WHERE THERE IS LIFE, THERE IS HOPE!
How apt is this adage when one looks at the patients of spinal cord injuries who are bed ridden or are wheel chair bound? The erstwhile patients of spinal cord injuries such as even our superman. Christopher Reeve who suffered from a SCI after a fall from a horse that left him paralyzed had lived with the hope of a better recovery and tomorrow based on recovery. There have been phenomenal strides made in the arena of SCI. The evolving understanding of the neurons, their altered circuits after an SCI has led to improved protocols of treatment and newer approaches in physiotherapy.
These new approaches have redefined the approach of Physiotherapists to these patients. Hydrotherapy, bio feedbacks are some of the innovative methods adopted today. What is the Indian experience of these newer options in Indian patients? Have we seen improved outcomes in our patients? Should they be now included in standard treatment protocols? Come find the answers to these dilemmas with us in this issue of PHYSIOTIMES. Apart from our regular sections like physio yoga, students corner, case report etc., we have introduced four more sections from this issue covering manipulative therapy, Ergonomics, Radiology for physiotherapists, & Physio CME. From this issue PHYSIOTIMES has moved to 64 pages from the previous 52 pages, to provide more and more information to our readers.
Accounts of spinal cord injuries and their treatment date back to ancient times, even though there was little chance of recovery from such a devastating injury. The earliest is found in an Egyptian papyrus roll manuscript written in approximately 1700 B.C. that describes two spinal cord injuries involving fracture or dislocation of the neck vertebrae accompanied by paralysis. The description of each was "an ailment not to be treated."
Centuries later in Greece, treatment f... Read More
The annual incidence of traumatic spinal cord injury (SCI) in developed countries varies from 11.5 to 53.4 per million of population. Deaths after admission for acute SCI range from 4.4% to 16.7 %. In our setup, most of these injuries occur due to fall from roofs, fall from hills and trees, or road traffic accidents, which can be prevented. The Sudden onset of SCI is dreadful and has a profound impact on the individuals and their families. Knowledge of epidemiology, physiology, treatment moda... Read More
Indian Spinal Injuries Centre (ISIC) is South Asia's most advanced and India's only hospital to offer comprehensive medical management to the spinal injured. It is an Indo-Italian venture located in Vasant Kunj, New Delhi. In addition to treating disorders of the spine, ISIC is fully equipped with infrastructure and qualified personnel for complete health care. ISIC has the largest number of trained rehabilitation professionals, who have specialized from Institutes in Australia, Switz... Read More
What is the theme for the 48th IAP Conference and its importance? The theme for the conference is Let’s Move the physic way”. Our organizing committee is making its best efforts to make this event informative, interactive, relevant and memorable. Besides, other professional issues will be addressed at debates, Panel discussion and a trade exhibition to showcase products from india and all over the world. We promise that this conference would be a blend of science, acade... Read More
A profession “In Demand”: The scope of physiotherapy in India is very large. It is estimated that about 10% of the population of the world is suffering from physical disability in one way or the other. In India, many people are becoming physically disabled because of ignorance of preventive therapy and lack of professionals like physiotherapists. According to WHO's norm, every 10,000 population may need at least one therapist. Given the population of India, job opportunities i... Read More
Background: In simple terms, brachial plexus is a network of nerves that conducts signals from the spine to the shoulder, arm and hand. Anatomically, it is the arrangement of nerve fibers, running from the spine, formed by the ventral rami of the lower cervical and upper thoracic nerve root, specifically from below the fifth cervical vertebra to above the first thoracic vertebra (C5-T1). It proceeds through the neck, the axilla (armpit region) and into the arm.
Injuries ... Read More
What is the ultimate goal of our work? Marx would say our efforts go towards making a few people richer, while the rest of us waste our lives doing hard work we hate, just to survive. It is certainly hard to argue the point that technology makes our lives easier, because we still work just as hard to control the machines we designed to “do the work for us.” In this section, I would like to provide you explanations, guidelines and suggestions on how to work smarter not ... Read More
Mr.Rajan (name changed), 34 year old, automobile worker was referred for physiotherapy treatment. He came to the OPD on the wheel chair and when asked to stand he complained of severe nagging and irksome pain at the back radiating down to the right side leg. After making him comfortable in supine lying position I started taking the history of the current back pain. He gave the history that, the problem came suddenly while he lifted the tyre of a truck to repair a puncture. The pain aggravates... Read More
Introduction by Dr. Bharat Dave: The CME started at 9:30 a.m. by introductory lecture of Dr.Bharat Dave. He mentioned history, explained structure & function of intervertebral Disc. There are 32 avascular & aneural disc, which act as a shock absorber and shrinks & swells 1,000,000 times in one year. He explained difference between degeneration & herniation of the disc.
Degeneration is aging process affecting end plate & disc nutrition; characterized by desiccatio... Read More
Introduction to X-rays: X-Rays are electromagnetic radiation like heat radio waves meaning wave like fluctuations of electric & magnetic field set up in space by vibrating electrons. X-rays were discovered in 1895 by Sir Wilhelm Conrad Rontgen, a German Physicist. He named these rays as x-rays as ‘x’ in mathematics means unknown. Thus the birth of field of radiology & Sir Wilhelm Rontgen is called the “Father of Radiology”.
Read MorePain after Spinal Cord Injury: Acute pain is common after a spinal cord injury (SCI). The pain may occur because of the damage to the spinal cord, or it may occur from damage to other areas of the body at the time of injury.
It is also common for many individuals with SCI to experience chronic pain. It can occur in areas where there is normal sensation, and it can occur in parts of the body where there is little or no feeling after injury. The pain is very real and may have a ... Read More
CHRONIC TENSION HEADACHE : Primary headache constitute a major health problem. Population- based studies suggest 1- year prevalence rate of 38.3% for Episodic Tension Type Headache (ETTH) and 2.2% for the chronic form. “Normal” headaches are also known as Tension headaches. This is a lasting pain that can be felt in the head. Tension headaches are occasional although they can last half an hour to a week.
CAUSES : The etiology of tension type headache is unclear, but ther... Read More
Dr Lisa Harvey in this book provides an innovative 5-step approach to the physiotherapy management of people with spinal cord injury. Based on the International Classification of Functioning, this approach emphasizes the importance of setting goals which are purposeful and meaningful to the patient. These goals are related to performance of motor tasks analysed in terms of 6 key impairments. The author develops readers' problem-solving skills equipping them to manage all types of spinal c... Read More