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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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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.

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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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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New guidelines for CRPS management

Rachael Lowe — Mon, 16 Jan 2012 19:46:45 +0000

Complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS) is a debilitating, painful condition in a limb associated with sensory, motor, autonomic, skin and bone abnormalities. Pain is typically the leading symptom, but is often associated with limb dysfunction and psychological distress. Prompt diagnosis and early treatment is required to avoid secondary physical problems related to disuse of the affected limb and the psychological consequences of living with undiagnosed chronic pain. UK guidelines have recently been developed for diagnosis and management in the context of primary and secondary care. The purpose of this concise guideline is to draw attention to these guidelines. Information in this article has been extracted from the main document and adapted to inform the management of CRPS as it presents to physicians in the course of their daily practice.

Turner-Stokes, Lynne., Goebel, Andreas. Complex regional pain syndrome in adults: concise guidance. Clinical Medicine 2011: 11; 596-600

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Do you have a professional interest in Pain and it`s management?

Rachael Lowe — Thu, 15 Sep 2011 07:46:55 +0000

The Physiotherapy Pain Association (UK) and Sociedad Española de Fisioterapia y Dolor (Spain) are seeking expressions of interest and support for their joint proposal to establish an International Pain Network. With sufficient support they would like to seek recognition as a Network of the World Confederation for Physical Therapy (WCPT). They are hoping that the formation, implementation and ongoing development of such a network would raise the profile of pain and its management within the world of physical therapy but also within the global society. It could also support the aims and ambitions of other pain interest groups such as The International Association for the Study of Pain (IASP).

The free to access network would allow valuable information exchange of topics as diverse as:

basic pain science
pathophysiology
pain management programmes
functional rehabilitation
paediatric pain control

It may assist in the development of all pain clinicians and those with a passing interest, being able to learn from each other and effectively and efficiently share practice. There is an opportunity for everyone to learn from different approaches across different cultures and health systems, both developed and developing. The PPA and SEFID very much hope that you will support them in their venture and perhaps share this information with other colleagues in your area of work within your particular countries.

To express your interest in supporting this venture, please send them an email.

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Physical therapists at the heart of the global battle against cancer

Rachael Lowe — Thu, 01 Sep 2011 13:33:10 +0000

This September the United Nations will hold its first ever summit on non-communicable disease - only the second such meeting to focus on global disease. The summit, involving heads of state, is an official recognition that non-communicable diseases (cardiovascular diseases, chronic respiratory diseases, diabetes and cancer) are an increasing global health challenge. They already claim 35 million lives a year – around 60 per cent of deaths. For physical therapists, the official recognition that a global strategy is required to reduce this burden of disability and deaths is highly significant. The profession of physical therapy, known in some countries as physiotherapy, helps millions of people every year to prevent these conditions and their risk factors – most importantly obesity. They also manage their effects, along with the effects of aging, illness, accidents, and the stresses and strains of life. Physical therapists specialise in human movement and physical activity, promoting health, fitness, and wellness. They identify physical impairments, limitations, and disabilities that prevent people from being as active and independent as they might be, and then they find ways of overcoming them. They maximise people’s movement potential. So when the World Health Organization points out that physical inactivity is one of the leading risk factors for global mortality, causing 3.2 deaths annually, and that physical activity can reduce non-communicable diseases, it is clear that the profession has a major part to play. In any global actions that emerge from the UN Summit on Non-Communicable Diseases in New York on 19th and 20th September, physical therapists must be central to plans and implementation. That is why World Physical Therapy Day, held every year on 8th September, is particularly important this year. It is a day when physical therapists can publicise their work, educate the public and policy makers about what they do, and try and ensure that the public benefit from their skills. Many people do not recognise the contribution physical therapists make in keeping people healthy and independent. This year on World Physical Therapy Day, WCPT is particularly drawing attention to physical therapists’ role in reducing the risk of cancer, and helping people recover from its effects. The World Health Organization has this year drawn attention to the role of physical activity in reducing cancers – 150 minutes a week of moderate physical activity can reduce the risk of breast and colon cancers, according to WHO’s new Global Recommendations on Physical Activity for Health. But the physical therapy contribution in cancer goes wider than that. Studies have also indicated a relationship between higher physical activity levels and lower mortality in cancer survivors. One recent meta-analysis reported that, post-diagnosis, physical activity reduced breast cancer deaths by 34% and disease recurrence by 24% (Ibrahim EM, Al-Homaidh A. Physical activity and survival after breast cancer diagnosis: meta-analysis of published studies. Med Oncol. 2010 Apr 22). Another meta-analysis found that exercise brings people with breast cancer improved peak oxygen consumption and reduced fatigue (McNeely ML, Campbell KL et al. Effects of exercise on breast cancer patients and survivors: a systematic review and metaanalysis. CMAJ. 2006 Jul 4;175(1) 34-41). I conduct workshops around the world, demonstrating how adults with chronic health problems can improve their health by learning how to exercise safely under the guidance and instruction of physical therapists. Activity has to be introduced carefully if a person is overweight, unfit, older, or has a chronic disease. Physical therapists do this by examining the person, recommending exercises that are safe and appropriate for them, and educating them about how to look for signs of trouble. This makes them the ideal professionals to prescribe exercise programmes for cancer. According to the World Health Organisation, cancer is a leading cause of death worldwide and accounted for 7.6 million deaths (around 13% of all deaths) in 2008. Deaths from cancer worldwide are projected to continue to rise to over 11 million in 2030, yet more than 30% of cancer deaths can be prevented. Physical therapy doesn’t just mean more healthy people, but more productive people who can contribute to countries’ economies. Their services are provided in an atmosphere of trust and respect for human dignity and underpinned by sound clinical reasoning and scientific evidence. These are important messages that physical therapists want to convey to the world every day, but especially on 8th September, World Physical Therapy Day. The message is clear: physical therapists are the movement, physical activity, and exercise experts and a resource in the battle against non-communicable disease that should never be overlooked.

Written by Marilyn Moffat, President of the World Confederation for Physical Therapy

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