Page Two P H Y S I O T H E R A P Y July, 1952

EDITORIAL
'T 'IM E  and again we are faced with the problem of 

patients being sent to us for some form of re­
habilitation, and an almost impossible task is pre­
sented, simply because our work has been asked for 
too late in their convalescence, or because our help 
was not sought pre-operatively. The omission of 
physiotherapy in the treatment of these cases delays 
their recovery considerably, and is often responsible 
for some of the unhappy results seen after .surgery 
has been carried out. It is also a point to be re­
membered in these days of acute bed shortages when 
the quickest possible turn-over of patients is 
essential. It seems unfair to a patient, that after 
first class surgery, the optimum result is not achieved 
due to lack o f proper after-care.

One could quote many instances of this having 
happened. How often have we seen uninjured joints 
which have become stiff due to immobilisation of some 
other part of the body, muscles which have 
atrophied from quite unnecessary disuse, post­
operative pneumonias and thromboses, the chances 
of which could probably have been lessened by teach­
ing the patient breathing exercises and leg move­
ments ? It is particularly important that chests 
should be trained pre-operatively; and where possible 
the strength of muscles, whose function is to be 
limited post-operatively by pain or immobilisation, 
should be built up before operation takes place. This 
is perhaps of most value in muscles which waste

quickly, such as the quadriceps, glutei, and the 

deltoid.

There is at least one hospital in London where 
every in-patient routinely receives physiotherapy, at 
the discretion of the Physical Medicine Department. 
There is, of course, the closest co-operation between 
the surgeon or physician and the physiotherapist, and 
the best result for the patient is obtained. It is an 
ideal situation which has been proved possible and 
extremely valuable. The sooner the patient realises 
that physiotherapy is now an integral part of medi­
cine, and not a fancy treatment which some of the 
patients in the ward have to undergo, the sooner his 
co-operation is gained.

It is difficult to know where the answer lies in the 
establishment of these conditions. Very probably a 
greater understanding of physical medicine in the 
training of the medical student would help 
tremendously.

Eventually, however, it depends on physiotherapy 
being carried out conscientiously, intelligently, and 
at the correct stage in the progress of the patient. 
Seeing is believing, and if we can prove our worth 
as medical auxiliaries, the rest will follow automatic­
ally. It is up to us to try and educate, and often 
re-educate, the medical world in this direction, so 
that it can recognise our particular value and the 
great advances which have been made in recent years.

GENERAL
COURSE OF LECTURES

It is hoped to arrange for a set of lectures and 
demonstrations on the treatment of medical and 
surgical chest conditions, to be held in Johannes­
burg. The probable dates are the evening of 
Friday, September 5th, a n d ' the whole of Saturday, 
September 6th. The. lectures are planned to include 
the anatomy of the chest, and the physiology of 
normal and abnormal breathing. It is felt that these 
will be welcome refresher subjects to m any of us 
before we start considering the best methods of 
treatment. Such great strides have been made in 
the techniques of physiotherapy of the chest in 
recent years, that nearly all of us must benefit from 
a course of lectures on this complex subject.

•Details of arrangements are unfortunately, impos­
sible to complete before the publication 'of the 
Journal, but Branch Secretaries will be notified and 
anyone interested may communicate with the 
Secretary of this Journal, at the Johannesburg 
General Hospital after August 1. I t  is hoped that 
as many as possible will attend.

— The S.A.S.P. is holding its next Conference in 
Pretoria on October 10th, 11th and 12th. Branch 
Secretaries will be notified of details.

The Annual Congress of the Chartered Society of 

Physiotherapy w ill'be held in London from Septem­

ber 18th to September 21st. An invitation has been 

extended to all members of the S.A.S.P. Those who 1 
can attend should communicate with Miss Neilson 

of the C.S.P.

W e welcome Miss Smith as our new part-time 

secretary, in place of Mrs. Marais who had 

to resign owing to pressure of her other work. 

Miss Smith has already- shown us what a tremendous 

help she will be.

ERR A T U M

It is- regretted that in the April issue of 
Physiotherapy, in Dr. Coplan’s ' article on 
Lumbar Disc Herniation, Dr. Ronald Singer’s 
name is printed as Dr. Roland Singer. W e 
apologise for this error.

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