Page 12 P H Y S I O T H E R A P Y DECEM BER, 1972 J. Neurol. Neurosurg. Psychiat., 35, 4, Aug., 1972: B u r k e , D ., A n d r e w s , C. J., and L a n c e , J. W .: Tonic vibration reflex in spasticity, Parkinson’s Disease and normal subjects. Summary: 34 spastic, 15 Parkinsonian and ten normal subjects were included in this study, which included a com­ parison o f the effects o f tonic vibration and tonic stretch reflexes. The results o f tonic vibration and tonic stretch in both normal and Parkinsonian patients were essentially similar, supporting the contention that the rigidity o f Parkinson’s Disease arises from supraspinal influence on normal segmental mechanisms. Positioning the muscle on increased stretch enhanced the tonic stretch reflex in normal and Parkinsonian patients, but decreased it in spastic patients. On the other hand the T.V.R. was enhanced by muscle stretch in all three groups of subjects. The authors explained this pehnomenon as follows: since the quadriceps muscle was being tested it is subject to autogenic inhibition via its second­ ary spindle endings as it is placed on increasing stretch, hence the decrease in the tonic stretch reflex. However, at the frequencies used, the effects o f vibration are _ almost exclusively on the primary spindle endings. Placing the muscle on stretch therefore increases the stretch sensivity of the primary endings and increases the reflex response to superimposed vibration. A reinforcing manoeuvre poten­ tiated the T.V.R. in several subjects in each group. Since, when present, this potentiation outlasted the reinforcing manoeuvre it was concluded that reinforcement acts at least in part via the fusimotor system. ̂ ^ J. Neurosurg., 37, 2, August, 1972: S c h n e i d e r , D i a n a : Regenerative phenomena in the central nervous system — a symposium summary. Summary: This article, as well as the editorial o f this issue, gives a precis o f the proceedings of a meeting sponsored by the National Paraplegia Foundation (U.S.A.) to tackle the so-far unrewarding problem o f C.N.S. regeneration. Although this remains unsolved it was felt that further research was far from futile and that, in the light o f information already obtained, the eventual answer may lie within the scope o f contemporary science. S I C Am. J. Occup. Ther., 26, 5, July/Aug., 1972: M o o r e , J . C .: Physiological Properties o f Nerve Fibres. Summary: Despite its title, this article is primarily an attempt to review and elucidate the different nomenclature in present- day use, both with regard to the classification o f nerve fibres and the vocabulary used to describe their'properties and functions. It forms a very useful reference guide. Unfortun- nately, the scanty bibliography detracts somewhat from its value- S.I-C. Ned. tijdschrift voor fysioterapie, Juli 1972: N i e b a u e r , G .: D e zenuwreceptoren van de huid. Opsomming: Hierdie artikel sluit eintlik aan by die serie artikels oor die invloed van massage op die vel, waarvan ’n uittreksel in die Maart uitgawe verskyn het. D ie skrywer het hom die laaste 20 jaar al besig gehou met die senuwee- stelsel van die vel. Hy wys in hierdie artikel op die belangrik- heid van die neuro-hormonale selle (dendrietselle) in die epi­ dermis, wat die prikkels van buite ontvang en hulle voort- gelei na die senuweesisteem onder die epidermis. In die epidermis self is daar geen vrye senuwee-uiteindes nie. Daar is ’n verskil in die anatomie van die behaarde vel en die onbehaarde vel (handpalm en voetsool). In die behaarde vel is daar ’n netwerk van senuwees wat rondom die hare gerangskik is en .wat die verskillende stimuli opvang. In die onbehaarde vel is dit die verskillende eindliggaampies (Meissner, Krause, ens.). Ook die samehang van die neuro- hormonale selle en die vegetatiewe senuweestelsel word bespreek. Hy eindig met ’n bespreking van die viscero- kutane refleks wat van belang mag wees by die opheldering van die probleem van die lokalisasie van velsiektes. • B.G. WORLD CONFEDERATION FOR PHYSICAL From the Office o f the President October 17, 1972 To the Editor o f the Journal: I would like to avail myself o f this opportunity to hrine to all members o f your Association my very best wishes for the festive season and particularly for the year 19Durine the past year, it has been my privilege to meet Yheranists from many places both i n their own countries M d a t various I n t e r n a t i o n a l conferences that I have had the nnnnrtimitv to attend. These persons are representatives of n»rnrofe s i o n and there can be no doubt that there is a grow- fne realization among physiotherapists o f the importance nf thp work that we are doing, and also o f the opportunities whirh pvist to increase our potential. Thus, I have had many iX restin e c o n v e r s a t i o n s concerning the problems which S IK all — some apply more particularly to one than another but all o f us within the profession o f physical thpranv are going through a period o f change as we try to assess tiie course which will be the most effective for the treatm ent of our patients and also for the establishment of the*Profession as a worthwhile one contributing in genera! t o t h e health of the society we serve. Tt has also been interesting to note the increasing social mnsrience of physical therapists as they become more involved in peripheral matters concerning physiotherapy and as thev become more active on committees which are con- re-rned with the total health care rather than with specific portions o f it. This, I believe to be a good thing and truly mpanineful for all of us. In manv places great concern is expressed about the direction that the education o f physical therapists is taking. T h i s nf course is only to be expected in our rapidly changing ^ d when s o many o f the health professions are involved in th p came e x e r c is e . We cannot ignore it, nor should we, j jt j, essential that we find the answers adequate for the nr pa in which we practise. We must not allow these decisions r r r j m,,Ae by other parties, but instead we must work in concert with other members in the health field to bring about t h P r n m o o s i t e health care relationship. As vou are no doubt aware, during the period o f June until this nast August, I was involved in an extensive tour whirh took me to various parts o f the world. Here, I was ahlp tn see physiotherapy in action. To all those who were rnnremed with the arrangements for my visits, I extend a vprv nersonal thank-you and an assurance that I was immensely interested in the things that I saw and the con-/ rpntc which were expressed. It is often difficult for members o f Associations to realize nnr vprv close connection to the International Association hnt it is only through the realization that each o f us has a rpcnnnsihilitv to our National A ssociation, and through this to the W C P T., that we can hope to become a strong and influential body in world health affairs. And this we must do f we are truly interested in trying to improve our lot o f our fellow man wherever they might be. Evidence o f increase in pxrhanee nrogrammes, the acceptance, o f foreign-trained ctiidpnts bv various countries, and the initiative being taken inProviding programmes for upgrading o f both national anri intpmational therapists is indication o f our commitment. At this dme, I would like to suggest to each and every m p m h er of the physiotherapy p ro fe ssio n th a t our individual c o n trib u tio n added together will m a k e a m ighty c o n tr ib u tio n hotter h ealth care th roughout th e w o rld . Perhaps the best New Year’s re so lu tio n each o f u s c a n m ak e is to re c o g n iz e this responsibility and w ork to w a rd it in whatever way we ^ M v verTsincere best wishes to yo u all and my sincere thanks for the courtesies extended to m e during this past year. Yours sincerely, (Miss) Doreen M . M o o re, B.P.T., M.C.P.A., President — W . C . P . T . ....................... R ep ro du ce d by S ab in et G at ew ay u nd er li ce nc e gr an te d by th e P ub lis he r (d at ed 2 01 3. )