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IV.—LIGHT TREATMENT,
ELECTRO-THERAPY
AND MASSAGE.
Since the end of the war the number of patients attending the
Solarium has steadily grown, and in spite of staff shortage 6,000 more
treatments were given in 1946 than in 1945.
Since the addition of a part-time orthopædic surgeon in October,
1944, it has been possible to extend the scope of the work to include
manipulations, tenotomies, plasters and splints. During this year,
more of these cases have been referred for treatment.
Some children with congenital and rickety deformities have been
successfully treated by manipulation and plaster. Many cases of
stiff joints resulting from injury have made a complete recovery
following manipulation and remedial exercises, and a number of
cases of prolapsed intervertebral disc have been rendered symptom free.
It has also been possible to provide more orthopædic apparatus
to prevent and correct deformities which might otherwise have proved
disabling or even crippling.
A dozen patients who have had gold injections for rheumatoid
arthritis have been followed up and have shown considerable
improvement.
The injection of phosphate solution into osteo arthritic joints,
combined with electrotherapy, has also been used, and patients followed
up over a period of many months have remained free from pain
and disability.