( g m l t n an?* ffiwhex for a Ifawg mb 
l^toBpnmB f a  U âr tu all

D cember 1948 P H Y S I O T H E R A P Y  Page Three

Editorial
The Editor does not hold himself responsible for the views expressed by contributors.

The S.A. Society of Physiotherapists is now in its 
04th year- and has a membership of approximately 
!&> Until very recently it consisted of only three 
branches, one each in Transvaal, the Cape and Natal. 
In recent months, however, an amazing revival of 
interest has been shown in the affairs of the Society 
and due chiefly to the hard work of our General 
Secretary, coupled with the enthusiasm of members, 
three new branches have been formed. These will be 
known as the Northern Transvaal, Eastern Province 
and Border Branches and will have their headquarters 
in Pretoria, Port Elizabeth and East London 
respectively.

W e welcome these developments and extend 
to the members who have so banded themselves 
together our very best wishes for their future. 
Happenings such as these can only mean that 
members, both young and old, are manifesting an 
active interest— which has been for too long dormant 
—in the running of the Society. They are symptoms 
of the fact that it is being increasingly realised that, 
whilst it is a good thing to have the routine work 
centralised, it is equally important to have decentral­
ised bodies to m aintain and strive for the interests 
of members. W itho u t some such system in past years, 
members could hardly be blamed if they developed the

feeling that because they were out of touch with 
things they were consequently out of mind.

Such a state of affairs, plus the fact that we have 
lacked the unifying influence of a Journal could not 
but result in a general lack of interest among members 
and this is precisely what happened. Now that these 
things have been remedied, at least to some extent, 
we will venture the hope that physiotherapy will 
attain the position to which it is entitled in the 
Medical world.

F R E E  H O S P IT A L IS A T IO N .

The following extract is quoted from a letter 
received from the Transvaal Provincial Secretary in 
answer to an enquiry as to how the interests of 
physiotherapists were likely to be affected by the 
above Ordinance.

“the interests of physiotherapists are not affected, 
whether in private practise, or as members of the 
staff of Public Hospitals, by the Ordinance.” 

“Certain amendments to the Ordinance to meet 
the views of the Medical Association will shortly be 
introduced in the Provincial Council.”

Physiotherapists in the Transvaal are asked to 
forward their views on this statement to the Editor.

INJURIES TO THE KNEE JOINT
S ID N E Y  SACK S, F.R.C.S., Orthopaedic Surgeon, Johannesburg.

Before describing the various injuries that may 
occur to the knee joint it is essential to mention the 
important role played by the Quadriceps extensor 
apparatus.

. This apparatus is the most important single factor 
the maintenance of the erect posture in man, and 

"i maintaining an efficient knee joint.

A weak or wasted Quadriceps predisposes to injury 
°.f the knee joint, and an injured knee joint gives 
nse to rapid wasting of the Quadriceps. This wasting 
creates a greater predisposition to further injury to 
the joint, and a vicious circle is thus established, viz. : 

Injury Effusion —>- Rest — Quadriceps wasting

. The principle therefore to be rigorously observed 
ln the treatment of nearly all injuries to the knee

joint, is to do everything possible to maintain the 
tone in the Quadriceps extensor apparatus throughout 
the process of healing and repair of the-injury.

Injuries to the knee joint can be classified as 
follows :—

(i) Injuries of the synovial membrane.

(ii) Injuries of the ligaments.

(iii) Injuries of Menisci.

(iv) Injuries of the Extensor apparatus.

(v) Injuries of the bones.

(vi) O T H E R  conditions in the knee, related to 
trauma.

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.

)