Glossary of Terms
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- ALAC (Artificial Limb and Appliance Centre)
- Alignment
- Amputation
- Amputee
- Bilateral
- Cardio-vascular disease
- Chiropodist
- Congenital absence
- Consultant in Rehabilitation Medicine
- Consultation
- Contracture
- Cosmesis
- Cosmetic glove
- Counsellor
- Dermatitis
- Diabetes
- Distal
- Doff
- Don
- DSC
- Femurette
- Folliculitis
- Forequarter
- Gait Training
- Health Professional
- HPC Health Professions Council
- Hemi–pelvectomy
- Hip Disarticulation
- Interface Component
- Interface Liner
- Lower Extremity
- Myoelectric Prosthesis
- Occupational Therapist (OT)
- Oedema
- Paediatrics
- Patella
- Physiotherapist
- Pistoning
- Plaster cast
- Podiatrist
- Postal repair
- PPAM aid
- Prosthesis
- Prosthetic delivery
- Prosthetic fitting
- Prosthetist
- PVD – Peripheral Vascular Disease
- Rehabilitation
- Residual limb
- Residuum
- Sebaceous Cysts
- Shoulder Disarticulation
- Socket
- Specialist Nurse
- Specialist Rehabilitation Centre
- SR Pros/Orth – State Registered Prosthetist / Orthotist
- Stump socks
- Suction
- Therapy
- Total Contact
- Upper Extremity
- Voluntary control
Definitions
1. ALAC (Artificial Limb and Appliance Centre)
Traditional name given to The Rehabilitation Centre
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2. Alignment
Positioning of the socket in relation to the other components. Optimised at fitting stage for efficient walking. When applied to an arm, optimised to maintain suspension and provide the most natural angle for the arm to rest in.
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3. Amputation
Removal of all or part of a limb
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4. Amputee
A person who has had all or part of their limb(s) removed or is born without a limb
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5. Bilateral
Both sides i.e. left and right
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6. Cardio-vascular disease
Underlying medical conditions affecting your heart and circulation systems
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7. Chiropodist
A clinician who will specifically monitor and maintain your feet
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8. Congenital absence
Absence or partial absence of limbs due to altered development within the womb
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9. Consultant in Rehabilitation Medicine
A medical doctor who will deal with all aspects of your rehabilitation for you developing independence within your life
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10. Consultation
A meeting with your health professional to discuss medical history, goals you wish to reach and a plan for the future
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11. Contracture
A restriction in the movement of a joint so the full range is not available
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12. Cosmesis
A foam covering moulded over a leg to provide a shape near to that of your remaining leg. Over this, a fabric or silicone cover may be fitted
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13. Cosmetic glove
A covering that fits over the forearm and hand of an artificial arm. A PVC glove is more hard wearing but is more difficult to keep clean. A silicone glove is easier to clean but tends to tear more easily.
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14. Counsellor
A health professional trained to speak with you to help you deal specifically with worries related to or raised by your amputation
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15. Dermatitis
A skin reaction, usually from contact with a foreign substance. If the skin breaks, there is a risk of ensuing infection
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16. Diabetes
An underlying condition which affects your small vessel circulation, healing and sensation as well as your glucose levels
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17. Distal
Nearest the cut end of the residuum
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18. Doff
Removing the prosthesis
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19. Don
Putting on the prosthesis
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20. DSC
Disablement Services Centre – may now be named a Rehabilitation Centre
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21. Femurette
An early walking aid, used in physiotherapy for a trans-femoral amputee
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22. Folliculitis
A skin reaction which results in painful lumps under the skin in areas of pressure or rubbing
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23. Forequarter
Amputation of the whole arm and the shoulder girdle, leaving the ribs intact
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24. Gait Training
Learning to walk in the most efficient and natural manner
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25. Health Professional
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26. HPC Health Professions Council
All practicing Prosthetists must be registered with the HPC
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27. Hemi–pelvectomy
Amputation of the whole leg and the related side of the pelvis
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28. Hip Disarticulation
Amputation of the whole leg, separated at the hip joint
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29. Interface Component
A product which is used between your skin and the prosthesis
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30. Interface Liner
Frequently a moulded silicone, gel or urethane product which can be utilised for suspension and/or cushioning of the residuum
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31. Lower Extremity
Lower limb
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32. Myoelectric Prosthesis
An artificial arm where function of the hand, wrist and/or elbow is controlled by signals from the remaining muscles in your arm. The function is then powered by a battery, inset into the arm.
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33. Occupational Therapist (OT)
A health professional trained to assess your home situation and difficulties with independence and review aids. Also involved with paediatric users, to advise on issues with mobility and dexterity at school.
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34. Oedema
A collection of fluid within the body tissues, resulting in swelling
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35. Paediatrics
Children / younger users
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36. Patella
Knee cap
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37. Physiotherapist
A health professional who provides therapeutic exercises prior to receipt of a prosthesis, utilises walking aids to mobilise to prepare for provision of a prosthesis and training with the prosthesis once received
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38. Pistoning
Where the residuum moves up and down within the socket during gait
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39. Plaster cast
The Prosthetist will wrap wet plaster bandages around your residuum create a mould. This is used to make a socket into which your residuum will fit.
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40. Podiatrist
A health professional trained to care for your feet.
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41. Postal repair
A service provided by the Rehabilitation Centre. You can arrange with the centre to have your limb collected, repaired then returned to you without attending the centre yourself. This may take a number of weeks, depending on urgency.
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42. PPAM aid
An early walking aid, used in physio to reduce swelling and increase mobility
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43. Prosthesis
An artificial limb
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44. Prosthetic delivery
An appointment where you attend to check all is satisfactory prior to taking your limb home.
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45. Prosthetic fitting
An appointment where you trial your artificial limb for comfort and ease of control. Adjustments to the length and for shoes are made at this stage
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46. Prosthetist
The health professional who designs and fits your prosthesis
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47. PVD – Peripheral Vascular Disease
disease of the blood vessels affecting circulation from a variety of causes
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48. Rehabilitation
Your planned return to daily functional independence
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49. Residual limb
The section of your limb remaining after amputation, commonly termed a “stump”
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50. Residuum
See ‘residual limb’, above
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51. Sebaceous Cysts
Skin problem where fat deposits collect, often in hair follicles, commonly from pressure or rubbing over a local area
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52. Shoulder Disarticulation
Complete removal of the arm at the shoulder joint
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53. Socket
The custom made container of the limb in which your residuum fits
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54. Specialist Nurse
Nurse who works at the rehabilitation centre and specialises in the particular skin problems and wound care, related to prosthetics
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55. Specialist Rehabilitation Centre
A centralised unit with a full range of health professionals working within the field of prosthetics. Your treatment will be coordinated from here.
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56. SR Pros/Orth – State Registered Prosthetist / Orthotist
A Prosthetist and/or Orthotist registered with the HPC and so entitled to legally practice
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57. Stump socks
Fabric interface supplied by the rehab centre. There are different lengths and thicknesses available. Gel impregnated socks may be provided in some instances
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58. Suction
A method of suspension to attach the limb without straps. Suction may bedirect to the skin with a tighter socket or using a silicone or polymer interface with a one way valve or a suspension sleeve to maintain negative pressure within the socket
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59. Therapy
Training to maximise independence and efficient function in daily life
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60. Total Contact
Contact of the residuum with the socket at all points
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61. Upper Extremity
Upper limb
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62. Voluntary control
Controlling the movement of parts of a prosthesis using the remainder of your body
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