ABSTRACTS Use o f Transcutaneous Nerve Stimulation in the Tfrc ivfanagement o f Chronic Pain. Herman, E.. Physio- th e ra p y Canada, 1977, 29, 65-71. The a u th o r points o u t th a t p a in is now regarded in e instances as being a p athological state per se S°i/ch requires careful exam ination and treatm ent. A mrnary o f th e n eu rophysiological aspects o f p a in is f lo w e d by a discussion o f the rev erb ato ry circu it and h gate control th eo ries regarding the n e u ra l m echan- • ms which u n d erlie p a in transm ission. T h e gate control 'heory o f M elzack a n d W all is accepted as th e m ost mprehensive th eo ry to date, alth o u g h som e aspects c° still controversial. The effects o f transcutaneous nerve stim u latio n (TCN TNS) on Pa *n are explained in term s o f neuro- hvsiology- T h e ra tio n a le o f tre a tm e n t ap p ears to be that large nerve fibres m ay be selectively stim ulated and !nav then set a “ g atin g ” m echanism in m o tio n w hich >,cks sm all fibre activity. T h is then prevents the (tnsmission o f p a in impulses. The application procedures o f T N S an d the p re ­ cautions and com plications involved are described. T he results o f T N S used on a group o f 207 ch ro n ic p ain sufferers are tabled an d analysed. F o rty -o n e p e r cent o f the patients experienced long lasting relief. T h e results of this study correlated w ell w ith results o f sim ilar studies elsewhere. T h e a u th o r concludes th a t if used intelligently and judiciously T N S is a useful m odality in the treatm ent o f ch ro n ic pain. There is a com p reh en sive list o f references w h ich w o u ld be o f u se fo r further study. J.M .H . p£S£MBER 1977 Grading o f Spasticity & its Effect on Voluntary M ove­ ment. G off, G. Physiotherapy, 1976, 62, 358. The w riter has attem pted to grade spasticity fro m a clinical p o in t o f view, according to its effect on v o lu n ­ tary m ovem ent in various positions o f th e body: e.g. supine w ith the head in v ario u s positions relative to the body, right- an d left-sided lying, sitting and standing. A sam ple assessm ent fo rm is given, also a description o f the grades fro m O -solely spastic to 5-no spasticity. A d escrip tio n o f grades o f spasticity related to function is also given. Its value is given in term s of diagnosis, prognosis, treatm en t planning an d possible 'jearch. T his article should be o f p a rtic u la r value to Jose who w ork w ith spasticity fro m w hatever cause. H .C.W . Burns. Physiotherapy, 1977, 63, 146-158. Five articles a re included: (a) B urns: Em ergency treatment and resuscitation. Settle, pp. 146-150. (b) R e ­ spiratory conditions in burned patients. Brow n, pp. 151- 153. (c) P h y sio th erap y in th e treatm en t o f burns w ith inhalation problem s. W ootton & H odgson, pp. 153. (d) Surgery an d infection o f th e b u rn w ound. Cason. PP. 154-156. (e) Physical treatm en t an d re h a b ilita tio n for burns. H ales, pp. 157-153. These articles give a com prehensive and clear picture of the burns victim , fro m the points of view o f various disciplines w ithin th e reh a b ilita tio n team . T hey should prove invaluable fo r those dealing w ith burns, fo r those wishing to find o u t m ore ab o u t th e treatm ent, and as a reference fo r students, even fo r those w hose w ork does not cover this a rea it m akes m ost interesting reading. It is w ell illustrated an d docum ented throughout. H . C. W. 19 The Vastus M edialis Controversy. Spcakman-Wesberg. Physiotherapy, 1977, 63, 249-154. A w ell-docum ented a rticle sum m arizing th e history to date o f th e controversy over th e role o f vastus m edialis in final extension o f th e knee. T h e conclusions a re logical and w ell reasoned, and should give some o f th e “old debenchers” a t lo t o f fo o d fo r th o u g h t and discussions. H .C.W . Efficiency o f Ultrasound Coupling Agents. R eid and Cummings. Physiotherapy, 1977, 63, 255-257. A q u aso n ic gel, glycerol, w ater, E C G co u p lan t and liq u id paraffin w ere tested as u ltraso u n d coupling agents, an d fo u n d to be efficient in th e o rd e r given, in term s o f transm ission o f u ltraso u n d fro m transducer to tissue. G lycerol was a n acceptable su b stitu te fo r A q u aso n ic gel, th e m o st expensive. L iq u id paraffin, th e m ost com ­ m only used coupling agent, cam e last w ith a surprising 20% coupling p roperty. T h ere is enough v a ria tio n fo r th e couping agent to be taken into consideration when dosage an d tim e are calculated. T h e article is w ell docum ented, and illustrated w ith g rap h s and tables. H.C.W . OPSOMMINGS Diadynam ische stroomvormen en Adrenaline — Een verband? Dikhoff, F. J. J., Denkers, J. P. I. en Schaasbcrg, K.P. N et. Tijdschr. Fysiother., 1977, 87,140. In hierdie artikel word ingegaan op die invloed w at diadinam iese strom e m ag he op die produksie van katacholam iene, veral adrenalien. E ers word die organe bespreek w a t . katacholam iene vervaardig en dan w ord die biochem ie daarvan behandel. N a d a t die effekte van diadinam iese strom e bespreek is, o.a. die sirkulasie- toenam e in arm s en bene, m oontlik ook onder invloed van adrenalien ,word afgesluit m et ’n gevalle-studie van twee pasiente m et rugklagte. B.G. Lenigheid/rekking. Stuy, P. W. N ed. Tijdschr. Fysiother., 1977, 87, 159. In hierdie artikel w ord ingegaan op die n u t van rekkingsoefeninge vir die verskillende spiere en liga- m ente van die liggaam. K ortliks w ord eers die oorsake van verkorting behandel. D aarn a w ord die nadele be­ spreek w at hierdie verkortings m ag inhou vir funksie, organe, sirkulasie en bew egingsapparaat van die lig­ gaam. N a d a t nagegaan is hoe hierdie rekking van spiere en weefsels m oontlik to t stand kom en indikasies en kontra-indikasies vir rekkingsoefeninge gegee is, w ord die verskillende oefeninge beskrywe w aarby fo to ’s dit nog m eer verduidelik. B.G. TH E M E N N E L L -R A N D E L L B U R SA R Y T h e M ennell-R andell B ursary fo r previous P hysio­ th erap y Students at St. T h o m as’ H o sp ita l L ondon has been increased to £160. A ll in fo rm a tio n fro m ‘T h e H on. Sec. P h y sio th erap y B ursaries C om m ittee. School o f P h y sio th erap y St. T h o m as’ H ospital. L ondon SE I 7EH. 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