Interesting facts Orthopaedic is a word derived from the Greek “Ortho” and “Pais” or “straight child”. This is because it was originally used as a word to describe children with spine and limb deformities. Nowadays, Orthopaedics is more commonly used to describe the study and medical treatment of the musculoskeletal system, namely the bones and […]
Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS) is an uncommon chronic pain condition that can affect the arms, legs, hands or feet of a patient, following an injury. Rarely, Complex Regional Pain Syndrome affects other parts of the body. Complex Regional Pain Syndrome accounts for approximately 2% to 5% of adult pain clinic patients and up to […]
Did you know the average person walks 177,000 kilometres in their lifetime? That is the equivalent to walking around the world four times. When walking normally, the ankle joint bears a force of approximately five times our body weight, and up to thirteen times our body weight during activities such as running. Therefore, the ankle […]
Overview The word meningitis means swelling of the meninges. The meninges are protective membranes covering the brain and spinal cord. There are several different types of meningitis and they vary in severity. Although meningitis can be life threatening due to its proximity to the brain and spinal cord, it depends on the causative factor as […]
A scientist found that horses’ heart rates mirror those of human subjects touching them. A study of 2,500 men aged 49 to 54 found that having an orgasm at least three times a week cut in half the likelihood of death from coronary heart disease. Over the course of a day, about 100,000 heart beats […]
The Thyroid Gland The thyroid gland is a butterfly shaped organ located in the neck. It is wrapped around the windpipe just below the Adam’s apple. The thyroid gland secretes thyroid hormones that regulate metabolism and growth. Thyroid disease occurs when there is an imbalance of thyroid hormones produced. This can be due to either […]
What is neuroplasticity? Neuroplasticity is a relatively new and very exciting discovery in the specialty that is neuroscience, and it can open up a whole world of possibilities to those who may previously have been beyond hope of rehabilitation. The term neuroplasticity can be defined as the brain’s ability to change its structure and function […]
Splenectomy is the term used to describe the surgical procedure of removing the spleen. The spleen plays an important role in the immune system and although the body copes well without a spleen, patients who have undergone the procedure need to take some precautions to maintain optimum health. Why Remove the Spleen? There are a […]
Neurological disorders are diseases of the central and peripheral nervous system. In other words, the brain, spinal cord, cranial nerves, peripheral nerves, nerve roots, autonomic nervous system, neuromuscular junction, and muscles. Multiple Sclerosis Multiple sclerosis is a progressive and unpredictable chronic disease of the nervous system. The disorder occurs when the protective sheath that covers […]
A fibrillation can be described as muscular twitching involving individual muscle fibres acting without coordination. In the heart this is caused by the electrical charges that make the heartbeat become irregular and rapid. If untreated, fibrillation can lead to cardiac arrest, also known as myocardial infarction, and death. The defibrillator, if used as soon as […]
