Cerebral Palsy Glossary

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Scissoring 
Crossing of the legs together when standing, being held upright, or walking.

Scoliosis 
Curvature of the spine

Seizure 
Abnormal bursts of electricity in the brain resulting in changes in behavior, consciousness, and involuntary movement. They can be categorised as partial or generalised. A partial seizure only effects one area or one side of the brain. Several different types of partial seizures include: Focal Motor (simple partial), Sensory, Autonomic, and Psychomotor (temporal lobe) Seizures. Generalised seizures are where both sides of the brain are effected. Several different types of generalised seizures are: Absence (petit mal), Tonic-Clonic (grand mal), Infantile Myoclonic (infantile or jackknife), Febrile, and Atonic (Akinetic) Seizures.

Selective Dorsal Rhizotomy
A neurosurgical procedure involving cutting nerves in the spine to reduce tightness in muscle groups.

Sensory Integration  
The neurological process that organises sensation from one’s own body and the environment, thus making it possible to use the body effectively within the environment. Specifically, it deals with how the brain processes multiple sensory modality inputs into usable functional outputs.

Shunt 
Device used to drain excess spinal fluid from the brain for those with hydrocephalus

Side sitting 
Sitting with both knees bent and to one side of the body

Spastic 
Having stiff muscles that impede movement.

Strabismus 
Disorder where the eyes do not line up in the same direction

Subluxation 
Partial dislocation of any joint. Ex: when the ball of that connects with the hip socket slowly pulls partially out of position.

Supra Malleolar Orthosis (SMO)
Brace above the ankle bone

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