CAET key terms

Any device, software, or system that maintains or improves a person's functional abilities. It ranges from simple aids like grab bars to complex powered mobility and communication systems.

Methods and devices that supplement or replace speech for people with limited verbal output. Examples include picture boards, speech-generating devices, and eye-gaze systems.

Designing products and environments so they can be used by the widest possible range of people without adaptation. It reduces the need for specialized modifications after the fact.

Physical changes to a living space, such as ramps, widened doorways, or bathroom grab bars, that remove barriers and improve safety and independence for a person with a disability.

The hollow portion of a prosthesis that fits over the residual limb and transfers forces to it. Fit quality strongly influences comfort, skin health, and function.

The portion of a limb remaining after amputation. Its shape, volume, and skin condition determine how well a prosthesis fits and functions.

Painful sensations perceived as coming from a body part that has been amputated. It is distinct from phantom sensation, which is non-painful awareness of the missing part.

A graded therapeutic technique that repeatedly exposes a sensitive area to stimuli such as touch or texture to reduce hypersensitivity over time. It is often used after amputation or nerve injury.

The extent of movement available at a joint, measured in degrees. Active range is produced by the person's own effort; passive range is produced by an examiner.

The measurement of joint angles using a goniometer to quantify range of motion. Reliable technique requires consistent landmarking and positioning.

A graded assessment of muscle strength in which an examiner applies resistance while the person performs a movement. Grades typically range from zero (no contraction) to normal.

The resting tension or resistance of a muscle to passive stretch. It can be abnormally low (flaccidity) or high (spasticity) after neurological injury.

A velocity-dependent increase in muscle tone caused by upper motor neuron damage. It often interferes with movement and can lead to contracture if untreated.

A fixed shortening of muscle or connective tissue that limits joint movement and cannot be fully corrected by passive stretch. Prolonged immobility is a common cause.

Routine self-care tasks such as bathing, dressing, eating, toileting, and transferring. Independence in these tasks is a core rehabilitation outcome.

More complex tasks needed to live independently in the community, such as managing finances, shopping, cooking, and using transportation. They are assessed separately from basic self-care.

A structured assessment of a person's physical abilities to perform work-related tasks such as lifting, carrying, and standing. Results inform return-to-work and disability decisions.

A multidisciplinary, work-focused rehabilitation program that uses simulated job tasks and conditioning to restore a person's ability to return to employment.

The sequence of events from initial contact of one foot to the next contact of the same foot. It is divided into stance and swing phases.

Any atypical pattern in walking caused by pain, weakness, deformity, or neurological impairment. Examples include circumduction, steppage, and Trendelenburg patterns.

An external device applied to a body segment to support alignment, control motion, prevent deformity, or improve function. Examples include ankle-foot and knee orthoses.

Applying a rigid or semi-rigid device to hold a joint in a desired position. It is used to protect healing tissue, prevent contracture, or improve function.

A hands-on technique in which a therapist applies graded passive movement to a joint to reduce pain or restore mobility. It is distinct from passive stretching.

Planned, structured physical activity prescribed to improve strength, endurance, flexibility, or motor control. Progression is based on measured response and goals.

The maximum amount of oxygen the body can use during sustained exercise, reflecting cardiorespiratory fitness. It is often expressed as VO2 max.

Basic physiological measurements including heart rate, blood pressure, respiratory rate, temperature, and oxygen saturation. They guide safety decisions during therapy and activity.

A condition or circumstance in which a treatment or activity should not be performed because it may cause harm. Recognizing these is central to safe practice.

A condition requiring modified or careful intervention rather than avoidance. Precautions call for monitoring, adjustment of intensity, or additional safeguards during treatment.

A person's voluntary agreement to a procedure or treatment after receiving and understanding information about its purpose, risks, benefits, and alternatives. It must be documented.

The ethical and legal duty to protect a person's private health information and share it only with authorized parties or as required by law.

The range of activities, procedures, and responsibilities a clinician is legally and professionally permitted to perform based on training, licensure, and regulation.

Team-based practice in which professionals from different disciplines coordinate assessment, planning, and care to achieve shared patient goals. Clear communication and role clarity are essential.

An approach that respects and incorporates the person's values, preferences, and goals into clinical decisions. It emphasizes shared decision-making and communication.

Clinical decision-making that integrates the best available research, clinician expertise, and patient values. It requires appraising evidence quality before applying findings.

A structured, reproducible summary of research on a focused question that uses explicit search and appraisal methods. It may or may not include meta-analysis.

Recommendations developed from evidence and expert consensus to guide decisions about assessment and treatment for specific conditions or populations.

A systematic, data-driven effort to measure and improve the safety, effectiveness, and efficiency of care processes. It uses repeated plan-do-study-act cycles.

An unintended injury or harm to a patient resulting from care rather than the underlying condition. Reporting and analysis help prevent recurrence.