Glossary of Terms
Click on a word/phrase below to see its definition.
AAC
Augmentative or Alternative Communication devices used by affected individuals whose speech and/or hearing is inhibited.
Ace Inhibitors
Medications that help the blood vessels (ACE=Angiotensin-Converting-Enzyme)
Active Stretch
Active stretching stimulates and prepares muscles for use during exercise; which differs from passive stretch, when an external force exerts upon the limb to move it into the new position.
aDG
A CMD subtype that results from gene defects in a number of genes that affect glycosylation of a protein called alpha-dystroglycan, fundamental in skeletal muscle cells and neurons. Specific forms of aDG can include Walker Warburg Syndrome, Muscle Eye Brain Disease, Fukuyama Muscular Dystrophy, FKRP Muscular Dystrophy, LGMD 2I, LGMD 2K, LGMD 2M, LGMD 2N, LGMD 2O LGMD 2T, LGMD 2U, and LGMD 2V.
Advocate
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To work with your child’s health care providers as a team member to do the best thing for your child. This sometimes may mean speaking up when you are uncomfortable with a situation or plan of care, seeking out a second opinion, or identifying an advocate within your child’s health care team. |
AFO Brace
An ankle-foot orthotic; an artificial support or brace for the limbs or spine
Aggregate
A body of data collected from individuals associated with one another, but without distinction as an identifiable person.
AICD
Automatic implantable cardiac defribrullator
Airway clearance
A technique for managing secretion in the airways and lungs.
Allele
A variant form of a given gene (found at the same place on a chromosome pair). Sometimes, different alleles can result in different observable phenotypic traits, such as different pigmentation (see genetic variant).
Alpha-dystroglycan
Alpha-Dystroglycan is an extracellular protein. Alpha-Dystroglycan (α-DG) is a laminin-binding protein and member of a glycoprotein complex associated with dystrophin that has been implicated in the etiology of several muscular dystrophies such as a form of limb-girdle muscular dystrophy characterized by slowly-progressive, mainly proximal, muscle weakness presenting in early childhood (with difficulties walking and climbing stairs) and mild to severe intellectual disability. Additional manifestations reported include microcephaly, mild increase in thigh or calf muscles, and contractures of the ankles.
alpha-Dystroglycanopathy
A CMD subtype that results from gene defects in a number of genes that affect glycosylation of a protein called alpha-dystroglycan, fundamental in skeletal muscle cells and neurons. Specific forms of aDG can include Walker Warburg Syndrome, Muscle Eye Brain Disease, Fukuyama Muscular Dystrophy, FKRP Muscular Dystrophy, LGMD 2I, LGMD 2K, LGMD 2M, LGMD 2N, LGMD 2O LGMD 2T, LGMD 2U, and LGMD 2V.
Alveoli
Small sacs within the lungs where gas exchange takes place
Ambulation
The ability to walk.
Ambulatory
The ability to walk.