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Arthrobics: Exercises for coping with arthritis produced by Arthritis Care, assisted by Dr A Calin, consultant rheumatologist, and Barbara Davey, superintendent physiotherapst. (1993). Available from Searle Pharmaceuticals, PO Box 53, Lane End Road, High Wycombe, Bucking hamshire HPIP 4HL. f4.50.

This video and accompanying booklet have been produced for people with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and osteo- arthritis (OA) to use at home. The theme of the video is about the importance of helping yourself in the management of the arthritis. This includes a daily exercise programme, the content of which could include some or all of the exercises demonstrated.

The video lasts about 30 minutes. The introduction about the development of centres for the treatment of arthritis including that of Bath, where the video was filmed, was interesting. Following a brief description of RA and OA, Dr Andrei Calin, a consultant rheumatologist, then takes the viewer through a variety of exercises for most of the 'major joints.

There are some positive features as well as negative ones. On the positive side, it is good to see patients performing the exercises and using everyday household objects to help them, indicating that it is not necessary to purchase specialised exercise equipment.

The combined use of verbal, visual and written instructions does provide a variety of explanations on how to perform the exercises.

However, the negative aspects spoil what is potentially a good video. The exercises are talked over with an explanation of how to perform them by Andrei Calin, but it would have been much better to have had a physio- therapist actually instructing the patients and pointing out how to do them correctly as well as where they might experience some discomfort.

Some of the camera shots make it very difficult to see what is happening as the whole body position is not in view.

The terminology used in the video and in the booklet is at times a mixture of medical and non-medical which could be confusing for the viewers to follow.

As the video is marketed for OA and RA sufferers I would have liked to have seen some more RA patients, perhaps with greater disability than those doing the exercises, as this would have indicated that everyone can do exercises to improve themselves.

Overall, I feel that the video would be of some benefit for patients to use at home but it is very slow-moving and the negative features already explained to reduce its potential.

Elizabeth Hall MCSP

stabilizer Pressure Biofeedback abdominus muscle in its specific role of stabilising the trunk. It can also monitor precise controlled movement during sDecific stren&henina or stretching

New dimensions In muscle control and stabillsation Chattanooga Group Limited, Chattanooga

OX6 OJX. f34.90 + VAT and carriage.

exercises. There is a small section at the

training. House, Talisman Road, Bicester, Oxfordshire end that shows its use in general fitness

This short video outlines the work of the physiotherapy department at the University of Queensland in the use of the pressure biofeedback Stabilizer. This device, a combined bulbldial gauge connected to a pressure pad, provides physiotherapists (and patients) with a method of ensuring safety, quality and precision in exercise performance and testing.

The video demonstrates the use of the Stabilizer in testing specific muscle actions - for example, the rectus

Protection of lumbar Spine

Upper Ihbibench prs5 iuwrt Iimh e x e r m ~

Protection of lumbar Spine

The -video is a useful source of

lo MiSM l'!# T e r n forcb blu: +Have client lying on side +Place pad between lolerol lrunkllumbar spine

+Slobilize pdvis using Iolerol pelvic 1111 combined

+Mainloin pressure during the stetch

levell and suppnrlmg surface

vnlh lhe slabilizalion procedure

Test i stretch 101

lighl tensor lnscio Inlo

,

information for those beginning to look at the precise action of muscle function in a rehabilitating setting. The sugges- tions of starting pressures and precise positioning of the patient will be useful for therapists starting to use this form of biofeedback. However the price may deter would-be buyers!

The Stabilizer is also available from Chattanooga Group Limited at the above address, a t €59.95.

Elaine Mason MCSP An accompanying poster demonstrates

some of its uses. Some of the illustrations are shown here.

Pack The Physiotherapists' Pack published by the Arthritis and Rheumatism Council, 1993. Order from The Education Officer, Research and Education Department, Copeman House, St Mary's Court, Chesterfield 541 7TD. Free.

The physiotherapists' pack, which has been put together by the Arthritis and Rheumatism Council, comprises some of the Council's excellent publications.

There are booklets on sports injuries, the painful shoulder and backache, and a handbook written for medical students called An Introduction to the Musculoskeletal System.

These publications are a tremendous asset to all physiotherapists treating patients with arthritis. The Oooh leaflet which is enclosed lists the many publications and how to order them.

Posters in the pack are on frozen shoulder, tennis elbow, rheumatism at work, and arthritis. The frozen shoulder and tennis elbow posters are ideal for physiotherapy departments where physio- therapy students and their relatives can see and read good information on management of these conditions.

The rheumatism at work poster and the arthritis poster are also suitable for the out-patient department, but they would also be helpful in factories, offices, and doctors' surgeries everywhere. They advise patients to take their problems on board and look for more help, informa- tion and advice.

There are reports from the ARC on rheumatic diseases, acute neck pain, management of low back pain, the management of acute soft tissue injury in sport and a leaflet What Can Physio- therapy Offer?. There is also an intro- ductory leaflet on all educational material provided by the ARC, which includes tapes, slides, books, booklets and research tapes.

Information on ARC awards for the health care professions is also included. This advises on how to apply for congress bursaries or educational travel awards.

There is also a sheet to advise on the British Health Professionals in Rheumatology.

The information in the pack is essential to all professionals who treat rheuma- ological conditions. It gives information to staff, patients or carers who want more knowledge, more contacts and more opportunity to self-seek and self-help, according to individual requirements.

Margaret Kerr MCSP

Physiotherapy, April 1994, vol80, no 4