July/ 1954. P H Y S I O T H E R A P Y Page Three ( ^ o n t e n t i : Editorial ... ................................ ............................................................. The Medical Approach to the Resettlement of the Disabled .......................... Some Useful Equipment in the Rehabilitation of Permanent Spinal Paraplegics Personal ..................................................................................... Post-Natal Rehabilitation .............................................................. General ... ......................................................................... The Place of Occupational Therapy in Rehabilitation ............... The Habilitation of the Cerebral Palsied Child ........................... Fibrositis and Non-Articular Rheumatism...................................... Branch News ............ ..................................... ........................... Spring Gymnastics ......................................................................... Avalon ..................................................................................... Page 3 Page 4 Page 6 Page. 9 Page 10 Page 12 Page 14 Page 17 Page 20 Page 23 Page 24 Page 26 e w S S W ® 0 V 5 » v 5 ® V « 0 V ® S v 5 ® v % S V S s S V S » V & 3 W 5 w 'V 'S 3 v « S v ® SJ'W S 0 V S 3 v S > S J v iS c J V S 3 W 3 v 5 3 v S e W 5 9 v ^ e W » v S ED ITO R IA L T T is surely a sign o f th e times th a t the them e o f this year’s Medical Congress is Rehabilitation, and this prom pts us to consider what is m eant by that term. How many of our patients are truly rehabilitated? We may consider them “cured” if they have strong muscles and full joint ^movement after injury or illness, but how far have we "assisted in the psychosocial adjustm ent which is so often necessary, particularly if the patient is left with a perm anent disability ? A part from medical and surgical treatm ent, the patient must be assured o f full co-operation from the ancillary medical services' which are so often called upon. To be a member o f a team is not a catch phrase; it should be a very real thing. Full discussion should be possible between doctor, nurses, physiotherapists, occupational therapists, orthopaedic technicians, social workers—in fact, all those who have a contribution to make tow ards the fullest possible recovery o f the patient. There are occasions when this is difficult, particularly in large organisations where members of the team are overworked and departm ents are short staffed. However, it is far to o often lack o f energy and even lack o f genuine interest. As physiotherapists we have a specially privileged position in th a t we often have to spend m ore time with the patient th an others, through the very nature o f our treatm ent. Frequently the patient confides in his physio­ therapist, and by passing on relevant inform ation to other members o f the medical team much tim e could be saved and a fuller picture o f the p atient’s condition and progress could be made. Perhaps, too, the trying situation of patients receiving conflicting inform ation and advice could be avoided. How often this does occur to add to the patient’s worry and confusion. Advances are being m ade all the time in th e different branches o f medicine, but unless we advance too, they are o f no avail. There still exists in m any places petty jeal­ ousies and antagonism s tow ards other members o f the rehabilitation team , and these can only serve to hinder and frustrate. If we are dealing with sick people, we should be m ature enough to realise th at co-operation between all groups is the only way to help them . Rehabilitation of o u r own attitude tpw ards those with whom we work, and sometimes even tow ards our patients, may be the first step tow ards rehabilitating those who put their con­ fidence in us and believe we are doing all we can to return them to as norm al a life as possible. 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. )