Saturday 9 October 2010

Which part of the brain is involved in sensation?

Q: Which part of the brain is involved in relaying somatic sensory information from the skin of the trunk and extremities to the somatosensory cortex? 

A: The thalamus has several functions, one of which is the processing and relaying of sensory information. It receives sensory signals and then relays them to the appropriate cortical area in the cerebral cortex. The thalamus sits between the cerebral cortex and the midbrain, and comprises of a paired structure in the midline of the brain. 

Thursday 7 October 2010

Exercise after pregnancy: looking after yourself

Exercise after giving birth is probably the last thing on your mind with a newborn requiring much of your time and attention, not to mention the sleep deprivation and change in lifestyle. However when you are ready, finding the time to exercise is important and will make you feel a lot better both physically and psychologically. 
 
This article will cover the following:
1. Benefits of exercise
2. When to start
3. Exercise and breastfeeding
4. Some tips to get you started
5. Exercise suggestions 

Wednesday 6 October 2010

Latest research on Frozen Shoulder: Effectiveness of conservative & surgical interventions

Article Review

Aim
To review current evidence on the effectiveness of conservative and surgical interventions for treating frozen shoulder.

Methods
Databases including the Cochrane Library, PubMed, Embase, Cinahl and Pedro were searched for relevant systematic reviews and randomised controlled trials (RCTs). The quality of the studies were assessed by two independent reviewers and summarised.

Frozen Shoulder (Adhesive Capsulitis)

What is it?
Frozen Shoulder is a common condition in the middle aged to older population, with reported incidence ~2-5% presenting to GP and affecting women more than men (70% women 40-60 yrs).

As the medical term 'Adhesive Capsulitis' implies, it is when the shoulder capsule (tissue surrounding the glenohumeral joint) becomes stiff (adhesive) and inflamed (capsulitis), leading to significant loss of range of motion (ROM) and pain.
This condition can last from 5-6 months to 2-3 years or more.