also: Walking cycle)

The repeating pattern of leg movement during walking, defined from one foot contact with the ground to the next contact of the same foot. The cycle is divided into two main phases: the stance phase (foot on ground, bearing weight), which includes heel strike, midstance, and…

Gait Disturbance(also: Gait Abnormality, Gait Impairment, Gait Deviation)

Any deviation from a person's normal walking pattern, including decreased walking velocity, reduced step and stride length, increased step time, asymmetrical gait, and instability. Gait disturbances can result from neurological conditions (multiple sclerosis, Parkinson's…

Gait Training(also: Gait Rehabilitation)

Gait training is therapeutic practice aimed at improving walking function - velocity, stride length, symmetry, stability, and cadence - in people with neurological or musculoskeletal impairments. It is central to rehabilitation after stroke, spinal cord injury, and lower-limb…

Game-Based Therapy(also: Therapeutic Gaming, Serious Games for Rehabilitation, Gamification of Therapy)

The use of video games and interactive digital experiences as therapeutic interventions, particularly for physical or cognitive rehabilitation. Game-based therapy leverages engaging gameplay mechanics to motivate patients through repetitive exercises that might otherwise feel…

Genu Recurvatum(also: Knee hyperextension)

Backward bending of the knee beyond its normal straight position during standing or stance phase of gait. Genu recurvatum is often caused by hamstring weakness, quadriceps spasticity, or proprioceptive deficits following stroke, cerebral palsy, or spinal cord injury. Repeated…

HAAT Model(also: Human Activity Assistive Technology Model)

A conceptual framework for understanding and designing assistive technology systems that identifies four interconnected components: the human user, the activity being performed, the assistive technology itself, and the context in which the activity takes place. Developed by Cook…

Hand-Eye Coordination(also: Visual-Motor Coordination, Eye-Hand Coordination)

The ability to coordinate visual information with hand movements to perform tasks such as reaching, grasping, placing, and manipulating objects. For people with low vision, hand-eye coordination can be significantly affected by reduced visual acuity, contrast sensitivity, depth…

Hand-Eye Coordination(also: Visuomotor Coordination, Eye-Hand Coordination)

The ability of the visual system to coordinate information received through the eyes to control and guide hand movements in accomplishing tasks such as writing, catching a ball, or using a touchscreen. Research has shown strong correlations between hand-eye coordination,…

Knee Buckling(also: Knee giving way)

A sudden loss of knee stability during weight-bearing in which the knee flexes involuntarily, often causing the person to stumble or fall. Knee buckling is commonly caused by quadriceps weakness, neurological conditions (stroke, multiple sclerosis, spinal cord injury), knee…

Knee-Ankle-Foot Orthosis(also: KAFO)

A lower-limb orthosis that spans the knee, ankle, and foot to provide weight-bearing support and prevent knee buckling or hyperextension in people with significant leg weakness or paralysis - commonly due to stroke, spinal cord injury, post-polio syndrome, or muscular dystrophy.…

Lee Silverman Voice Treatment(also: LSVT, LSVT LOUD)

An evidence-based speech therapy programme originally developed for individuals with Parkinson's disease that focuses on increasing vocal loudness as the primary mechanism for improving overall speech clarity. LSVT trains patients to "think loud" and speak with greater effort,…

Low-Vision Rehabilitation(also: LVR, Vision Rehabilitation)

A multidisciplinary service aimed at helping individuals with reduced vision regain functional independence in daily life. LVR combines assistive technologies, guided training sessions, and adaptive strategies tailored to each person's visual abilities and needs. Programs…

Low-Vision Therapist(also: LVT, Low-Vision Specialist, Vision Rehabilitation Therapist)

A certified professional who works with people with low vision to develop adaptive strategies for daily living, optimize use of residual vision, and provide training with assistive devices. LVTs are part of a multidisciplinary rehabilitation team that may include…

Manual Muscle Testing(also: MMT, Muscle Strength Testing)

Manual muscle testing (MMT) is a clinical assessment technique used by occupational therapists, physiotherapists, and other healthcare professionals to evaluate the strength of individual muscles or muscle groups. The examiner applies resistance to the patient's movement and…