Glossary of Terms: P-R

Participation

As defined by the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health, participation is an individual's involvement in life situations in relation to Health Conditions, Body Functions or Structures, Activities, and Contextual Factors. Participation Restrictions are problems an individual may have in the manner or extent of involvement in life situations.

Peabody Developmental motor scales (PDMS)

An evaluative tool designed to measure the fine and gross motor development of children between 0 and 83 months.  Scored by an observer, scores are based on 170 gross motor tasks (reflexes, balance, nonlocomotion, locomotion, catching and throwing objects) and 122 fine motor tasks (grasping, hand use, eye-hand coordination and manual dexterity).

Pediatric Evaluation of Disability Inventory (PEDI)

A subjective, yet standardized, structured interview that focuses on both caregiver assistance and patients’ executions of self-care, mobility and social functions. It is designed for children between 6 and 90 months old.

PEDro Score

high score = 6-10

fair score = 4-5

poor score = ≤ 3

The PEDro scale was developed by the Physiotherapy Evidence Database to determine the quality of clinical trials.  The PEDro scale consists of a checklist of 10 scored yes-or-no questions pertaining to the internal validity and the statistical information provided. Please click on the link for more information:

http://www.pedro.fhs.usyd.edu.au/faq.html#question_five

Pediatric motor activity log (PMAL)

An adaptation of the Motor Activity Log used with adult stroke patients, the primary caregiver of a child undergoes this bi-daily semi-structured interview.  Twenty-two arm-hand functional activities are probed.

Physiological Cost Index (PCI)

A patient’s heart rate at rest, heart rate while walking and speed at which someone is walking is all used to calculate the PCI. The index is used as a proxy for walking efficiency.

Physician Rating Scale (PRS)

A way of scoring particular functional abilities that is usually applied to the gait analysis of cerebral palsy children. Scores are additive and lower scores demarcate the presence of undesirable habits.

Quadriplegia

The signs and symptoms associated with CP appear in all four limbs of a patient. These symptoms are usually associated with problems controlling the head and trunk region of the body as well, and thus patients may have talking and eating disorders as well.

Quality of Life (QoL)

The value assigned to duration of life as modified by the impairments, functional states, perceptions and opportunities influenced by disease, injury, treatment and policy. (Patrick DL, Erickson P. 1988)

Quality of upper extremity skills test (QUEST)

The patterns of movement and hand function of cerebral palsy patients between the 18 months and 8 years old are assessed in a series of tasks.  Thirty six items concentrating on dissociated movements, grasp, protective extension, and weight bearing are included in the battery.  Items are assessed within a play context.

Quasi-experimental design

A study in which subjects typically receive differing treatments and outcomes are then compared.  No randomization is done in the assignment of treatment groups.

Randomized Controlled Trial (RCT)

Typically, experimental design in which subjects are randomly assigned to a treatment group, or to a control (no treatment or alternative treatment) group. Effects of the experimental treatment are then compared statistically to results from control treatment to determine effectiveness. 

Range of motion (ROM)

The movement of a joint or muscle. It is usually discussed in therapy according to maximums, such that a muscle can extend, for instance, only a certain distance without being forced. Commonly passive or active ROMs are referred to. Passive ROM implies the movement of a joint or muscle initiated by a therapist, whereas active ROM implies the movement of a joint or muscle initiated by an individual him/herself.