Effectiveness of Ultrasound (US) on Adults with Lateral Epicondylitis (LE)

Background: Individuals diagnosed with LE often present with increased pain and decreased functioning in daily activities. LE, commonly referred to as tennis elbow, which results from stress and pain to the lateral epicondyle or extensor carpi radialis brevis (ERCB). This can develop from a single incident, injury or trauma, which results in pain with gripping and lifting (Leadbetter, 2016). Ultrasound (US) utilizes wave production to cause thermal or nonthermal sound waves to stimulate tissue by increasing collagen extensibility and enabling the inflammatory process (Knight & Draper, 2013). Areas being treated by US require different depths; a 1.0 mHz sound head reaches a depth of 3-5 cm and a 3.0 mHZ sound head reaches a depth of 1-2 cm (Ledbetter, 2016)

Time out for sibling aggression: An analysis of effective durations in a natural setting

Time-out is a ubiquitous strategy to reduce problem behaviors. The current study sought to find the shortest effective duration(s) of time-out for sibling aggression in a community sample of girls ages 3–7. All participants reached a minimum reduction in sibling aggression of 60% after experiencing a 1-minute time-out. The majority (75%) of participants also demonstrated clear reversals of behavior when returned to the baseline condition. The current findings suggest that a 1-minute time-out may be sufficient for low-level sibling aggression in children as old as seven. Limitations include the presence of a graduate assistant during sibling play and unclear generalizability

JOINT ANGLES AND FORCES ON WRIST STRUCTURES DURING VARIATIONS OF YOGA POSES

The current study analysed joint angles of the wrists and forces on the structures in the hands and wrists in a hyperextended position and a neutral position during three different yoga poses. Participants (n = 9) performed three yoga poses (plank, side plank, and upward dog), with their wrists in a hyperextended position (H) and a neutral position (N). Each pose was completed three times for 10 seconds in H and N, for a total of six trials per pose. A two-way Repeated Measures ANOVA found significant differences in both wrist joint angles and GRF between H and N. Due to the suggested path transmission of forces, as well as the increased longitudinal loading that comes with wrist hyperextension, it is recommended that plank, side plank, and upward dog be performed in a neutral wrist position

ELECTROMYOGRAPHY ANALYSIS OF FOREARM MUSCLES DURING VARIOUS YOGA POSES

The current study examined muscle activity via electromyography of the flexor carpi radialis (FCR), ulnaris (FCU), and extensor carpi radialis (ECR), ulnaris (ECU) during two variations of three separate yoga poses. Nine participants (n=9) performed three different yoga poses: plank, side-plank, and upward dog; in two separate variations, (V1) with the wrists in a passive hyperextended position, and (V2) with the wrists in a neutral position where the participants made a fist and performed the pose in that position. There were no differences between poses or variations for ECR. A difference was found between variations, but not poses for ECU. FCR and FCU were different between poses, but not variations. The only interaction was for the FCR. Due to the increased muscle activity in V2, performing yoga in V1 position may allow a yoga session to be completed with less fatigue and risk for injury

The Calgary student run clinic in context: a mixed-methods case study

Background: Student Run Clinics (SRCs) provide students with clinical education while caring for underserved populations. While much of the research on SRCs comes from the USA, SRCs in other contexts need to be appraised in the context of the systems they interact with. This study explored how stakeholders in the University of Calgary’s SRC perceived its purpose and beneficiaries with respect to patients, students, undergraduate medical education, and its intersections within the healthcare system in Calgary.  Methods: Data came from the SRC’s EMR and stakeholder interviews at the Inn from the Cold (IFTC) shelter. Qualitative data were analyzed using standard grounded theory techniques. Results: There were 13 interviews - seven with student clinicians and six with preceptors and other stakeholders. Interviews highlighted the uncertainty of the SRCs role. Majority of participants saw the SRC as facilitating further access to other healthcare services, while some commented on its primarily education-focused role. Major limitations in the SRC’s scope of care and its integration with other services were identified. Conclusion: SRCs need to consider theiraccountabilities, both educational and healthcare-focused at individual and organization levels, in order to function as responsible healthcare providers in Calgary

Biodegradability of organic matter associated with sewer sediments during first flush

The high pollution load in wastewater at the beginning of a rain event is commonly known to originate from the erosion of sewer sediments due to the increased flow rate under storm weather conditions. It is essential to characterize the biodegradability of organic matter during a storm event in order to quantify the effect it can have further downstream to the receiving water via discharges from Combined Sewer Overflow (CSO). The approach is to characterize the pollutograph during first flush. The pollutograph shows the variation in COD and TSS during a first flush event. These parameters measure the quantity of organic matter present. However these parameters do not indicate detailed information on the biodegradability of the organic matter. Such detailed knowledge can be obtained by dividing the total COD into fractions with different microbial properties. To do so oxygen uptake rate (OUR) measurements on batches of wastewater have shown itself to be a versatile technique. Together with a conceptual understanding of the microbial transformation taking place, OUR measurements lead to the desired fractionation of the COD. OUR results indicated that the highest biodegradability is associated with the initial part of a storm event. The information on physical and biological processes in the sewer can be used to better manage sediment in sewers which can otherwise result in depletion of dissolved oxygen in receiving waters via discharges from CSOS