occupational cramp

painful spasm of the muscles, usually in the hand or arm, that prevents the individual from engaging in an occupation, such as writing, driving, sewing, playing a musical instrument, or firing a gun. It is a form of dystonia. See musician’s cramp; writer’s cramp. See also repetitive strain injury.

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Psychology term of the day

January 30th 2025

febrile seizure

a seizure arising from a high fever. It is the most common type of seizure in childhood and 20 to 30% of them recur. Febrile seizure is a benign condition for most children, but experiments with nonhuman animals and neuroimaging studies in humans suggest some febrile seizures may damage the hippocampus.