S2W13: Y2 Summed & Summarised

Final Week of Lectures & Labs

University 2014 is coming to an end.
Almost halfway through the four year degree - two years to go!

Tip for surviving physio: create positive memories - this is a three part process.

1. Create: Don't leave positive experiences to occur by chance. This isn't lotto. Each individual has to participate in and facilitate an experience in such a way as to achieve a positive and memorable outcome. Be pro-social, mindful and have initiative.
2. Positive: Interpret and appraise events in a positive way. We often forget that we are in control of this. Just like 'we are what we eat' we also 'feel what we think' - some minds just need a little more convincing than others.
3. Memory: Remember good times with a regular, open dialogue. Documenting worthy events is also a good prompt for practising remembrance. Take photos, blog, tweet, catch-up and reflect with mates.

We have now completed the anatomy of the whole human body (minus a few odd ligaments... there have been reported to be 16 ligaments stabilising the thumb! We thankfully don't need to know all of them). Otherwise, we've comprehensively covered the body from head-to-toe, inside-out and from outside-in! We wish the cadavars good night knowing that they will now sleep tight (they'll probably wake up with a stiff neck come summer 2015). In the beginning we were challenged with neuro- and systems- anatomy. A few of us students still cringe when required to reproduce anatomical names and function, but we have a good grasp of the fundamentals. This will improve when we continue studying over the next few weeks for exams and beyond university. Second semester was all about the musculoskeletal system, which is great because we can now align our knowledge of muscles to movements and vice versa.

Pharm has recently informed us about poisons. You would be surprised with the things that find their way into people's mouths. Not only fertilizer, silica gel (those small packets found in shoe boxes to absorb moisture - they usually have 'Do Not Eat' written on the packet), dishwashing liquid and other household substances but also plants (e.g mushrooms, acorns and rhododendrons) and therapeutics (e.g paracetamol, diazepam and simvastatin) are consumed and reported to the toxicology department's 'National Poisons Centre'. The centre offers free advice and information on the toxic effect of whatever has been consumed. Furthermore, there are a few antidotes and methods taught in our lecture that may be used to reduce toxic effects. I'm not entirely sure how this is directly relevant to physiotherapy, but it's interesting info all the same. Forcing someone who has ingested something toxic to vomit is not a good idea! Mainly due to the risk of inhaling your own vomit.

Rehabilitation science covered the basic science of rehabilitation in semester one and over semester two we have covered MSK tests and treatments for the lower limb. This week covered strapping/taping for clinical purposes (not necessarily for sports people with injury). We even had a look at kinesio taping for lymphatic drainage too! The neuro lecture put everything into one big picture for us on Monday -  the role of the physiotherapist in the interviewing, examination and  treatment of neurological disorders. There were two neuro labs this week specifically for supervised practice of transfers, neurological testing, using associated equipment and interpreting gait / movement strategies. I had a competition to see who could pull off the longest wheelie in the wheelchair... whilst I lasted about 10 seconds, I also fell backward in slow motion (due to my almost pristine control - only my dignity was damaged as the class was watching from the corner of their eyes). My competitor lost that round but regained the title after perfecting the wheelie by the end of the lab. In other wheelchair antics, apparently there is a secret, 'underground' wheelchair club whereby you must wheel yourself through the parallel bars to become a member (try not to get stuck!)... I've now broken the 1st and 2nd rule of wheelchair club.

Clinical practice is a broad paper. It deals with implicit issues affecting practice, such as culture, psychology, ethics, evidence based practice and hydrotherapy. It has also opened the door to our first experiences in clinical practice / placements. Through these doors, we learned that health professionals in hospitals need a place of quietness and the drug room is perfect for writing up patient SOTAP and discharge notes. Mid-way through semester two a lecturer installed hope by reporting that the sun was indeed rising earlier (via powerpoint images of a Dunedin sunrise and time the photo was taken) - a sign that summer is on its way... perhaps we could have had the lecture finish in time to watch the sunrise first hand (we would have to be up super early - although I'm not sure that this would improve class turn-out).

My flatmates have been great over the year. This week the third year physio flatmate of mine made me dinner on Tuesday (randomly... but I'm not complaining!) so I must think of a way to repay her kindness before she leaves for the summer. My other flatmates are studying hard for exams like good first year students should.

Lab Group A... #PhysioFun

Proof of Sport Medicing Certification

No matter how many times you say you're a sports medic... some will always think of you as a physio.

 

I would like to thank all who have taken the time to read my blog this year. I look forward to continuing my journey through undergraduate physio and sharing my experiences with you next year (2015) and in 2016. I wish to extend my thanks to the students and staff who have contributed to the excitement had thus far - I look forward to your enthusiasm next year.

I'm only going to write one more post this year to cover my experience through the exam period.
It's time to put knowledge to paper!

Wish us luck!