Physiopedia App for WCPT Congress 2019

The excitement is building within the Physiopedia team for our attendance at the WCPT Congress 2019 in Geneva, now only 16 days away. We have a very busy schedule at the conference with members of our team participating in many different activities over the three days of the conference, including focused symposia, panel discussions, presentations and posters. Plus we have our base in the exhibition hall in booth T2 where everyone is encouraged to drop by and learn more about our many projects and activities. Here you can meet some of the key people who make all this possible! Please do come and hang out with us at what we hope will be the friendliest and most interesting corner of the exhibition hall.

Don’t forget visit Physiopedia at exhibition booth T2!

In order to help conference attendees and also our team members stay up to date with all the Physiopedia conference contributions, we have built a simple free web app called Physiopedia at WCPT 2019. You can quickly add this app to your phone or tablet home screen by following the instructions when you view our app in your device web browser. The easiest way to do this is to click on or scan the QR code below with your device camera and select to open the related link.

Please feel free to share this app with any colleagues who are attending the conference and we look forward to seeing you all there! If you can’t attend you can still use this app to follow Physiopedia social media updates released during the conference and so experience the conference with us virtually!

Celebrating 10 years of collaborations at Physiopedia!

This year Physiopedia is 10 years old (how did that happen?!).  What started as a small playful project in 2009 is now the largest Physiotherapy and Physical Therapy resource in the world.  With over 3000 evidence based articles, it is used by over 1 million individuals every month and reaches every country in the world!

The entire project is based on collaboration and everyone is included.  Over the next few weeks, in the lead up to the 2019 WCPT Congress, we will be sharing more information on the past, present and future collaborations and how you might choose get involved.  Here’s a short snippet of what is to come:

• Universities – Physiopedia content development projects started in 2009, these continue today plus Physiopedia and Physioplus are being integrated into teaching programmes as part of student education.
• Clinics – clinics world-wide are signing up to Physioplus so that their staff have easy access to quality online continuing education and professional development tools, such as online courses, CEUs and a portfolio.
• Platforms – in a new development Physiopedia, Physioplus and Physiospot can now be added to platforms, such as EMR’s and LMS’s, to provide a free knowledge resource for users, enabling them to easily access knowledge at the point of care or learning.
• Member Organisations – similar to clinics, national member organisations are partnering to provide full access to the Physioplus continuing education and professional development tools as a member benefit and recruitment/retention strategy.
• Topic Specialists – with specialist and expert knowledge are collaborating with Physioplus as a platform to share their knowledge globally. This knowledge translation platform is unique in that Physio/PT teachers can now reach every Physio/PT learner in the world through Physioplus.
• Clinicians – there are many ways that an individual clinician can contribute, culminating in the popular opportunity to volunteer on the Physiopedia editing team.
• Companies – and if nothing else, some conscious and socially responsible organisations are simply making a donation to the Physiopedia charity so that we can continue to keep doing all that we are doing.

To find out more keep checking back over the next few weeks, or if you can’t wait feel free to get in touch with rachael@physio-pedia.com right away, she is always happy to help.

The Fabella – Hitting the Headlines

An open access article, published in the Journal of Anatomy on the 17th of April, has caused a small sesamoid bone to hit headlines around the world – the Fabella.

If you haven’t heard of the fabella before we have an excellent page on Physiopedia which quickly bring you up to speed on all you need to know but here are a few facts:

• Fabella is Latin for little bean
• It is a small sesamoid bone located behind the lateral femoral condyle which is embedded within the lateral head of gastroc
• Prevalence ranges from 3% to 87%
• Highest rates reported in Asians and Australians
• It’s exact function is not known but it is more common in non-human mammals
• The fabella is known to complicate some knee replacements due to it ‘snapping’ over the replacement condyle which lacks a articulating groove

The reason this study hit mainstream media is because this systematic review suggests that the prevalence of the fabella is increasing over time in the Korean population they investigated. It is currently unclear why this sesamoid bone is increasing in prevalence whereas others are not. The leading theory is because of humans increasing in height and weight we need the fabella to help increase the mechanical advantage of our calf muscles – in a similar way to all other sesamid bones.

New Look for Physiopedia Badges

Physiopedia strives to provide up to date resources and information to the Physiotherapy Community and to do this it relies on volunteers from around the world.   Qualified physiotherapists/physical therapists and students alike work together to make this possible.  The work and collaboration of these dedicated volunteers is appreciated and as a token of their efforts we have a badge system which represents the level and dedication of these unique and wonderful individuals, who share with us a wealth of experience and knowledge. Physiopedia is always evolving and moving forward, as the world around us changes, and one of the recent initiatives was to give the badges a make-over, and they look amazing. This was made possible by the hard work of Lauren one of our yellow belt volunteers.  Badges are awarded depending upon the length of time our volunteers have been with us.  So, what are our badges and what do they mean?  Like the system used for Marital Arts each badge represents a belt and the colour reflects the achievements and progression of our volunteers, as each year passes.  We have one volunteer who has achieved her black belt, but we are confident that over the next few years this number will grow.

• White Belt− The birth of a new light is indicated by white. This is the first belt that is given to our volunteers at the start of their journey
• Yellow Belt− It symbolizes the first ray of sun light. In Physiopedia this badge is awarded to all Volunteers who pass the Volunteer course as they take on more responsibility and begin their journey as independent contributors.
• Orange Belt− This light is an indication of spreading of light on the earth. At this stage our volunteers have been working tirelessly for a year and have helped to expand the knowledge that Physiopedia shares with the Global Therapy Community.

Each year our volunteers are with us they are awarded a new belt representing the hard work and dedication that they bring to the team, without these amazing individuals Physiopedia would not be the wonderful resource it is. Another belt is another step, on this rewarding and exciting journey, moving from Green to Blue to Purple, Red, Brown until the ultimate achievement the Black Belt.  Just like in Martial Arts black is the highest accolade and symbolises enlightment and that every bright object casts a shadow (black).  Volunteers who reach this level are not only strive to improve their skills but are also happy to share and use their knowledge to guide volunteers and continue to help Physiopedia grow. If you would like to be part of this amazing team read more about being a Volunteer here.

Breathe Easy

Cardiopulmonary disease is an umbrella termed used to describe disorders of the heart (cardio) and lungs (pulmonary).  Physiotherapy plays a big role in the rehabilitation and management of symptoms.  Cardiopulmonary physiotherapists work with patients in a variety of settings and treat acute problems like asthma, acute chest infections and trauma chronic cardiac and respiratory conditions like Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD), cystic fibrosis (CF) and post-myocardial infarction (MI).

The management of these conditions will vary and will be dependent on many factors but wherever possible conservative and non-invasive methods are favoured with emphasis on self-management.  The role of the cardiopulmonary physiotherapist is to educate patients and also to be on hand when self-management is not enough.  They have a range of skills and knowledge ranging from manual and breathing techniques to non-invasive ventilation and often use a combination of modalities to aid the clearance of mucus  and ease the work of breathing.  Physiotherapists can also plan exercise programmes to improve fitness, exercise tolerance and increase lung capacity.

Treatments will vary from client to client but there are guidelines, based on the best evidence available to assist clinicians to find the best the most effective interventions. The British Thoracic Society have recently updated their Clinical Guidelines on the Management of Patients with Bronchiectasis, these along with other guidelines can be found on the Physiopedia page Cardiopulmonary Guidelines.  In fact, there is a whole category dedicated to Cardiopulmonary Disorders.

So, find a quiet corner, grab a cup of coffee and check out some of the recently updated guidelines and pages on Physiopedia:

• Cardiopulmonary Clinical Guidelines
• Cardiopulmonary Patient Guides
• Bronchiectasis
• Physical Activity and Respiratory Conditions
• Treatment of Respiratory Disorders

 

Untold Physio Stories 128 - Don't Practice Your Least Favorite Technique

In this podcast, Erson remembers when a fellowship mentee requested he perform a rib thrust manipulation - something he hadn't practiced since manual therapy fellowship 5+ years prior. How'd it go?

Research recommended in the show

Unraveling the Mechanisms of Manual Therapy: Modeling an Approach.

Search for Untold Physio Stories on your favorite music/podcast apps!

Untold Physio Stories is sponsored by the EDGE Mobility System, featuring the EDGE Mobility Tool for IASTM, EDGE Mobility Bands, webinars, ebooks, Pain Science Education products and more! Check it out at edgemobilitysystem.com .  Be sure to also connect with Dr. Erson Religioso at Modern Manual Therapy and Andrew Rothschild at Modern Patient Education.

Keeping it Eclectic...

This article was originally posted on Modern Manual Therapy Blog

Can Physiotherapy Really Help with Erectile Dysfunction?

We recently finished another round of the increasingly popular Physiopedia Volunteer Orientation Course. As part of the final assignment members were tasked to write an original piece of work to share with the profession, the contributions were of the highest quality. Below is the great piece of work written by Mandy Roscher.

Physiotherapists having been successfully helping women with pelvic floor dysfunction for a long time. Men’s Health Physiotherapy is now slowly gaining momentum. With more research being done every year we are realising that interventions focused on the pelvic floor muscles can help with a variety of pelvic problems in men. Cohen et al, 2015 published a literature review that introduces the readers to the basic functional anatomy of a male pelvic floor, its relationship to sexual function and how pelvic floor muscle rehabilitation can help.

How Does an Erection Happen?

An erection occurs due to a complex interaction between the vascular system, the parasympathetic, sympathetic, somatic and central nervous system with hormones and the muscular system also playing a significant role. An erection occurs when blood flows into the corpus cavernosa (tubes within the penis) faster than it can leave the penis and a closed hydraulic system maintains the erection.

What Role Do The Pelvic Floor Muscles Have In Erectile Function?

All the pelvic floor muscles (superficial and deep) have shown to be active during the period of an erection and orgasm. The ischiocavernosus helps to maintain the rigidity of an erect penis and fast contraction of the bulbospongiosus muscles are important for ejaculation.

What Can Happen To The Muscles?

The pelvic floor muscles can become weaker or hypoactive or they can have a higher resting tone which is known as a hyperactive pelvic floor. Both can affect erectile function indifferent ways. Pelvic floor muscles can become weaker with age and inactivity. They can also become hypoactive from nerve damage such as post prostatectomy. If they are under active they will not be able to help maintain an erection or allow for ejaculation and orgasm. Pelvic floor muscles can become hyperactive in men with Chronic Prostatitis and Chronic Pelvic Pain Syndrome, This results in a higher resting tone or “tight” pelvic floor. It is thought that the when the pelvic floor muscles have a resting tone that is too high it may compress the lumen from the outside which will limit the blood flow to the penis thereby affecting the erection.

How Can Physiotherapy Help?

There is more and more evidence coming out that pelvic floor muscle retraining can be very effective in treating erectile dysfunction. A detailed assessment by a suitably qualified physiotherapist will determine if the pelvic floor muscles are playing a role. The most important part is to determine if the pelvic floor is hypoactive or hyperactive. Giving pelvic floor exercises will significantly improve erectile function in someone with an underactive pelvic floor but will make a hyperactive pelvic floor much worse. Men with overactive pelvic floor muscles need to work on down-training or relaxing their pelvic floor muscles rather than strengthening.

Conclusion

While the ability to achieve and maintain an erection is multifactorial, pelvic floor musclesplay a vital role. Pelvic floor muscle training has been shown to be an effective therapy in the treatment of erectile dysfunction. They could even be the missing link for some men that are struggling and have tried other interventions.

References

1. Cohen D, Gonzalez J, Goldstein I. The role of pelvic floor muscles in male sexual dysfunction and pelvic pain. Sexual medicine reviews. 2016 Jan 1;4(1):53-62.https://www.smr.jsexmed.org/article/S2050-0521(15)00002-5/pdf
2. Rudolph E, Boffard C, Raath C. Pelvic Floor Physical Therapy for Erectile Dysfunction—Fact or Fallacy?. The journal of sexual medicine. 2017 Jun 1;14(6):765-6.