Showing posts with label Trauma. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Trauma. Show all posts

Parenting advice: 5 supportive gestures remembered by the mnemonic CLICC

Mnemonic CLICC:

Comfort: stay calm and patient
Listen: show interest in their passion
Inspire: expose them to new ideas
Collaborate: ask for their opinion
Celebrate: use “put-ups”, “not put-downs”

Comfort: stay calm and patient

Practice active listening and provide support.

For teens: Be present and pay attention to changes in behaviors. Offer validating and reflecting statements to help them label their own emotions when in distress.

Practice relaxation techniques such as counting to ten, deep breathing, meditation, or positive self-talk. Help them identify strategies to manage stress and control their impulses.

Listen: show interest in their passion

For teens: If a teen wishes to talk about a difficult topic, supportive listening helps them express their thoughts and make sense of their experience. Pick a safe place to talk during an activity, while playing video games or a sport, or while driving in a car. Give them time to express themselves. Allow them to share their story without interruptions, show interest, and be alert for moments of honesty and vulnerability. Give them time to express themselves before offering advice or help. Sometimes they will be more encouraged to express themselves when you are not looking directly at each other. Ask open-ended questions that require more than a yes or no answer.

Inspire: expose them to new ideas

For teens: Encourage Positive Thinking and Setting Goals. Encourage teens to try new things and to take part in healthy risk-taking. Suggest activities that allow them to practice skills and feel good about themselves. Ask teens who their role models are and why and help them focus on what qualities they admire. Be a positive role model yourself. When possible, create opportunities for them to meet or work with adults in areas that interest them. Explore their future goals and engage them in short and long-term goal setting —establish realistic, achievable goals. Provide opportunities for increasingly challenging tasks

Collaborate: ask for their opinion

For teens: identify and understand their obstacles, let them communicate how they’re feeling and describe the problems in their own words. Once they’ve communicated the issues, encourage them to identify potential conflict resolution strategies and pros and cons to different ideas. Engage them in a step-by-step problem-solving process until you reach a solution. Encourage them to reflect on how their peers and friends might be feeling during conflicts. Assure them that they can rely on you to be their sounding board.

Celebrate: use “put-ups”, “not put-downs”

Thus gesture supports the development of self-identity and reminds a child of their competence, importance, and lovability. When we acknowledge their birthdays, graduations or everyday accomplishments like completing their homework, meeting new friends or doing chores, we help children build positive self-esteem.

Provide affirmation and validation, recognize their individual and cultural uniqueness.

Simple examples: A cheer, a clap, a smile, a kind greeting or a statement that acknowledges them.

For teens: Encourage them to take part in activities they enjoy and that you can do together, such as video games, art projects, shooting hoops, etc. Invite them to talk about their successes and challenges and teach them the value of the process and not just the final achievement. Guide them in exploring cultural traditions and sources of cultural pride.

References:

https://changingmindsnow.org/healing
https://changingmindsnow.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/Comfort.pdf
https://changingmindsnow.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/Listen.pdf
https://changingmindsnow.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/Inspire.pdf
https://changingmindsnow.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/Collaborate.pdf
https://changingmindsnow.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/Celebrate.pdf

The freak accident that changed Charles Krauthammer's life

From Wikipedia: Charles Krauthammer is an American syndicated columnist, author, political commentator, and non-practicing physician whose weekly column is syndicated to more than 400 publications worldwide. Krauthammer became permanently paralyzed after a diving accident while in his first year studying at Harvard Medical School. After spending 14 months recovering in a hospital, and although wheelchair-bound, he returned to medical school, graduating to become a psychiatrist involved in the creation of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders III, and later developing a career as a Pulitzer prize-winning writer.

Fox TV interview:



References:

Charles Krauthammer - Wikipedia http://buff.ly/2lpQ5Gr

Sparring Injuries

Martial arts instructor Jake Mace tells the story behind his scar and arm fracture:

Health risks in extreme cold - and what to do about them

Mayo Clinic emergency medicine specialist Dr. David Nestler talks about how cold weather affects our bodies and what we need to know about frostbite:



“It’s a shame whenever anyone gets a frostbite injury,” says Lawrence Gottlieb, MD, professor of surgery at the University of Chicago and director of the Burn and Complex Wound Center. “People need to be aware of it and take precautions when the temperature drops, like it has this week. Be especially cautious when temps fall below zero, especially when there is a strong wind. Obviously, wear warm clothes. If you are driving a long way, especially at night, make sure you have enough extra clothes to cover up effectively if you get stuck somewhere. And don’t get stuck. Put enough gas in the car.”

Tips for people who go out in the cold

- If the temperature is below zero you could sustain a cold injury in less than 15 minutes.
- Mittens are warmer than gloves.
- Insulate the affected body part to prevent additional heat loss and damage.
- Immobilize and protect the frostbitten tissues from further injury.
- Prevent thaw-refreeze cycles. Do not begin rewarming until there is no risk of further exposure.
- Once in the hospital, physicians recommend rapid rewarming in a water bath at 104°-107.6°F (40°- 42°C) for 15-30 minutes until thawing is complete.

References:

Chicago midwinter – a user’s guide for preventing frostbite | Science Life buff.ly/1xHErpy

Walking While Texting - National Geographic video



Texting shrinks peripheral vision to only 10%. "Cell phone use is on the rise and our eyes keep looking down. Try looking up and see what you've been missing."

How to Teach Teens to Drive Safely - WSJ video

Along with parking and steering, parents also need to teach teenagers how to spot crash hazards. WSJ's Sue Shellenbarger and Tanya Rivero discuss some tips.

Trying to Walk After the New York City Marathon (video)

After completing the 2014 New York City Marathon, participants fight through fatigue and physical exhaustion on the streets of Manhattan. Produced by: Deborah Acosta for The New York Times.

Elbow Pain in Adults - 2014 review from Am Fam Physician

The elbow is a complex joint designed to withstand a wide range of dynamic exertional forces. The location and quality of elbow pain can generally localize the injury to one of the four anatomic regions: anterior, medial, lateral, or posterior.

The history should include questions about the onset of pain, what the patient was doing when the pain started, and the type and frequency of athletic and occupational activities.

What are the common causes?

- Lateral and medial epicondylitis are two of the more common diagnoses and often occur as a result of occupational activities. Patients have pain and tenderness over the affected tendinous insertion that are accentuated with specific movements.

- If lateral and medial epicondylitis treatments are unsuccessful, ulnar neuropathy and radial tunnel syndrome should be considered.

- Ulnar collateral ligament injuries occur in athletes participating in sports that involve overhead throwing.

- Biceps tendinopathy is a relatively common source of pain in the anterior elbow; history often includes repeated elbow flexion with forearm supination and pronation.

- Olecranon bursitis is a common cause of posterior elbow pain and swelling. It can be septic or aseptic, and is diagnosed based on history, physical examination, and bursal fluid analysis if necessary.

What are the recommended tests?

Plain radiography is the initial choice for the evaluation of acute injuries and is best for showing bony injuries, soft tissue swelling, and joint effusions. Magnetic resonance imaging is the preferred imaging modality for chronic elbow pain. Musculoskeletal ultrasonography allows for an inexpensive dynamic evaluation of commonly injured structures.

References:

Evaluation of Elbow Pain in Adults. Kane SF, Lynch JH, Taylor JC. Am Fam Physician. 2014 Apr 15;89(8):649-657.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24784124

Image source: Normal radiograph; right picture of the straightened arm shows the carrying angle of the elbow. Wikipedia, Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 2.5 Generic license.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Coude_fp.PNG

How to Avoid Dog Bites -- It's National Dog Bite Prevention Week

Dogs are the most diverse mammal species on the planet (http://buff.ly/1pxxt0k). They can vary in weight from 6 lb (3kg) to 200 lb (90kg) when fully grown and have widely differing body shapes and hair types.

Not surprisingly, dog-bite injuries in children (head and neck) peak in warmer weather. The family pet is to blame in 27% of cases, and pit bulls are most commonly involved.

Dog bites are the third leading cause of emergency room visits for children, and the majority of those bites are from a dog known by the child. The ASPCA's Director of Anti-Cruelty Behavior Research Dr. Katherine Miller discusses How to Avoid Dog Bites in this WSJ video:



Pay attention to the dog's body language

Put a safe amount of space between yourself and a dog if you see the following signals, that the dog is uncomfortable and might feel the need to bite:

tensed body
stiff tail
pulled back head and/or ears
furrowed brow
eyes rolled so the whites are visible
yawning
flicking tongue
intense stare
backing away

What to do if you think a dog may attack

Resist the impulse to scream and run away.
Remain motionless, hands at your sides, and avoid eye contact with the dog.
Once the dog loses interest in you, slowly back away until he is out of sight.
If the dog does attack, "feed" him your jacket, purse, bicycle, or anything that you can put between yourself and the dog.
If you fall or are knocked to the ground, curl into a ball with your hands over your ears and remain motionless. Try not to scream or roll around.

Here is a brief 3-minute summary from CNN with some practical tips how to prevent dog bites:



References:

How to Avoid a Dog Bite : The Humane Society of the United States http://buff.ly/1jTA6UO
How to avoid dog bites | Cesar Millan http://buff.ly/1gk2Gng
Dog-bite injuries in children peak in warm weather | Reuters http://buff.ly/1jTAhj4

Punched Out: The Rise and Fall of NHL Enforcer Derek Boogaard (NYTimes video)

Derek Boogaard was one of the N.H.L.'s most feared fighters before overdosing in 2011. The New York Times examined the life and death of the professional hockey player Derek Boogaard, who rose to fame as one of the sport's most feared fighters before dying at age 28 on May 13. The 36-minute video is from 2014:



A native of Saskatchewan, he was known primarily as a fighter and enforcer throughout his career, from junior hockey to the pros. His fighting prowess made him a favorite with fans. In 2007 he was voted as the second most intimidating player in the NHL, behind Georges Laraque, who attributed his retirement in part to a desire to avoid the serious injury Boogaard could inflict, such as the cheekbone fracture Todd Fedoruk suffered that had to be repaired with metal plates.

He died at 28 from an accidental drug and alcohol overdose while recovering from a concussion. A posthumous examination of his brain found he had suffered from chronic traumatic encephalopathy more advanced than that seen in some former enforcers who had died in middle age. That disclosure came shortly after the deaths of two other hockey enforcers, both of whom were also under 40 and had similar health issues. The three deaths triggered a debate in the hockey community about the issues faced by enforcers and their place in the game. His parents have filed lawsuits against the NHL and its players' union over his death.

Read the NYTimes story here: http://nyti.ms/1iZZ9VQ

References:

Punched Out: The Rise and Fall of Derek Boogaard [Full Version] | The New York Times - YouTube http://buff.ly/1jIEvPi

Derek Boogaard - Wikipedia http://buff.ly/1jIGF1h

Poison vs. venom: What's the difference?

Lesson by Rose Eveleth, animation by TED-Ed. "Would you rather be bitten by a venomous rattlesnake or touch a poisonous dart frog? While both of these animals are capable of doing some serious damage to the human body, they deliver their dangerous toxins in different ways. Rose Eveleth sheds light on the distinction between poison and venom (and why you shouldn't treat either one like you've seen in the movies)."


Snowboarding continues to evolve as a sport, and so do injuries (video)

Snowboarding exhibits high injury rates, at 2-3 times the rates of alpine skiing

The relatively young sport of snowboarding has gained immense popularity during the past 30 years and exhibits high injury rates, at 2-3 times the rates of alpine skiing. Upper extremity injuries are the most common type in snowboarders as a whole. Injury rates in snowboarders remain higher than in skiers. Wrist, shoulder, and ankle injuries are more common among snowboarders, while knee ligament injuries are more common in skiers.



Injuries are different in elite-level snowboarders vs. beginners

Elite-level snowboarders are often injured when performing difficult manoeuvres at high velocities and with amplified levels of force to the lower limbs. Consequently, elite-level snowboarders suffer from injuries that are of higher severity and have decidedly greater lower extremity injury rates. Conversely, injuries to the upper extremities are decreased in the elite snowboarders.

Snowboarding injury patients are 12 years younger than skiing injury patients

At one Rocky Mountains clinic, the mean overall age of injured patients was 32.9 years, 35.4 for skiers and 23.6 for snowboarders. The knee accounted for 43% of all skiing injuries, the shoulder 12%, and the thumb 8%. The wrist accounted for 18% of all snowboarding injuries, the shoulders 14%, and the ankle and knee each 13%.

Beginner snowboarders were more likely to present with wrist injuries compared with intermediate and advanced snowboarders.

At this mountainside clinic, the most frequent ski injuries are to the knee and shoulder, regardless of skill level. Beginning snowboarders most frequently injure their wrists whereas shoulder injuries remain frequent at all skill levels.

Snowboarding continues to evolve as a sport. This includes a steady progression in the degree of difficulty of the manoeuvres conducted by athletes and an increase in the number of snowboarders attempting such manoeuvres.

Olympic athletes break down their signature tricks (video)

Snowboarders and skiers have an extensive vocabulary of spins and flips. Here, Olympic athletes break down their signature tricks (from NYTimes):



References:

Injuries in elite and recreational snowboarders. Br J Sports Med. 2014 Jan;48(1):11-7. doi: 10.1136/bjsports-2013-093019. Epub 2013 Nov 26.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24282020

Injury patterns in recreational alpine skiing and snowboarding at a mountainside clinic. Wilderness Environ Med. 2013 Dec;24(4):417-21. doi: 10.1016/j.wem.2013.07.002. Epub 2013 Oct 16.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24138836

Snowboarding injuries: trends over time and comparisons with alpine skiing injuries. Am J Sports Med. 2012 Apr;40(4):770-6. doi: 10.1177/0363546511433279. Epub 2012 Jan 20.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22268231

Related:

Sochi Olympics 2014 | Shaun White: Halfpipe Snowboarding | The New York Times - YouTube http://buff.ly/MuiEO7
Sochi Olympics 2014 | Mark McMorris, Slopestyle Dervish | The New York Times - YouTube http://buff.ly/1eKKpIm

How to avoid getting a 'Text Neck' - Cleveland Clinic video

The popularity of texting on cellphones and using mobile devices has triggered an increase in neck pain. Dr. Bang, DC, of Cleveland Clinic gives tips on the right way to hold your mobile device.

How to prevent dog bites?

Not surprisingly, dog-bite injuries in children (head and neck) peak in warmer weather. The family pet is to blame in 27% of cases, and pit bulls are most commonly involved: http://is.gd/oZCr

Here is a brief 3-minute summary from CNN with some practical tips how to prevent dog bites:





Most People Crammed Into A Car: 20 (Guinness World Records Video)

How is a Guinness World Records video relevant to a medical blog? Well, if you have a few minutes to spare and watch some of the videos from the official YouTube channel of Guinness World Records, you can't help but notice that a few of the record attempts definitely look hazardous to the health of the contestants: http://www.youtube.com/user/GuinnessWorldRecords/videos

For example:

Heaviest weight lifted with the eyelid
Car Drawn By Hook Through Mouth
Stretchiest Skin!
Truck Pulled By HAIR?!
Heaviest road vehicle pulled by teeth
Coconut Smashes To The Head?!
Most scorpions in the mouth
Climbing Stairs... WITH YOUR HEAD
Chainsaw Juggling... On A UNICYCLE
CAN CRUSHER
Most pig iron bars broken with the head in one minute
Most boiled eggs swallowed and regurgitated

In this video, 18 members of the Climb Fit Team (all Australia) squeezed into a standard Smart Car on the set of Australia Smashes Guinness World Records, at the Warringah Mall, Sydney, Australia, on 25 January 2010:



The record is now at a limb-bending 20 and was achieved by the Glendale Cheerleading Team (USA) on the set of 'Guinness World Records Gone Wild' at The Staples Center in Los Angeles, USA, on 28 September 2011.

Now, this is impressive: Most consecutive ninety degree push ups. In this video, Christian Bázan (Spain) executed 12 consecutive 90 degree push ups on the set of 'Guinness World Records', Madrid, Spain, on 16 January 2009. The Record now stands at 13 and was achieved by Jesus Villa (USA) in Las Vegas, Nevada, USA on 18 September 2010.

Industry breeds "superior" rodeo bulls. The result? A lot of cowboys with broken bones

Rodeo Bulls Kick Higher and Buck Harder. A great bucking bronco can be worth hundreds of thousands of dollars, and an entire industry has sprung up that's dedicated to breeding these superior bulls. The result? A lot of cowboys with broken bones. WSJ's Michael M. Phillips reports:

Concussions 101, a Primer for Kids and Parents (video)



Dr. Mike has put together a few resources on concussions at http://www.myfavouritemedicine.com/2012/03/07/concussions/

Dr. Mike Evans is founder of the Health Design Lab at the Li Ka Shing Knowledge Institute, an Associate Professor of Family Medicine and Public Health at the University of Toronto, and a staff physician at St. Michael's Hospital.

http://twitter.com/docmikeevans
http://www.facebook.com/docmikeevans

Conceived, written, and presented by Dr. Mike Evans, Illustrated by Liisa Sorsa, Produced, directed, and filmed by Nick De Pencier, Picture and sound edit by David Schmidt, Gaffer, Martin Wojtunik, Whiteboard construction by James Vanderkleyn, Production assistant, Chris Niesing, ©2011 Michael Evans and Mercury Films Inc.

Mild traumatic brain injury (MTBI)

What is Mild traumatic brain injury (MTBI)?

Mild traumatic brain injury (MTBI) is commonly known as concussion. A universally accepted definition is lacking.

Mild traumatic brain injury and concussion are classified by:

- transient loss of consciousness
- amnesia
- altered mental status
- a Glasgow Coma Score of 13 to 15
- focal neurological deficits following an acute closed head injury

"Red flag' symptoms include: progression of physical, cognitive, and behavioral symptoms, seizure, progressive vomiting, and altered mental status.

What is the prognosis of mild traumatic brain injury (MTBI)?

Most patients recover quickly, within 1-2 weeks.

However, persistent symptoms may be noted in 5-20% of persons who have mild traumatic brain injury (MTBI):

- Physical symptoms include headaches, dizziness, and nausea, and changes in coordination, balance, appetite, sleep, vision, and hearing.

- Cognitive and behavioral symptoms include fatigue, anxiety, depression, and irritability, and problems with memory, concentration and decision making.

Who is at greatest risk after a mild traumatic brain injury (MTBI)?

Women, older adults, less educated persons, and those with a previous mental health diagnosis are more likely to have persistent symptoms.

Protecting the brain from concussion: $20-helmet is a good way to protect $100,000 education



Neuropsychologist Kim Gorgens makes the case for better protecting our brains against the risk of concussion -- with a compelling pitch for putting helmets on kids: A $20-helmet is a good way to protect $100,000 education. "Mind your (brain) matter."

References:
Subacute to chronic mild traumatic brain injury. Mott TF, McConnon ML, Rieger BP. Am Fam Physician. 2012 Dec 1;86(11):1045-51.
Image source: Hippocampus, from Wikipedia, public domain.

More than 50% of injuries on Fourth of July are related to fireworks

The eyes are the most frequently injured body parts, followed by the fingers and hands. Here is a video from the Cleveland Clinic with some advice how to prevent these injuries:



This video discusses ways to prevent and identify heat-related illness in senior citizens: