Dr. Scott F. Gillman - Family & Sports Chiropractic

Glossary of Chiropractic &
Medical Terms

EDEMA – Swelling. An excessive accumulation of fluid (lymph or blood), generally in the extracellular area. Edema is a natural body event in response to situations such as trauma or infection, and, when under control, may be helpful in the proper healing response. Edema is also a sign of other illnesses, such as congestive heart failure causing fluid to back-up in the legs, and thus it requires diagnosis.

EFFECTIVENESS: The potential any given procedure or group of procedures has to produce a desired effect under actual conditions of use.

EFFICACY: The degree of the benefit of treatment when compared to the risk. It is based on subjective and objective evaluations of both the relief of pain and return to function, and the time and effort required to achieve them.

ELECTIVE CARE: Treatment/care that is discretionary and at the option of the patient who wishes to promote or maintain optimum function with preventative/maintenance care.

ELECTROENCEPHALOGRAPHY (EEG) - The study of the electrical currents set up by brain actions; the record made is called an electroencephalogram.

ELECTROMYOGRAPHY (EMG) - A method of recording the electrical currents generated in a muscle during its contraction.

ENDOCRINE GLAND - A gland which furnishes an internal secretion, usually having an effect on another organ.

ENDOGENOUS - Arising within or derived from the body.

ENDOSCOPE - A medical device for viewing internal portions of the body. It is usually comprised of fiber optic tubes and video display instruments.

ENDOSCOPY - Inspection of internal body structures or cavities using an endoscope.

EPIDURAL - Immediately outside the dura mater. Same as extradural.

EPIDURAL HEMATOMA - A blood clot between the dura mater and the inside of the skull.

EPILEPSY - Disorder characterized by abnormal electrical discharges in the brain, causing abnormal sensation, movement, or level of consciousness.

EVALUATION: See Assessment.

EXERCISE - Active exercise: An exercise performed without the help of others. Jogging, for example, is an active exercise. Passive exercise: Movement of the body, usually of the limbs, without effort by the patient. The patient is passive. Isometric exercise: Exercise involving muscular contractions without movement of the involved parts of the body. Isotonic exercise: moving a constant resistive load, regardless of the rate of speed, e.g. biceps curling a dumbbell. Isokinetic exercise: moving a resistive load at the same speed, regardless of restive changes, e.g. elastic tubing exercises.

EXOGENOUS - Originating outside of the body.

EXTERNAL RECORDS: Incoming or outgoing correspondence and records of other communications with practitioners, lawyers, third-party payors or the patient.

EXTRADURAL - On the outer side of the dura mater.