MEDICAL TERMS & MEANINGS

Your Questions, Answered

Chronic condition: Condition that persists over a  period of time or that is expected to last. The condition is not necessarily  severe and may gradually worsen. It may also be a condition with no cure such as  lymphoedema, which has no cure but can be controlled.

Congestive heart failure: A condition when the heart  is failing to pump. Often, one side of the heart starts to fail before the  other. Should the left ventricle fail first, the result is pulmonary oedema, as  the fluid accumulates in the lungs. Should the right ventricle fail first, the  result is peripheral oedema, usually noticeable in the feet and ankles.

Fascia: Tissue surrounding, binding and separating  the muscle

Fibromyalgia: Chronic condition characterized by  poorly localized pain, tender points, and fatigue. It is often accompanied by  symptoms such as insomnia, anxiety and depression.

Filariasis: Disturbance of the lymphatic system by  the filariae, which are larvae transmitted by mosquito bites. It often results  in gross lymphoedema called elephantiasis

Ischemic compression:  Myofascial technique  consisting in applying pressure on a particular point of the body for a short  period of time with the intention to momentarily cut the blood supply to the  area. It is also called trigger point therapy.

Lymphoedema: Long term, chronic condition  characterized by swelling of certain parts of the body, and is caused by  problems with the lymphatic system.

Massage: Manipulation of the soft tissue of the body  with techniques such as kneading and rubbing with the purpose of relaxing the  muscles and the nervous system

Myofascial:  Skeletal muscle and the fascia  surrounding it

Oedema: Excess fluid in the body tissue, usually as a  result of a trauma such as a blow to the tissue, sport injury or following  surgery.

Pressure gradient: The change in pressure measured  across a given distance is called a "pressure gradient". The pressure gradient  results in a net force that is directed from high to low pressure and this force  is called the "pressure gradient force". The air moves from a high to low  pressure. The pressure is greater in deep water than on the surface.

Ulcer: Excessive accumulation of pus in an inflamed  confined area