Sep
5
2023
Assessment Through Touch, by Leon Chaitow, Now in the 3rd edition, fully revised and published in February 2010 with CD-ROM.
This useful guide to palpation for musculoskeletal diagnosis and assessment describes and illustrates the skills needed to increase sophistication of palpatory assessment skills and practice. A companion CD-ROM supports the skills with video clips, and each technique is reinforced with practical exercises and self-assessment questions.
This book is available from: http://www.terrarosa.com.au/book/palpate.htm
By combining a workbook approach with the use of video demonstrations and audio explanations on a CD-Rom, Palpation Skills provides the student and developing practitioner with a portable workshop which they can access at any time. The book helps to extend the range of skills by bringing together suggested approaches from a variety of disciplines.
* Covers the palpation and assessment of all tissues and systems, including the skin, muscle structure, and the spine and pelvis
* Gives practical guidance and instruction on a broad variety of palpation techniques
* All the palpation techniques covered are clearly described and illustrated in the text and supported by video film on the CD-Rom
* Each technique is supported by practical exercises and self assessment questions.
* Further questions relating to the video clips are included in the CD-Rom
* Directs the beginner in the correct way to carry out the techniques and provides additional techniques for the practitioner to add to his basic library of skills
* Provides outcome expectations against which progress can be measured.
* The video support can help to identify how to improve these skills.
* Written by a highly respected practitioner and teacher – brings his workshops to the individual at home and in the clinic
* 2 colour printing throughout the text helps to clarify the structure of the content and the details of the movements being shown in the diagrams
* The CD-Rom (featuring video clips) supports and supplements the written text.
This book is available from: http://www.terrarosa.com.au/book/palpate.htm
Sep
5
2023
Research into the causes and treatment of repetitive strain injury is urgently needed for the millions of sufferers worldwide, say experts.
Decades after RSI was first reported, evidence is still lacking to guide diagnosis and care, The Lancet reports.
Unless clear definitions and evidence of effective treatments are found, RSI will remain controversial, says Dutch author Professor Maurits van Tulder.
RSI is an umbrella term for disorders that stem from repetitive movements.
Disabling
Several countries report statistics showing that RSI affects 5% to 10% of the population.
For some occupations, such as dressmakers and secretaries, this goes up to 40%.
According to the Chartered Society of Physiotherapy, almost 450,000 UK workers have upper limb RSI.
And between 2003 and 2004, about 4.7m work days were lost to RSI, as workers took an average 18 days sick leave.
Many cases of RSI involve painful hands, wrists, arms, shoulders and neck, and are associated with modern desk work involving computer equipment such as keyboards and mice.
In some populations that we’ve studied, between 22% and 40% of people have evidence of RSI
Professor Peter Buckle, University of Surrey
While there are theories as to how these conditions develop, none are supported by strong scientific evidence, and diagnosis is difficult.
Some experts have suggested that the continuous contraction of muscles from repetitive movements can result in disrupted local blood circulation, or that pain sensors in the muscles could become over-sensitive.
Doctors are also struggling when it comes to appropriate treatments – although several studies have shown exercise to be beneficial for symptom relief.
Treatments such as massage or the use of ergonomic keyboards are often recommended, but researchers trying to verify that they worked found they did not reduce sick leave in people who used them.
‘Disappointing’
Professor van Tulder, who looked at the available evidence on RSI to date, explained: “No gold standard tests for RSI exist. Strong recommendations for any therapeutic intervention cannot be made at present.
“The disorder will remain controversial until high-quality trials provide clear definitions of repetitive strain injury and evidence of effective treatments.”
A British expert, Professor Peter Buckle from the University of Surrey, said that there was an urgent need for more research.
He said: “Given the prevalence in the working population, it’s disappointing we have such a paucity of high quality evidence about diagnosis and treatment.”
Many organisations were blind to the fact that they had massive problems with RSI,” he added.
He advised: “Often when people are finally diagnosed with RSI their condition is often much worse, so it is important that people not only try to prevent it happening in the first place, but also consult a doctor as early as possible.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/6692683.stm
Sep
5
2023
People do become shorter as they get older. While a small amount of height loss is unlikely to cause problems, losing a significant amount of height might indicate other health problems, such as osteoporosis. Loss of height can affect the normal functioning of lungs and the gastrointestinal tract, which can lead to loss of appetite, poor nutritional status and weight loss. It also appears to be associated with loss of muscle mass and strength.
To study the problem, researchers from the Royal Free and University College Medical School and the University of London, involved in the British Regional Heart Study screened 7,735 men ages 40 to 59 years drawn from one general practice in 24 British towns between 1978 and 1980. After 20 years, all those who survived — now ages 60 to 79 — were asked to come in for a follow-up examination. Among other tests, the men’s height and weight were measured without shoes at the baseline examination and at 20 years later. A total of 4,252 men took part in the follow-up height and weight screening. Of these, valid measures of height change were available in 4,213 men.
Recordings were monitored during the entire period to identify deaths and heart disease in all those who took part in the initial part of the study. The men in the study also filled out surveys that detailed their habits and their medical histories. They were asked to describe their health status as excellent, good, fair or poor. They were also asked if their physicians had ever told them they had heart disease, as well as other chronic health conditions.
On average, the men lost 1.67 centimeters in height during the 20 years of the study. However, that height loss varied with individuals. Mean height loss increased with increasing age.
The researchers found that the risk of dying increased with the loss of height and was much higher in men who were three centimeters or more shorter than they had been when they were middle-aged. Losing three centimeters or more in height was also associated with an increase in risk for major heart disease problems.
The researchers noted that when the subjects became three centimeters or more shorter as they aged significantly increased the risk of death in the men, “largely owing to an excess in cardiovascular (heart and blood vessel), respiratory (lung) and other non-CVD (cardiovascular disease), non-cancer deaths.” They noted that while loss of height was associated with heart disease, it was not associated with stroke.
The researchers noted that the relationship between height loss and death is unclear. They hypothesized that osteoporosis or loss of bone mass is known to be associated with increased death rates and is also a reason for loss of height in men. However, the height loss associated with osteoporosis is usually much greater than that, and the researchers said osteoporosis is unlikely to be the only reason. Certain underlying features that may be a fault in heart disease may also contribute to loss of height, the researchers said. However, they said the relationship remains unclear and warrants further study.
The bottom line: Losing significant amounts of height as you age may mean that you are at increased risk of developing heart disease. Talking with your doctor about these risks may enable you to reduce the threat.
Reference
S. Goya Wannamethee, PhD; A. Gerald Shaper, FRCP; Lucy Lennon, MSc; Peter H. Whincup, FRCP, PhD, “Height Loss in Older Men: Associations With Total Mortality and Incidence of Cardiovascular Disease,” Arch Intern Med. 2006;166:2546-2552
