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Clinical Rehabilitation Glossary

100 terms total — 24 showing — Last updated 15 Sep 2026

perseveration

Intermediate Technical IVT

The involuntary and inappropriate repetition of a word, phrase, gesture, or action that continues beyond its relevant context, commonly observed following acquired brain injury.

Showing 1–24 of 100

activities of daily living

Basic Technical IVT

Routine self-care tasks—such as bathing, dressing, feeding, and toileting—used as benchmarks for measuring a patient's f...

Technical Term Full entry →

ADL

Basic Technical IVT

Abbreviation for activity of daily living, a functional benchmark used across rehabilitation documentation to measure se...

Abbreviation Full entry →

AFO

Intermediate Technical IVT

Ankle–Foot Orthosis; a brace that encases the ankle and part of the foot to control position and movement, commonly pres...

Abbreviation Full entry →

Allodynia

Advanced Technical IVT

A pain response elicited by a stimulus that would not normally cause pain, such as light touch or temperature, indicativ...

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ambulation

Intermediate Technical IVT

The ability to walk independently or with assistive devices, used as a key functional outcome measure in rehabilitation.

Technical Term Full entry →

AOS

Intermediate Technical IVT

Abbreviation for Apraxia of Speech, a motor speech disorder caused by impaired planning and programming of the movements...

Abbreviation Full entry →

Aphasia

Intermediate Technical IVT

An acquired language disorder resulting from brain damage that impairs the ability to speak, understand, read, or write,...

Technical Term Full entry →

apraxia

Advanced Technical IVT

A neurological disorder characterised by the inability to perform learned, purposeful movements despite having the physi...

Technical Term Full entry →

ASIA Impairment Scale

Advanced Technical IVT

A standardised classification system used to grade the severity of spinal cord injury based on motor and sensory testing...

Document Type Full entry →

Assistive Technology

Basic Semi-formal

Any device, system, or product used to increase, maintain, or improve the functional capabilities of individuals with di...

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ataxia

Intermediate Technical IVT

A neurological sign characterised by impaired coordination of voluntary movements, often affecting gait, speech, and fin...

Technical Term Full entry →

A set of methods and devices used to supplement or replace natural speech or writing for individuals with severe communi...

AAC
Technical Term Full entry →

Barthel Index

Intermediate Technical IVT

A standardised ordinal scale used to measure a patient's performance in ten basic activities of daily living, widely emp...

Technical Term Full entry →

Berg Balance Scale

Intermediate Technical IVT

A 14-item functional balance assessment tool scored out of 56, used in rehabilitation to evaluate fall risk and postural...

BBS
Technical Term Full entry →

Bobath Concept

Advanced Technical IVT

A problem-solving approach to the assessment and treatment of individuals with movement and postural control disorders c...

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Case Conference

Basic Semi-formal

A scheduled multidisciplinary meeting in which rehabilitation team members, and often the patient and family, review cli...

Document Type Full entry →

CHART

Professional Technical IVT

Abbreviation for Craig Handicap Assessment and Reporting Technique; a participation-level outcome measure for spinal cor...

Abbreviation Full entry →

CIMT

Advanced Technical IVT

Constraint-Induced Movement Therapy; a rehabilitation approach in which the less-affected upper limb is restrained to pr...

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clonus

Advanced Technical IVT

A series of involuntary, rhythmic muscle contractions and relaxations triggered by a sudden stretch reflex, commonly ass...

Technical Term Full entry →

co-morbidity

Basic Formal IVT

The presence of one or more additional chronic conditions or diagnoses coexisting with a primary condition in the same p...

Technical Term Full entry →

cognitive rehabilitation

Advanced Technical IVT

A structured therapeutic approach to restoring or compensating for cognitive deficits—such as memory, attention, and exe...

Technical Term Full entry →

Cognitive-Communication Disorder

Advanced Technical IVT

A communication impairment that results from underlying cognitive deficits—such as attention, memory, or executive funct...

Technical Term Full entry →

Community Reintegration

Intermediate Semi-formal IVT

The process by which individuals with acquired disabilities re-establish meaningful participation in social, vocational,...

Technical Term Full entry →

compensatory strategy

Intermediate Semi-formal IVT

An adaptive technique or method taught to a rehabilitation patient to accomplish a functional task by working around a p...

Technical Term Full entry →
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