squirming

English translation: wriggle

11:14 May 4, 2012

English language (monolingual) [PRO]
Medical - Medical (general) / movements/forms

English term or phrase: squirming

This is a localization job, US to UK English.
It may be that this would also be the correct word in the UK, but it sounds strange, to me, to describe a foot movement as 'squirming', as this is a word that seems to have emotional connotations. It sounds less strange when used of movements of the trunk (of the body).
This is the context, asking the assessor to rate movements of extremities:
'...e.g., lateral knee movement, foot tapping, heel dropping, foot squirming, inversion and eversion of foot'
I would have thought 'twisting movements of the feet' was more appropriate.
However, for the trunk, that is included as well:
'Neck, shoulders, hips e.g., rocking, twisting, squirming, pelvic gyrations'
I'm not sure that I really understand the difference between 'twisting' and 'squirming', here, (but I suppose that is only marginally important, as, in this instance, they are being assessed together).

mportal KudoZ activity Questions: 655 (2 open) (1 without valid answers) (24 closed without grading) Answers: 86
Local time: 03:38

Selected answer:wriggle

Explanation:
Wriggle: to twist to and fro

Merriam-Webster: Wriggle: to move the body or a bodily part to and fro with short writhing motions like a worm

She wriggled her hips....

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Note added at 21 mins (2012-05-04 11:35:59 GMT)
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Sorry, in context given it should be "wriggling"

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Note added at 22 mins (2012-05-04 11:36:44 GMT)
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Sorry about the example sentence. It should be "She wriggled her hips."

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Note added at 53 mins (2012-05-04 12:07:59 GMT)
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Actually, on re-reading the question, I think "twisting" as the asked suggests is probably the preferred word. Everyone knows what "twisting" means, while there may be some confusion about "squirming" and even "wriggling". (Am I talking myself out of points?)

Selected response from:

Suzan Hamer
Netherlands
Local time: 04:38

Grading comment

Selected automatically based on peer agreement.
4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer

SUMMARY OF ALL EXPLANATIONS PROVIDED

3 +2

wriggle

Suzan Hamer

restless/fidgeting/twitching

Yvonne Gallagher

3 +1

squirming

Marga Shaw

flexing

CBHarris

Answers

38 mins confidence:

flexing

Explanation:
Twisting sounds to me like something that is done to your foot.

Clenching is more used with toes than feet, but it might work here.

Reference: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anatomical_terms_of_motion

CBHarris
Spain
Local time: 04:38
Native speaker of:

English

21 mins confidence:

peer agreement (net): +2

wriggle

Wriggle: to twist to and fro Merriam-Webster: Wriggle: to move the body or a bodily part to and fro with short writhing motions like a worm She wriggled her hips....

Suzan Hamer
Netherlands
Local time: 04:38
Works in field
Native speaker of: English
PRO pts in category: 20

Grading comment

Selected automatically based on peer agreement.

1 hr confidence:

restless/fidgeting/twitching

Explanation:
I agreed with Suzan's "wriggling" but on seconfd thoughts think this may be fidgety feet due to restless leg syndrome since "squirming" has the sense of wriggling in pain or twitching or even contorting
or as a kind of reflex action if touched like ticklish feet

http://www.patient.co.uk/health/Restless-Legs-Syndrome.htm

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Note added at 1 hr (2012-05-04 12:31:48 GMT)
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http://restless-leg-syndrome.weebly.com/

Yvonne Gallagher
Ireland
Local time: 03:38
Works in field
Native speaker of:

English
PRO pts in category: 60

3 hrs confidence:

peer agreement (net): +1

squirming

Explanation:
The origin of the word squirm is unknown. When someone squirms, he is said to be twisting in a snake-like motion. For example: she was squirming with pain. It indicates that she was in agony. The verb squirm also means 'to feel humiliation or embarrassment'. For example: he squirmed at the probing questions that were being asked. It implies that he was at discomfort because of embarrassment.
The act of wriggling or squirming is called squirm. Even a twisting movement is termed squirm.
http://wiki.answers.com/Q/What_does_squirm_mean

The term squirming is primarily used in the The abnormal involuntary movements scale (AIMS, 1976), based on a scoring system

As scales of this kind are usually validated, the wording would be both valid in the UK and USA and should not be changed.
e.g.:
Extremity Movements
...
6. Lower (legs, knees ankles, feet, toes) Lateral knee movement, foot tapping, heel dropping, foot squirming, inversion and eversion of foot

Trunk Movements
Neck, Shoulders and Hips
Rocking, twisting, squirming, pelvic gyrations
http://www.cqaimh.org/pdf/tool_aims.pdf

https://docs.google.com/viewer?a=v&q=cache:khLS_xmAkR8J:www....

Marga Shaw
United Kingdom
Local time: 03:38
Specializes in field
Native speaker of: German
PRO pts in category: 16

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squirming

English translation: wriggle

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