Weekly Blog 3/28

This week in biomed, we practiced moulage, discussed our Circus of Maladies Presentations, and participated in a boxing class for people with parkinsons. My favorite part was definitely the boxing class because all of the patients were so sweet and we had the time of our lives participating. In this class, our instructor was Sterling Moore.  

Moulage is something that I looked forward to each year. We do moulage labs where we watch tutorials to learn how to accurately recreate the injury we are given. This year, our mass casualty drill is a mass shooting, so the majority of the injuries will be gunshot wounds. Along with this, we also refreshed on bruising and lacerations. 

My circus of maladies disease was Polymelia. Polymelia can result from genetic anomalies or incomplete twin separation. Some cases occur due to environmental factors affecting fetal development. Sometimes, an incomplete twin merges with the main fetus, leaving extra limbs. Genetic mutations can interfere with normal limb development. Exposure to certain toxins during pregnancy may also play a role. Some people with polymelia experience pain, difficulty walking, or muscle weakness. Many cases require medical intervention to improve function. Doctors may remove nonfunctional limbs through surgery. Physical therapy helps people adapt and improve mobility. Advances in medicine help people with polymelia lead active lives.

Saad’s Healthcare trains people with Parkinson’s disease (PD) to use their bodies more normally. People living with PD or other neurological conditions often move differently, with gestures and actions that become smaller and slower. They may have trouble with getting around, getting dressed, and with other activities of daily living. This class effectively trains improved movements for any activity, whether “small motor” tasks like buttoning a shirt or “large motor” tasks like getting up from the sofa or chair, or maintaining balance while walking. The treatment improves walking, self-care, and other tasks by helping people “recalibrate” how they perceive their movements with what others actually see. It also teaches them how and when to apply extra effort to produce bigger motions, more like the movements of everyone around them.