S2W11: TGIF

Two weeks until the end of year exam period begins!
We have five exams like we did in first semester.
Four written. One practical.

I've come across a new undergrad physio blog written by a UK student studying at Keele University in England. I look forward to following Lauren and comparing her journey through physio training (she also blogs about not-at-all physio related things) in her blog 'Totally-Typical'.

The physio students association organised a 'blood drive' for students to donate blood to the New Zealand Blood Service. This service supplies NZ hospitals with blood needed for transfusions. The service has a mobile unit that came on campus for us. My blood is always trying to be positive (B+).  I think everybody should consider donating blood - donating is definitely not a pain in your neck!! (Okay, I'm now done with puns for the week).

"Sitting is the new smoking"... The co-author of Clinical Sports Medicine, Karim Khan spoke about health on Radio NZ (a talk-back show) following a national New Zealand physiotherapy conference last weekend. He made many interesting points that I knew about already, but you may not currently know. Have a listen: http://www.radionz.co.nz/national/programmes/saturday/audio/20150402/karim-khan-activity-and-health

Neuro this week covered a range of conditions associated with the cerebellum and their associated clinical tests. Conditions included: asynergnia, dysmetria, dysdiadochokinesia, ataxia, dysarthria, dysphonia, nystagmus, intention tremor and hypotonia. There were many tests but my favourite was the 'rebound test'. The rebound test is useful for testing dysmetria; the lack of motor timing. Performing the test involves the patient holding their arm away from their body with their palm facing toward their self. The therapist pulls the patients hand away - the patient has to resist this movement. At random, the therapist will remove their contact with the patients hand which will cause their hand to move toward their body. If the patient has an untimely response, the patient will hit them self (which may be in the face, depending on where the hand/arm is positioned in the first instance). This could make for a good drinking game.

Pharm discussed common GI tract problems (ulcers, vomiting, diarrhoea and constipation) and their medication. It is interesting that laxatives can also cause constipation due to reduced potassium, sodium - this triggers the aldosterone system for water retention. Stool needs to be somewhat moist to pass freely. In addition, when the large intestine is cleared using laxatives, the time taken to refill is prolonged and can be interpreted as constipation by the patient. That's enough shit talk for now. The best medicine for constipation is a healthy diet.

For the majority of Monday, the weather seemed like it had fallen back into it's wintery ways (we had a short lasting snowing episode to 300m above sea level... not the spring weather I would like!!). Lecture content has built up over the year and one lecturer kindly saved us from having to read up about osteoarthritis by providing all the details in the lecture presentation - this was much appreciated!

On paper, Tuesday looked quiet! If a sports team looks good on paper, we believe their chances of winning is high. If on the university timetable our day looks good (i.e. one class... a rare event) we believe our chances of winning (having a relaxing day) are still pretty slim... plenty to study, research and practice!! At least the weather was back on track - with a noticeably warm breeze and sunshine pouring down at 9am.

Wednesday was a day for ice cream in our lunch time break. It was a fairly standard Wednesday otherwise. Some of our lab group got together and practised physical assessment and treatment techniques. We also popped into the anatomy museum to refresh our knowledge of lower limb anatomy - oh boy, so much to study!!

Thursday anatomy finished like it has done every week with a test. I attempted to get up to date with my pharm notes... I've still got many lectures to go!

Thank god it's Friday!! We finished the week with a lecture about antimicrobial medication in pharmacology. I continued to collate information ready for studying and plan to have the evening to relax.