Medical Terms Made Easy
“Please Use Words I Can Understand, Doctor!”
Anterior: Front half of the body.
Anti-inflammatories: Medicines that
are prescribed to lessen pain, swelling
and stiffness associated with
inflammation of tissue.
Cartilage: A soft tissue structure that is
present within a bone. Cartilage covers
the end of a bone to provide a joint
surface. Other cartilage, such as the
meniscus, allows the joint to fit together
better.
Arthritis: Inflammation of the joint
from a number of causes, leading to pain
and possible joint damage.
Chondromalacia: Softening of joint
surface cartilage. Most commonly, this
involves the kneecap.
Arthroplasty: A surgical procedure
where the surfaces of a joint are replaced
with a prosthesis. The most common
arthroplasties are knee and hip
replacement.
Chondroplasty: A surgical smoothing
of roughened cartilage.
Closed Reduction: A situation that
exists when one of the bones involved in
a joint becomes completely displaced
from its normal position.
Arthroscopy: A technique of
examining joints by looking into them
with a viewing instrument called an
arthroscope. Arthroscopic surgery is a
surgical procedure that is then done with
a limited incision, using the arthroscope
for visualization.
Effusion: An abnormal amount of fluid
present in a joint.
Fracture: Broken bone.
Internal Fixation: Stabilization of a
fracture by means of a device such as
plate, screws, rods or pins.
Aspiration: Removal of fluid from a
joint with a needle and syringe.
Bursa: A small sac that is present in
certain places in the body to allow soft
tissue structures to move more smoothly
over bone. They generally contain a
microscopic amount of lubricating fluid.
Lateral: The portion of the body
farthest from the vertical mid-line of the
body.
Ligament: A soft tissue (not bone)
which connects two bones.
Bursitis: Inflamation of a bursa which
results in an abnormally increased
production of fluid by the lining of the
bursa sac. The condition may or may
not be painful, depending on the amount
of pressure on the surrounding tissue that
it causes.
Loose Body: A piece of loose bone
and/or cartilage which is moving about
freely within a joint.
(over)
Medial: Potion of the body closer to the
vertical mid-line.
Open Fracture: When a fracture is
associated with a wound of the skin and
soft tissue overlying the bone that allows
the fracture to be exposed to air. This
can vary from a small puncture wound
of the skin to a situation where the bone
actually protrudes through the skin.
Open Reduction: Correction of a bone
deformity associated with a fracture or
dislocation that requires surgical
techniques opening the skin.
Orthotic: A fancy word for a brace.
Plica: A fold of joint lining (synovium)
which may become injured or scarred
and then be a source of pain in the knee.
A plica sometimes mimics symptoms of
chondromalaci or a torn cartilage.
Posterior: Back half of the body.
Prone: Lying on the stomach.
Prosthesis: An artificial body part, such
as a knee or hip joint.
Steroids: Cortisone or its derivatives
which are used to treat inflammation, not
to be confused with anabolic steroids
which are used for muscle building. The
use of these anabolic steroids is
restricted.
Subluxation: A situation that exists
when one of the bones involved in a
joint becomes partially displaced. A
subluxation is between a normal position
and a completely dislocated position.
Supine: Lying on the back.
Synovial fluid: The fluid that is present
within a joint. The normal synovial fluid
lubricates and nourishes the cartilage of
the joint surface.
Tendon: A soft tissue structure that
connects muscle to bone.
Tendinitis: Inflammation of a tendon
and its surrounding sheath.
Total Hip replacement: A surgical
procedure where the ball and socket of a
hip joint is replaced with a prosthetic
device.
Source: Orthopedic & Arthritis NEWS, May, 1994, A publication of The McBride Clinic and Bone & Joint
Hospital. Prepared by Thomas C. Howard, III, M.D., Clinical Associate Professor, Department of Orthopedic
Surgery, University of Oklahoma College of Medicine.
Dr. Jan Park, Gerontology Specialist, Oklahoma Cooperative Extension Service, OSU.
(Handout)
Efficiency Principles
If you plan and organize your tasks and workspaces, you will eliminate unnecessary steps, which
saves time and energy. This helps reduce fatigue. Hasty movements are no more quickly
accomplished than organized movements and they often end in extra work. As the saying goes,
“Haste makes waste”. Both tension and fatigue are increased when we feel rushed.
Plan -- Determine the following:
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Is the task necessary?
Can the task be simplified?
Who should perform the task?
What steps are involved in completing the task?
In what order will these steps be most efficient?
What is the best time of day or week to perform the task?
Do you need rest periods to complete the task?
What is the best body position to use to complete the task?
Examples of How to Outsmart Arthritis
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Start large tasks well before the deadline so you can pace yourself, e.g., income tax, school
papers, bills, greeting cards.
Make entertaining easier. Spread tasks over several days. Select foods that you can prepare
ahead of time. Get help for heavy cleaning.
Alternate repetitive cooking tasks such as cutting, chopping and stirring to reduce stress on
your hands. Take short breaks when cooking large quantities. Alternate sitting and standing
to reduce fatigue and joint stress.
Buy vegetables and condiments already chopped in the frozen food and produce section of
your grocery to simplify cooking. Salad bars at grocery stores are an excellent place to
purchase fresh precut vegetables and fruits.
List your regular cleaning tasks. Create a cleaning schedule that works for you. Consider
spreading out light cleaning tasks over a week. Schedule one or two heavy cleaning tasks per
month. Complete them on a “good day”.
Use computer address and return labels for mail to reduce writing strain.
Source: Lorig, K. & Fries, J. (1995). The Arthritis Helpbook, 4th Edition.
Dr. Jan Park, Gerontology Specialist, Oklahoma Cooperative Extension Service, OSU