Physiospot - Physiotherapy and Physical Therapy in the Spotlight » Paediatrics

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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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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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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Video Games and Physical Therapy: Just Cool or Does It Really Work?

Lindsay Bayuk — Mon, 10 Oct 2011 02:13:18 +0000

Can video games be used to improve physical therapy patient outcomes? As naturally curious people, we wanted to learn more about the practical applications (current and future) for video games for physical therapy.

Students from Rice University

In a very recent article in Engadget, several students from Rice University created a video game especially for pediatric physical therapy. The game, called Equilibrium, was commissioned by the Shriner’s Hospital to get kids excited about improving their walking gait and balance. Equilibrium uses the Wii Balance Board and custom designed balance bars. The students created a monster shooting game that increases in difficulty as patients progress in their therapy. The difference between this game and regular exercises is…more fun! Watch an interview with the Rice University student researchers here.

Although this custom program is too expensive and not yet available for the public, it does show the future potential for therapy-focused games. Using video games in conjunction with physical therapy seems particularly applicable for pediatric patients. Judith Deutsch, PT, PhD used video games to improve results with a 13 year-old patient with spastic diplegic cerebral palsy. The patient showed measured improvements in visual-perceptual processing, postural control and functional mobility. Here are some pictures showing young patients playing Wii games. The competitive aspect of the game is more engaging to young kids and makes exercise more like free time and less like work.

The Nintendo Wii and Wii Fit were also used in a recently released study by Johns Hopkins researchers. Twenty-two patients admitted to the intensive care unit at Johns Hopkins used the video game system as part of 42 physical therapy sessions. The activities done with the Wii included bowling and boxing. Although more study is needed, some of the initial results are shared below:

“As always, patient safety was a top priority, given that healthy people playing video games may be injured during routine gaming, but when properly selected and supervised by experienced ICU physical therapists, patients enjoyed the challenge of the video games and welcomed the change from their physical therapy routines.” – Dale M. Needham, M.D. ,Ph.D., associate professor and medical director of the Critical Care Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation Program at Johns Hopkins.

Microsoft’s Xbox Kinect has also been used in a physical therapy setting. The gaming console uses motion sensor technology to monitor patient movements. This technology could some day be used as a simple way to measure patient range of motion. The video below shows the Kinect being used for exactly this purpose (although only for research).

Since the use of video games with physical therapy is relatively new, we wanted to find more examples of real world use. Through some Google searches, we stumbled across Ridgefield Physical Therapy. In a blog post on the clinic’s website, owner Chuck Giordano says,
“We know certain patients can benefit from the added functionality which the Wii can bring to their exercise programs, and we carefully apply this new method which can lead to improved outcomes.” Comprehensive Orthopedic Physical Therapy also wrote a detailed list of benefits of the Wii system for physical therapy patients.

We’d love to know if you are using or have used video games for your patients. What worked and what did not work?

Lindsay is a blogger for WebPT, Inc. a Phoenix-based software company that has tripled in size over the last 12 months. WebPT develops the leading Web-based EMR for Physical Therapists. It is the easiest, most affordable, and most complete solution for physical therapy clinics on the market today. WebPT ensures compliance, security, and efficiency while providing a truly mobile solution that meets the needs of today’s PT. For more info, Web-based EMR for Physical Therapists.

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