Physiotherapy Articles

Part 2 is from pages 23 - 31 of the reading material.

Careful review of the currently available literature clearly shows the benefit of pulmonary rehabilitation in COPD. More evidence will be presented concerning the magnitude and mechanisms of the obtained benefits. In addition, it has become clearer that patients at both ends of the disease spectrum can be good candidates for properly designed rehabilitation programs.

This article will summarize the available evidence and added some clinical practice advice in an attempt to define the present state of the art.

In recent years, there have been many advances in the assessment and treatment of shoulder pain. Part one of these on-line courses reviews:

• the functional anatomy of the shoulder complex;
• the key features of the clinical history;
• how to conduct a swift and effective physical examination;
• investigations;
• treatment of important shoulder conditions; and
• the prescription for practical shoulder rehabilitation.

Part 2 focuses on mechanism of injury, assessment and rehabilitation of the rotator cuff.

Background: Musculoskeletal rehabilitative care and research have traditionally been guided by a structural pathology paradigm and directed their resources towards the structural, functional, and biological abnormalities located locally within the musculoskeletal system to understand and treat Musculoskeletal Disorders (MSD).

However, the structural pathology model does not adequately explain many of the clinical and experimental findings in subjects with chronic MSD and, more importantly, treatment guided by this paradigm fails to effectively treat many of these conditions.

Increasing evidence reveals structural and functional changes within the Central Nervous System (CNS) of people with chronic MSD that appear to play a prominent role in the pathophysiology of these disorders. These neuroplastic changes are reflective of adaptive neurophysiological processes occurring as the result of altered afferent stimuli including nociceptive and neuropathic transmission to spinal, subcortical and cortical areas with MSD that are initially beneficial but may persist in a chronic state, may be part and parcel in the pathophysiology of the condition and the development and maintenance of chronic signs and symptoms. 

Recent findings suggest that a change in model and approach is required in the rehabilitation of chronic MSD that integrate the findings of neuroplastic changes across the CNS and are targeted by rehabilitative interventions. Effects of current interventions may be mediated through peripheral and central changes but may not specifically address all underlying neuroplastic changes in the CNS potentially associated with chronic MSD.

In part 1 of this 2-part course, you will learn why any women trying to get pregnant should consider healthcare as part of her preconception preparation, how to take an appropriate history from a pregnant patient, what potential red flags to look out for and advice to give.

You will also learn about appropriate physical assessment through the trimesters, including vital sign, appropriate weight gain, cardio and respiratory and of course neurological. This course will give you the confidence you need when caring for pregnant women; right the way through their pregnancy from preconception to birth.

Part 2 of care of the pregnant patient focuses on the diagnosis and management of pregnancy specific conditions such as morning sickness, heartburn, liver cholestasis, hypertension, diabetes, pelvic instability and more. Issues on the perinatal and postnatal periods will also be discussed.

In part 1 of this 2-part course, you will learn why any women trying to get pregnant should consider healthcare as part of her preconception preparation, how to take an appropriate history from a pregnant patient, what potential red flags to look out for and advice to give.

You will also learn about appropriate physical assessment through the trimesters, including vital sign, appropriate weight gain, cardio and respiratory and of course neurological. This course will give you the confidence you need when caring for pregnant women; right the way through their pregnancy from preconception to birth.

Part 2 of care of the pregnant patient focuses on the diagnosis and management of pregnancy specific conditions such as morning sickness, heartburn, liver cholestasis, hypertension, diabetes, pelvic instability and more. Issues on the perinatal and postnatal periods will also be discussed.

Learn about Low GI anti-inflammatory diet.

Amazing evidence-based clinical tips:

• Does diet influence systemic inflammation and if so, how?

• Insulin Resistance, an important factor in many pathologies;

• How to recognise Insulin Resistance;

• Benefits of a Low Glycemic Index (GI) diet;

Important components of a Low GI, anti-inflammatory diet.

Therapeutic exercise for low back pain has traditionally focused on programmes for enhancing cardiovascular fitness, as well as trunk muscle strength and endurance. More recently, exercises which address changing motor control strategies in back pain patients, have been recommended.

This course describes the rationale for the proprioceptive antigravity training model, for the prevention and treatment of low back pain.

This on-line course includes the following topics:

1. What is breathlessness and how common is it in terminal illness?

2. How is it measured?

3. How is it evaluated?

4. What is the approach to management?

5. Non-drug interventions.

6. Drug interventions.

7. Oxygen therapy and other drugs

This illustrated Dry Needling online course covers the clinical relevance of trigger points in syndromes related to the thoracic lumbar.

Illustration and needling instructions of Dry Needling techniques for the following thoracic lumbar muscles are provided:

• Clinical relevance of trigger points (TrPs) in syndromes related to the trunk

• Dry needling of the trunk muscles

• Longissimus thoracis muscle

• Iliocostalis thoracis and lumborum muscles

• Thoracic and lumbar multifidus muscles

• Serratus posterior inferior muscle

• Quadratus lumborum Rectus abdominus muscle

• External and internal oblique muscles

Their anatomy, function, innervation and contra-indications for Dry Needling are also included.

Ultrasound vs MRI. The development of less expensive portable ultrasound machines has opened the market to non-radiologists, while applications for musculoskeletal ultrasound have broadened.

It is said that selective substitution of musculoskeletal ultrasound for MRI could result in significant cost saving to the health care system. But, is it that simple? What about important issues such as accuracy, variability, education, and competence?

This course addresses these issues and also compares and contrasts image interpretation, accuracy, observer-variability, economic impact, and education with regard to musculoskeletal ultrasound and MRI.