locomotor ataxia

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Locomotor Ataxia

Definition: Locomotor ataxia is a medical term used to describe a condition that affects a person's ability to walk properly. It happens when the spinal cord is damaged, usually due to a disease called syphilis. This damage leads to problems with balance and coordination, causing the person to feel unsteady when they walk. They may also experience sharp pains in their body, particularly in their trunk (the main part of the body) and legs, and have issues with bladder control and sexual function.

Usage Instructions:

• Part of Speech: Locomotor ataxia is a noun.
• How to Use: You can use this term when discussing medical conditions related to movement and coordination. It is often used in a clinical or medical context.

Example:

• "The doctor diagnosed him with locomotor ataxia after he complained of difficulty walking and sharp pains in his legs."

Advanced Usage:

• In advanced discussions, you might hear locomotor ataxia mentioned in relation to various treatments, rehabilitation methods, or in the context of neurological studies. For example: "Research into locomotor ataxia has led to new therapies that may help improve mobility in affected patients."

Word Variants:

• Ataxia: This is the root word and can be used on its own to refer to a lack of coordination. It can precede other descriptors, such as "cerebellar ataxia" which refers to ataxia caused by issues in the cerebellum of the brain.
• Locomotor: This term refers to movement or the ability to move from one place to another. It can be used in other contexts, such as "locomotor skills," which refer to basic movement skills like walking, running, and jumping.

Different Meaning:

• "Ataxia" can refer to similar loss of coordination caused by various factors, not just locomotor issues. It is a broader term used in medicine to describe various types of motor control problems.

Synonyms:

• Unsteady gait: Refers to difficulty walking steadily.
• Impaired coordination: This describes problems with coordinating movements.
• Motor dysfunction: This is a more general term that describes problems with movement.

Idioms and Phrasal Verbs:

While there are no direct idioms or phrasal verbs specifically associated with "locomotor ataxia," you might encounter phrases like "on shaky ground," which metaphorically describes feeling unstable, similar to how someone with locomotor ataxia may feel while walking.

Conclusion:

Locomotor ataxia is an important term in the medical field relating to movement disorders.

Academic

Noun

1. syphilis of the spinal cord characterized by degeneration of sensory neurons and stabbing pains in the trunk and legs and unsteady gait and incontinence and impotence

Synonyms

• tabes dorsalis