Comments for A physio on a wander

Comment on Getting around by Debs

Debs — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 21:38:18 +0000

Really enjoyed reading that!! SOOOO funny! David thought the car door was neccesary so you could wind the window down when you get too hot!!

Comment on Getting around by Jackie

Jackie — Mon, 21 Sep 2009 16:11:56 +0000

I absolutely love these photos!

Zillah, you are very brave. Few of us could stomach the high speed flirtatous conversation that you have obviously learnt to master. I’m assuming here that you won’t be returning to the UK accompanied by several attentive boda drivers… Jx

Comment on Getting around by Phil

Phil — Mon, 21 Sep 2009 09:41:58 +0000

That’s brilliant!!!

Comment on Rubbish Rehab Equipment! by zdy1

zdy1 — Sat, 19 Sep 2009 08:57:32 +0000

Thanks for your support on this. As far as I have got so far is plastic bottles filled with sand and a ‘peg test’ which is a piece of wood with nine holes in it and pegs which people have to put in the holes.
I’m still working out how the “plastic bags” into rope thing works… anyone know how to do it?

Jamie, one of the bigger problems is the fact that there are no armchairs in the hospital (unlike the UK where there is one by every bed) and the beds are too high for people to put their feet on the ground. It would be great to have something that people could comfortably rest supported (in an armchair like position) on the edge of the bed. But I doubt this can be done using free materials!!

Will let you know of other problems as I come across them.

Comment on About where I am by zdy1

zdy1 — Tue, 15 Sep 2009 19:19:50 +0000

Hi Anna! Good to hear from you. How you and James doing? Unfortunately not sure that we will be able to use the OT uniforms here. Most the professionals wear locally made white coats. It may have to be that bonfire for the green trousers…!! Z

Comment on About where I am by Anna Pinto

Anna Pinto — Tue, 15 Sep 2009 13:37:30 +0000

Hi Zillah,

James and I enjoy reading about what you are up to in Uganda. Thank you for your news letters.

I have some OT uniforms which I do not need. Would your hospital be able to use them?

Love From Anna Pinto

Comment on About where I am by Kathy Hollenbeck

Kathy Hollenbeck — Fri, 04 Sep 2009 03:30:19 +0000

That’s right, Zillah. Someone you never thought could even find your blog, is reading it! Hats off to me for trying to explore the cyberworld! Miss you!

Comment on Rubbish Rehab Equipment! by Jamie

Jamie — Fri, 10 Jul 2009 17:02:15 +0000

Hi Z

I’d be really interested in seeing how this goes and maybe helping come up with ideas. Some of my product design friends would also be good. I’ll get them to have a look at this page. Fun trying to help from the other hemisphere!

[In fact it reminds me of the bit in Apollo 13 where the boffins are down on the Earth s(c?)ellotaping round things into square holes while the astronauts are running out air and waiting for the answer.]

Maybe you could take photographs of what you can see and we could have a day of prototyping with the same stuff and get back to you.

What sort of rehab equipment is most useful?

Comment on Back to being a physio by Tany

Tany — Fri, 10 Jul 2009 16:22:42 +0000

As you friend cathy said not sure I can suggest much you don’t already know! Also not sure I’m the best person to suggest things with my massive experience in physio lol!! But some ideas:

How do you work with a burns patient who has developed multiple contractures due to not having any physio for a couple of months post injury?
* Create splints out of metal cans/cardboard string etc
* Use pillow & bedding & positioning to create prolonged stretch?
* If the plastic bags braided together are stretchy/strong enough maybe create weight and pully over can and weigh bottle with sand?

How do you treat the spinal cord injury patient who has not had his neck stabilize as is still on the surgical waiting list (1 month post injury)?
*Only thoughts are assess neurological deficit treat what you see & stabilizes neck? Might be a stable fracture?

For sputum retention chap – maybe boiling water in a bowl with towel over head to create humidified air? you have O2 & O2 tubing? put O2 tubing into under towel with humidified water?

Am thinking there must be a way to create a humidifier from bits & bobs lying around, will explain the concept to phil and see if his lateral brain will work

Comment on Rubbish Rehab Equipment! by Tany

Tany — Fri, 10 Jul 2009 16:06:27 +0000

Hey hon, sorry it has been so long no talk to, although sounds like its all going well.

As per your question will have a proper think over next couple of days but off top of my head, if they weave plastic bags into rope, maybe slightly stretch could possibly be a theraband alternative?

Also if you have plastic medical gloves – mini theraband for hand physio

Will also put your blog comment onto our physio facebook page and see if that brings up any ideas

Tany x