RESOURCES: Glossary

Definitions: K

KAFO: Knee Ankle Foot Orthosis, this is a long leg brace used to maintain knee extension and ankle position to allow standing for those individuals who have complete paralysis of one or both of their lower limbs.

Key Points of Motor Control: Parts of the body whereby postural tone and therefore selective movement is most easily and effectively modified, adapted and controlled.

Kinesthesia: The sensory awareness of body parts as they move.

Kinenetics: Monitoring the gait pattern.

Kinetics: Monitoring the forces that produce change/motion.

Kyphosis: This describes the backward curve of the vertebral column. It is normal to have a degree of kyphosis through the thoracic spine. However the term is often used to describe if there is an abnormal amount of curvature.

Definitions: L

Locked-in Syndrome: A condition resulting from interruption of motor pathways in the ventral pons, usually by infarction. This disconnection of the motor cells in the lower brain stem and spinal cord from controlling signals issued by the brain leaves the patient completely paralyzed and mute, but able to receive and understand sensory stimuli; communication may be possible by code using blinking, or movements of the jaw or eyes, which can be spared.

Lordosis: This describes the forward curve of the vertebral column. It is normal to have a lordosis through the cervical and lumbar section of the vertebral column.

Back to Top

• RESOURCES
  Links
  Articles
  Downloads
  Glossary
  A-B
  C-D
  E-F
  G-H
  I-J
  K-L
  M-N
  O-P
  Q-R
  S-T
  U-Z