Okuzeka
Physiotherapy vocabulary · Neurological Rehabilitation

Coordination

Meaning in physiotherapy, with examples

/koʊˌɔːrdɪˈneɪʃən/nounCommon term

In physiotherapy, coordination means: The ability to use different parts of the body together smoothly and accurately, for example when reaching for a cup or walking in a straight line.

In Turkish: koordinasyon

How it is used

Physiotherapists test coordination in neurological assessments with tasks such as finger-to-nose and heel-to-shin, looking for clumsiness, shaking or overshooting the target. Problems with the cerebellum often cause poor coordination, called ataxia. Coordination is trained with repeated, task-specific practice.

Example sentences

  1. Her coordination is poor on the right; she overshoots the target in the finger-to-nose test.

  2. Throwing and catching a ball is good practice for hand-eye coordination.

Common collocations

  • poor coordination
  • hand-eye coordination
  • coordination exercises
  • test coordination
  • balanceThe ability to keep the body steady and upright, whether standing still or moving, without falling.
  • proprioceptionThe body's sense of where its joints and limbs are and how they are moving, even with the eyes closed.
  • multiple sclerosisA long-term condition in which the immune system damages the protective covering of nerves in the brain and spinal cord, causing symptoms such as fatigue, weakness and balance problems.
  • strokeDamage to part of the brain caused when its blood supply is blocked or a blood vessel bursts, often leading to weakness and problems with speech or balance.

More terms: Neurological Rehabilitation

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This page explains English vocabulary for learners. It is not medical advice.