View report page

9
Paediatric
Thursday (Alt.) 9 a.m. - 12 noon Town Hall
Speech Therapy
By appointment Old Monoux School
and Wingfield House
School
Immunisation
Wednesday 2 p.m. - 4 p.m. Town Hall
THE CHANGING FACE OF PHYSIOTHERAPY
Contributed by Miss H. Garratt, M.S.C.P.
As long ago as 1920 the Society was granted a Royal Charter and
even then State Registration was one of it's main objects, and
certainly in 1962 that seems many moons ago. At intervals during
these years the clause has faded into a mere hope rather than fact.
Yet. despite all setbacks State Registration has now become a
definite reality and the first register is about to be compiled.
What of the changes in disabilities and treatments at the
Physiotherapy and Orthopaedic Clinicl Some orthopaedic conditions
such as Progressive Muscular Dystrophy and Cerebral Palsy, to take
only only two examples, are equally prevalent today as in the past,
there still being no known cure, although research into these
distressing complaints is going on. Years ago Progressive Muscular
Atrophy was rather considered to be a contra-indication to physiotherapy
but nowadays, although this is a progressive disease, one
can hope to keep the child on it's feet a little longer and prevent
gross deformities by graduated exercises. Children suffering from
Cerebral Palsy had to cope with far more splintage than at the
present time. Certain operations have been found most beneficial
such as elongation of the tendo achilles when the child walks on
it s toes, and the tenotomy of the adductions to correct the typical
scissor leg" deformity in severe cases. On the contrary the
Median Stoffel operation for the spastic arm, which at one time was
considered an essential part of the orthopaedic programme has now
faded into past history.
A disease which was very common at one time was Rachitis or
Rickets - children were crippled by gross deformities, their
emaciated bodies showing the typical rickety rosary' . Orthopaedic
hospitals had many cases for osteoclases and osteotomies the
operations for severe bow legs and knock knees. Today a case of
rickets is rare.