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Exploring the brain – 27th April – Coventry, UK

Rachael Lowe — Fri, 30 Mar 2012 07:56:48 +0000

These neuroscience based workshop sessions are designed for professionals in rehabilitation: Physiotherapists, Occupational Therapists, Nurses and others.

Learning outcomes:

To be able to use knowledge of brain structure and function in developing imaginative treatment planning in rehabilitation.
To have a deeper understanding of the client’s response to stress and pain.
To understand the complexity of decision making when planning treatment and organising a department.

Tutor: Dr Gillie McNeill BA DPhil (Oxford)

Date: Friday 27th April 2012

Duration: One day

Cost: £80.00

Venue: University Hospital Coventry

Location: Coventry, Warwickshire

Contact Name: Sue Dukelow

Contact Phone: 01375 893 820

Contact Email: sd@welbeing-cpd.co.uk

Web Link to Course: www.welbeing-cpd.co.uk

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Mediterranea creates new physiotherapy service in Ghana.

Rachael Lowe — Thu, 29 Mar 2012 12:19:17 +0000

Today a meeting was held in the UIB (Balearic Islands University) with the team running the UIB-At the beginning of May Alicia Moratiel, Physiotherapist and Member of Mediterranea, a humanitarian aid NGO based in Mallorca, opened her email and saw the following communication from the College of Physiotherapists in the Baleares: ‘The NGO Mediterranea is developing a project in Ghana. Part of this project is to start a physiotherapy dept in a small hospital in the East of the country just where the Volta enters the sea. We need volunteers to help get things started and train the future local team.’ Alicia immediately started to gather more information. She discovered that the hospital Dangme East in Ada Foah was organised by one doctor, Dr Philip Narth, who works 24 hours a day all days of the year and has 30 nurses for a population of 186000. The ratio of nurses per inhabitant in Spain is 531 per 100000 and of doctors 445 per 100000. In this region of Africa there is 1 for 186000! It seemed to her to be completely disproportionate. At the level of physiotherapy it seemed clear, a hospital that cares for a high percentage of cardiovascular and traffic accidents needs to have physiotherapy. Also to rehabilitate post traumatic injuries, to assist the recovery of patients who have been operated, to reduce recovery time, to assist in the regeneration of epithelial tissue, burns, ulcers…these and others are the functions that Alicia thought they could develop. Alicia also discovered that Mediterranea had fulfilled a number of other projects at the hospital, including setting up a laboratory for the hospital and building a residence for mothers visiting the hospital with their children. She was also surprised and happy to read in the Mediterranea blog that, thanks to the generosity of some British members, the physiotherapy project already had a substantial amount of equipment in Ghana waiting to be used.

From that point onwards things moved quickly. At the end of May at the first meeting volunteers were able to learn more about Mediterranea, it’s ideas and philosophy, see some photos of the hospital and region, they covered some logistic themes like vaccines and first aid and learnt about all the documentation that was needed. At the meeting they organised an administrative nucleus of physios to coordinate the physiotherapy side of the project. They followed this meeting with another some days later and had a number of lecturers from the UIB (University of Baleares) attend. They established minimum and maximum stays for the volunteers in Ghana and agreed to group together the trips of volunteers to minimise the disruption to Dr Narth’s team in Ghana since the airport is 200+ km from the hospital. They also allocated the different tasks amongst themselves. As Alicia was not able to attend the first meeting and as someone completely new to this type of project she was hypnotised by the energy and enthusiasm of the other physios at this meeting and their desire to develop our profession into regions where it’s needed. She also appreciated the big effort that would be required to coordinate the trips and handovers of not only our Spanish physios but also British physios who had responded with enthusiasm to a small communication from Mediterranea distributed through the Institute of Physiotherapists in the UK.

A couple of weeks later a third meeting was held to clarify some details and to go deeper into the second part of the project which is the training that will be provided to the locals in Ghana. The first part of the project is immediate. To get the physiotherapy dept up and running and they shall achieve this by maintaining a flow of volunteers to the hospital. The second part will be a little more complex and will involve some communication between the University of Ghana’s physiotherapy dept based in Accra and the UIB, in order to launch an official training course for physios in that part of the country.

Last year Mediterranea officially launched the Physiotherapy Dept in Dangme East Hospital, Ghana.

Since July last year the UIB and the team running the UIB-Mediterranea NGO Physiotherapy program have sent 7 Physiotherapists to the Dangme East hospital in Ada Ghana where they have treated people and where they have introduced physiotherapy as yet another service the hospital can offer to the population it looks after. In the near future a team of 3 or 4 staff from the university will travel to Ghana to put in to effect a training program in conjunction with the Physiotherapy faculty in Accra.

Physiopedia is proud to acknowledge the efforts of the people involved in this project. It is a great example of what a few people and small partnerships can achieve to selflessly help those in need, spreading physiotherapy knowledge around the world to improve global health.

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Online physiotherapy glossary from the WCPT

Rachael Lowe — Tue, 27 Mar 2012 12:23:07 +0000

Supporting the Confederation’s policies and guidelines, the WCPT has launched an online glossary. It has been developed for the profession to aid international interpretation and promote a global consistency in terminology. Citing the importance of having an international glossary WCPT’s President, Marilyn Moffat, says “WCPT’s glossary is the first A-Z covering professional and educational issues, rather than practice interventions. To support the development and implementation of WCPT’s policies and guidelines a clear understanding of terminology internationally is important and this glossary is designed to facilitate that and promote consistency. We’re hopeful that this will be a valuable resource for the profession and one that will continue to grow over time”. With over 170 fully referenced terms the glossary is a significant tool for WCPT’s member organisations, regions, subgroups and individual physical therapists. WCPT is encouraging the wide use of these international terms. The glossary may be accessed as:

An annual review of this glossary will take place. Member organisations, regions and subgroups can suggest amendments and terms for inclusion in the glossary where they are internationally applicable. Please send suggestions and comments to info@wcpt.org.

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New T-Haler Helps Improve Use of Inhalers

Rachael Lowe — Fri, 16 Mar 2012 08:50:52 +0000

Asthma inhalers seem easy to use, but they actually require a good deal of precision and fine timing during shaking, inhalation, and pressing of the button. Learning how to properly use the devices has always been a watch and learn affair, but now a new practice inhaler has been developed, called T-Haler, that can actually correct improper usage naturally and intuitively. The device senses whether it received enough shaking, how much inhalation pressure was applied, and whether the button was pressed at the right time to release the medication. The T-Haler has undergone testing in a trial that showed that people who used it were able to significantly perfect their inhalation technique.

More than 50 healthy participants, aged 18-60, took part in a recent study conducted by Cambridge Consultants to test the efficacy of T-Haler. Before using the training system, the average success rate of the group in using an inhaler correctly was in the low 20% range – in line with numerous other studies carried out. The participants had no prior experience with asthma or inhalers and were given no human instruction beyond being handed the T-Haler and told to begin. The on-screen interface walked the group through the process, which takes just three minutes to complete.

“What was remarkable about the T-Haler in our own study was how quickly the participants learned, and how well that knowledge stayed with them,” said Kate Farrell, Senior Design Engineer, Medical Technology at Cambridge Consultants. “Without any human direction beyond the word ‘go’, participants went from around a 20% success rate without training to a success rate of more than 60% after only three minutes with the T-Haler device. This is more than twice the compliance rate we have seen in other studies with trained participants. Interestingly, a week later, 55% were still correctly using the device – showing that they retained what they learned.”

Crucial role of physiotherapists highlighted in end of life care guide

Rachael Lowe — Fri, 16 Mar 2012 08:42:05 +0000

This ‘how to’ guide for end of life care builds upon the overarching framework set out in The route to success in end of life care – achieving quality in acute hospitals, published in 2010. The route to success highlighted best practice models developed by acute hospital Trusts, providing a comprehensive framework to enable hospitals to deliver high quality care to people at the end of life. This ‘how to’ guide aims to help clinicians, managers and directors implement ‘The route to success’ more effectively.

The guidelines have been produced by the National End of Life Care Programme (NEoLCP) in collaboration with the NHS Institute for Innovation and Improvement. This guide will only improve the way hospitals care for people nearing the end of life if frontline, practical professionals commit to it. Physiotherapists have a crucial role to play in supporting people in the last phase of life, they can make a real difference to improve end of life care.

Virtual exercise classes for individuals with COPD

Rachael Lowe — Fri, 24 Feb 2012 09:30:56 +0000

Individuals with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) are able to take part in physiotherapy in their own homes as part of a new video-conferencing trial in Scotland. The trial sees small groups of patients matched up with a physiotherapist so they can support one another as they practice exercises at home. It has developed from a scheme which started a year ago, in which exercise and education classes held at oneHospital were beamed live to another class at another hospital enabling one teacher to lead groups in two locations at the same time. Patients taking part are equipped with a specially-designed phone with a screen. They dial into a virtual room and they see me in the middle of their screen and the other four people in the group, all at once. The project means that patients who might not otherwise be able to attend exercise classes can now do so to great benefit to their health. Feedback from individuals involved so far has been very positive.

Physio Dubai 2012 – 20/21 May – Dubai

Rachael Lowe — Mon, 13 Feb 2012 13:09:54 +0000

Following the great success of Physio Dubai 2010, the Emirates Physiotherapy Society is proud to announce the 4th Biennial Emirates Physiotherapy Conference, Physio Dubai 2012. The conference will focus on presenting the latest scientific knowledge in various aspects of physiotherapy practice related to movement dysfunction.

Conference objectives:

To contribute to the professional development of physiotherapists by bringing together experts to share their knowledge and research findings.
To provide an opportunity for local physiotherapists to expand collaborative networks for learning regionally and internationally.
To identify and describe current evidence – based practice in physiotherapy management.
To highlight the role of multidisciplinary approach in the physiotherapy practice.
To provide a forum for presenting and sharing knowledge and ideas at an academic, conceptual and clinical level.

Content:

The conference will be comprised of keynote lectures, free paper sessions, poster presentations, breakout clinical workshops and pre/ post conference courses. The official language of the conference is English.

Program Highlights:

New models of service delivery for stroke management
Physiotherapy for Men’s health
Update on international professional issues in physiotherapy
Physiotherapy management for the sporting shoulder, foot and ankle
Prevention and rehabilitation of hamstring injuries
Latest evidence in the practical application of clinical neurodynamics

Tutor: Emirates Physiotherapy Society

Date: 20-21 May 2012

Duration: 4 days program

Cost: conference & courses rate are on www.physiodubai.com

Venue: Emirates Towers hotel

Location: Dubai – UAE

Contact Name: MCI

Contact Phone: -

Contact Email: physiodubai2012@mci-group.com

Web Link to Course: www.physiodubai.com

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Worlds first 3D transplant mandible.

Rachael Lowe — Thu, 09 Feb 2012 10:28:43 +0000

A 3D printer-created lower jaw has been fitted to an 83-year-old woman’s face in what doctors say is the first operation of its kind. A multidisciplinary team of engineers and clinicians led by The Functional Morphology Research Group at the University of Hasselt BIOMED Research Institute has created what they believe to be the very first complete 3D-printed lower jaw. Following an MRI scan of the patient’s own diseased mandible, the new mandible was created using laser printing of titanium powder to create a custom 3D implant. The implant is a little heavier than a natural lower jaw weighing in at approximately 107 grams. It was printed in a matter of hours before being sprayed with an artificial bone coating and finally being polished. The new jaw was made for an 83 year old woman who had her entire mandible removed in order to prevent the spread of osteomyelitis and retain an open airway and basic swallowing and chewing functions. The surgery, which took place in June of last year, lasted less than four hours and within one day of the operation the patient regained basic speech and swallowing functions.

CSP formally opposes UK health bill.

Rachael Lowe — Thu, 09 Feb 2012 10:22:14 +0000

The Chartered Society of Physiotherapy in the UK has called for the government’s Health and Social Care Bill to be withdrawn. Chair of council Helena Johnson wrote to prime minister David Cameron and health secretary Andrew Lansley saying the government had failed to make the radical changes needed to the legislation and the bill should now be withdrawn. Final government amendments to the bill were announced at the end of January, with Mr Lansley saying the government had been ‘carefully listening’ to concerns, and the amendments would ‘address these remaining issues’. But CSP said the changes had failed to do this. The society has been a key voice in the opposition to the health bill, particularly over the plans for an increased role for private companies in the NHS.

WCPT launches online presentations from World Physical Therapy 2011.

Rachael Lowe — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 19:06:25 +0000

WCPT is launching a new online resource for physical therapists from its congress, World Physical Therapy 2011. For the first time, WCPT is offering recordings of some of the most popular focused symposia and discussion panels via the WCPT website. The new materials include video and audio recordings with accompanying PowerPoint presentations. As well as providing an opportunity for those who couldn’t attend the sessions to share in the information and opinion provided, the material is also designed to be of use as a valuable teaching and learning resource. As part of WCPT’s commitment to facilitate information exchange across the profession, they are offered free of charge.

In all, there are 12 recordings available, four providing a complete video recording of selected congress discussion panels on the subjects of:

re-building in conflict and disaster zones
promoting health and preventing disability
physical therapists influencing health policy and service provision
health human resources

There are also eight audio recordings of congress focused symposia with accompanying PowerPoint presentations. Subjects covered include teaching about pain, global physical activity transitions, trends in cardiac rehabilitation, leadership in HIV, evidence based practice, moral action, spinal manipulation and stroke rehabilitation. The new resources add to the existing abstracts, posters and PowerPoint slides of congress presentations already available on the congress section of the WCPT website.

See the presentations…

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