Fourth Week - Balance

We're just over one third of a way through the semester; there are 13 academic weeks in semester one. At the end of week eight we get a one week break - this will be much appreciated because the lecturers have just turned the workload up a notch or two. The week started with concepts like balance or equilibrium which were discussed in terms of posture, righting reflexes/responses and clinical tests; but there are other interpretations of balance, and so this became the theme for the week.

We wear gloves in the lab (standard practice)
 so there's nothing really special about the image,
other than it's a peace symbol.
Peace!!

There needs to be a balance in the student lifestyle. This week the balance scales were tipping between exercise and alcohol. The big social event was a 2nd and 3rd year physio student pub crawl on Saturday. Students took a bus to South Dunedin and worked their way through the pubs to finish in North Dunedin. Good exercise. Bad for the liver. But this can be balanced with more exercise... Social sports are coming under way with touch rugby and netball being held during the week. ...but, the week begun with drinking too. It's a balancing act.

St Patrick's day was on Monday (March 17th) and many students dismissed afternoon class to pursue a pint of Guinness, to do the Irish Jig and to generally partake in a giant piss-up. Otago University has a reputation for student culture where any excuse to drink usually goes. I, however, just dressed up in green and went to all of my classes.

Making sure it fits before tomorrow!
...Yes I'm still in my socks

Talking about dressing up... We received our clinical uniforms on Wednesday. These will be worn in 'big group' and 'small group' for Phty255: clinical practice 1. 'Big group' will function similar to labs. 'Small group' is our clinical placements where we will experience primary (e.g. first contact in a private practice), secondary (outpatient in a hospital setting) and tertiary (community) health settings. Small group will be a highlight of many blog entries once that begins.

Our second physiology lab was on Tuesday. It involved assessing the effects of anaesthesia on the sciatic nerve, from a mouse, over time. Not much to say about the lab other than it was very straight forward and we finished half an hour early (labs are usually 3h).

The word of the week is "otomise". The suffix '-otomy' is to disconnect. Thus the term, to 'otomise' something, has taken a life of its own. "The pre-frontal cortex has been otomised" or "I just otomised the cauliflower head".




Mnemonics are also in fashion this year. The two that stand-out for me were taught in neuro-anatomy for remembering whether cranial nerves have a sensory, motor or mixed role. SSMMBMBSBBMM = Some Say Money Matters, But My Big Brother Says Big Brains Matter Most. However, 'brains' could be substituted with another word beginning with the letter 'B' - and it gets worse! The cranial nerves themselves OOOTTAFVGVAH (olfactory, optic, oculomotor, trochlear, trigeminal, abducens, facial, vestibulocochlear, glossopharyngeal, vagus, accessory and hypoglossal) could be remembered by this mnemonic: Oh, Oh, Oh, To Touch A Females Vagina, Gives Vinny A Hard-on. I'll try to keep the blog above board from here on in!

The highlight of the week was learning how to fit ambulation apparatuses (walking frames, walking sticks and crutches). Other manual mobilising techniques include using wheel chairs, piviot tables and a 'Slippery Sam' (a slippery fabric used to slide patients up the bed or out of tight spaces where a hoist will not fit).

I have a sports team to medic! I will be working with two other medics for a premier Dunedin soccer club. The team physiotherapist is going to teach us more and alternative strapping techniques! Woohoo! Our role involves pre-game strapping, 'rub downs' (massages) and first aid management. A substantial portion of Saturdays and Thursday evenings will be devoted. Although it is voluntary, the practical experience will be of most value.

This image is of the Gowland lecture theatre. It is situated in the anatomy and physiology building, opposite the Dunedin Public Hospital, adjacent to the Faculty of Medicine and a one minute walk from the School of Physiotherapy. We live in this lecture theatre (for lectures).

In contrast, this image is of the College of Education Auditorium where we share our physiology lectures with students studying pharmacy, nutrition, dentistry and medical laboratory science. This building is across campus in the Faculty of Education (for students who want to be primary or secondary school teachers). It is much nicer than Gowland. There is a stampede of physio students twice a week across campus because physiology follows immediately on from our Monday and Wednesday 8am Phty254 rehabilitation science lectures.

 "Dare to be Wise"