Paradox and Metaphor: An Integrity of the Arts

Art is movement, movement is life. Surprisingly, the spareness of paradox in art promotes a fullness of life. We must first speak as simply as possible about art as a fundamental human activity. Only then can we hope to say something of consequence about the so-called “fine arts” — which may be misleading as a description. In substance, the reference “fine art” simply means useless art: “fine” as being free from utility. Art is imaginatively productive, it makes something, whether painting, poem, or partita. But this making has no independent utility, and its character as a work of art is such that it is neither used up nor utilized as a means to something else

Impact of Multimedia Interventions for Musculoskeletal Health Amidst COVID-19 Pandemic

Lower extremity joint pain is a leading cause of disability and immobility in the United States. Movement is Life seeks to educate and empower patients to break the cycle that immobility starts in efforts to improve musculoskeletal and overall emotional and physical wellbeing. Studies in the past have described the correlation that exists between using Movement is Life education materials as well as a home exercise program to improve lower extremity pain and overall health short term but did not account for confounding factors during the COVID-19 pandemic. The effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on health goes beyond patients that have contracted the illness by promoting a sedentary lifestyle in the general public. This study aims to expand on previous research by comparing the short-term effects of this combined approach in lieu of the COVID-19 pandemic to results from previous years. Eligible patients were surveyed in a clinical setting in South Texas before educational and exercise intervention and then re-surveyed 2 weeks and 4 weeks following initial intervention with additional questions regarding health during the COVID-19 pandemic. Results were compared to results from similar studies from previous years. Paired and unpaired 2-tailed T-Tests were used to analyze the mean response differences when applicable. Overall mean improvements were observed when comparing follow up 2 and 4 weeks after intervention to baseline survey responses in previous studies, but no such clear or significant improvements were seen in our current cohort. Based on these data, we can conclude that although a combined approach of multimedia education and home exercise program can be a useful treatment alternative for patients with lower extremity joint pain, positive results are strongly influenced by the available opportunities patients have to physical activity. The COVID-19 pandemic has had a negative effect on patients’ physical and emotional health especially in areas with high prevalence of health care disparities and physicians should be aware of this reality when initiating such treatments

The American Myth of White Supremacy: A Review of \u3ci\u3eMyths America Lives By\u3c/i\u3e

(excerpt) In 1989 a young white woman running through New York’s Central Park was seized, brutally beaten, raped, and dumped in a ravine. Miraculously, she survived, despite extensive injuries and a complete loss of memory. Five black and brown teenagers from Harlem, labeled the Central Park Five, were quickly apprehended and, after twenty-four hours of questioning without legal counsel, confessed to the crime. Although they were all minors, some as young as fourteen, the New York Police Department publicly released their names. Angry demands for punishment filled the local and national media. In subsequent trials, all five were found guilty and swallowed up by the New York prison system. However, they were innocent

Operation Change Comes to Rural Appalachia

Operation Change Model Target Population: Underserved females age 45 and older who are experiencing obesity, joint pain, and limited mobility An 18-week community-based behavioral health program that integrates: structured physical activity culturally tailored education motivational interviewer-led discussions to identify and address barriers to positive chang

The Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Racial Disparities in Patients Undergoing Total Shoulder Arthroplasty in the United States

INTRODUCTION: The purpose of this study was to assess racial disparities in total shoulder arthroplasty (TSA) in the US and to determine whether these disparities were affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. METHODS: Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) 100% sample was used to examine primary TSA volume from April-December from 2019-2020. Utilization was assessed for White/Black/Hispanic/Asian populations to determine if COVID-19 affected these groups differently. A regression model adjusted for age/sex/CMS-Hierarchical Condition Categories (HCC) score, dual enrollment (proxy for socioeconomic status), time fixed effects, and Core-based Statistical Area (CBSA) fixed effects was used to study difference across groups. RESULTS: In 2019, TSA volume/1000 beneficiaries was 1.51 for White and 0.57 for non-White, a 2.6-fold difference. In 2020, the rate of TSA in White patients (1.30/1000) was 2.9 times higher than non-White (0.45/1000) during the COVID-19 pandemic (P\u3c0.01). There was an overall 14% decrease in TSA volume/1000 Medicare beneficiaries in 2020; non-White patients had a larger percentage decrease in TSA volume than White (21% vs. 14%, estimated difference;8.7%,p = 0.02). Black patients experienced the most pronounced disparity with estimated difference of 10.1%,p = 0.05, compared with White patients. Similar disparities were observed when categorizing procedures into anatomic and reverse TSA, but not proximal humerus fracture. CONCLUSIONS: During the COVID-19 pandemic, overall TSA utilization decreased by 14% with White patients experiencing a decrease of 14%, and non-White patients experiencing a decrease of 21%. This trend was observed for elective TSA while disparities were less apparent for proximal humerus fracture

Functional outcome of tension band wiring of transverse fracture of patella or olecranon or medial malleolus

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: The transverse fracture of patella, olecranon, middle malleolus and its complication accounts for significant morbidity and mortality. Tension band wiring helps in early mobilization of the patients than any other methods of treatment at present. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A study of fracture of patella, olecranon and middle malleolus requiring surgical treatment at orthopaedics department of Sree Mookambika Institute of Science, 60 patients were operated by tension band wiring technique in our study. Patients were evaluated for functional outcome by using different scores. Patients were also evaluated radiologically. RESULTS: The result of our study shows that effectiveness of the procedure was recorded 85% for patella which was one of the highest assigned to the procedure. CONCLUSION: Considering the incident of knee fractures and the time taken for the patella to heal it is imperative to have studies which demonstrate the effectiveness of the procedure. Early mobilization is the key for every fracture fixation. (Movement is life, life is movement)

Games to live with: speculations regarding NikeFuel

In this paper I offer an alternative way to look at games that require no form of play. The player of these games is only supposed to keep them always up-to-date and running, but no specific action is required. NikeFuel is a significant example of this kind of game. NikeFuel, a technology for the quantification of body movement developed by the sports company Nike, is applied in a series of gadgets. The most popular, Nike+, is a wristband that quantifies the movements of the user and converts them into a NikeFuel score, which can later be visualised on a laptop or mobile phone. The act of moving throughout the day is transformed into a game-like experience, according to the principles of gamification. Gamification and quantified-self technologies have been noted for their performative potential and their capacity to control and inform our bodies (Whitson 2015). From a Foucauldian perspective, quantified-self technologies are attempts to rationalise the practices and movements of living organisms, as forms of biopolitical control (Foucault 2005, Schrape 2014). However, these are also spaces of transformation of the conditions under which the self becomes possible. Through NikeFuel, and other examples that I explore in this paper (Farmville, Cookie Clicker, CarnageHug), the player has to come to terms with games that act as parasites on their own lives. Thus, I argue that Nike+ can also be seen to complicate our thoughts about the contemporary digital technologies that surround us on an everyday basis. In this paper I will argue, possibly counter-intuitively, that gamification and quantified-self technologies are not necessarily tools that we use for a specific purpose; these are technologies we carry around with us and live with. As such, we are transformed by them as much as we transform them. Thus, the problem raised in this paper is about how we can co-habit and be hospitable with these ‘parasites’ (Serres, 1982)

Surgical management of avascular necrosis of femoral head in young adults treated with uncemented total hip replacement

Background: Normal hip joint is subjected to many stresses during daily activities performed by an individual. Since it is one of the major weight bearing joints of the body, its normal function is necessary for daily activities. Avascular necrosis (AVN) of the femoral head is one of the common causes of painful hip in a young adult. Core decompression, fibular sturt graft can be considered in early stages, total hip arthroplasty in later stages of AVN of femoral head.Methods: This is a retrospective study of 30 patients following uncemented total hip replacement, who were operated between August 2017 and March 2020 at MNR medical college and hospital, Sangareddy. They were followed up for a minimum period of 1 year and evaluated using Harris hip scoring system. Harris hip score is designed specifically for measuring functional outcomes in hip arthroplasty.Results: There was a significant improvement in function as measured with the Harris hip score. The overall preoperative Harris hip score was 43, which remarkably improved to 89 postoperatively. The results observed, showed that all patients had good to excellent results, (Harris hip score ≥0) thus showing a good degree of pain relief, improvement in function and range of motion.Conclusions: Although the use of total hip arthroplasty in young patients will more likely necessitate future revision surgery, the consistent relief of pain and good functional results have made this procedure an attractive treatment choice for the debilitating arthritis resulting from osteonecrosis of the femoral head.