Strapping Health Dictionary

Also known colloquially as club-foot, this is a deformity apparent at birth, affecting the ankle and foot: the foot is twisted at the ankle-joint so that the sole does not rest on the ground when standing. The heel may be pulled up so that the individual walks on the toes (talipes equinus); the toes may be bent up and the heel used for walking (talipes calcaneus); the sole may be twisted inwards (varus) or outwards (valgus); or the individual may have a combination of deformities (equinovarus). The condition is probably the result of genetic predisposition with an environmental trigger. In the UK the incidence is one in 1,000 live births and talipes is more common in boys than in girls, with 10 per cent of sufferers having a ?rst-degree relative with the same condition. Clinically, there are two types of congenital talipes equinovarus (CTEV): a milder form – resolving CTEV – in which full correction to the normal position is relatively easily achieved; and a more severe type

– resistant CTEV – which is harder to correct; and the infant has reduced calf-muscle bulk and abnormally shaped bones.

Treatment should be started at birth with the foot corrected to an improved position and then maintained in plaster of Paris or strapping

– a procedure performed weekly or more often. If the deformity is not corrected by around six weeks of age, a decision has to be made about whether to carry out surgical correction. If a deformity persists to maturity, a triple arthrodosis – fusion of three affected joints – may be required.... talipes

The term commonly applied to prominent ears. The condition may be familial, but this is by no means the rule. Strapping the ears ?rmly back has no e?ect and is merely an embarrassment to the child. Where the patient wishes it, the condition can be recti?ed by plastic surgery.... bat ears

The term applied to the distortion of the external ear produced by repeated injury in sport. Initially it is due to a HAEMATOMA in the auricle (see EAR). To prevent deformity the blood should be drawn o? from this haematoma as soon as possible, and a ?rm pressure bandage then applied. Subsequent protection can be given to the ear by covering it with a few layers of two-way-stretch strapping wound around the head.... cauliflower ear

Stretching or tearing of muscle ?bres caused by subjecting them to sudden pulling. Bleeding into the muscle causes pain and swelling and sometimes muscle spasm. Application of ice packs and strapping, coupled with a day or two’s rest and analgesics, are usually su?cient to remedy most strains. Sometimes antiin?ammatory drugs or physiotherapy may be required.... strain

See: ROOIBOSCH TEA.

BURSITIS. Tendinitis. Inflammation of a bursa – a soft-tissue elastic sac between bones that glide over one another, as in elbow and shoulder. Contains a little fluid, its purpose being to form a cushion against friction. In the knee-joint it is known as ‘housemaid’s knee’; over the hips as ‘weaver’s bottom’, joints becoming red, hot and painful.

Deposits of calcium may thicken walls and form a focus of pressure, causing pain. Relief comes when the swelling disperses or bursts. In the 60-70 age group rupture of tendons is a frequent cause. Bursitis accounts for two-thirds of shoulder pains. Neglected, it may progress to ‘frozen shoulder’ in later life. Teas. Celery seeds, Comfrey leaf, Nettles, Wintergreen.

Tablets/capsules. Prickly Ash, Lobelia, Wild Yam, Helonias.

Alternative formulae:– Powders. Turmeric 2; Prickly Ash 1; Cayenne quarter. Mix. Dose: 500mg (two 00 capsules or one-third teaspoon) thrice daily.

Liquid extracts. Equal parts: Black Cohosh, Devil’s Claw, Turmeric. Mix. Dose: 30-60 drops thrice daily.

Tinctures. White Willow bark 2; Prickly Ash bark 1; Wild Yam 1; Capsicum quarter. Mix. Dose: 2 teaspoons thrice daily.

Cider vinegar. 2-3 teaspoons to glass of water 2-3 times daily.

Topical. Apply strapping plaster to arrest swelling. See: FOMENTATIONS. POTATO. BRAN OR COMFREY ROOT POULTICE.

Aromatherapy. Cajeput, Chamomile, Origans, Rosemary. 6 drops of any one oil in 2 teaspoons Almond oil for massage.

Diet. See: DIET – GENERAL.

Supplements. Vitamin A. Vitamin C (3-4g). Vitamin E (400iu). Zinc 15mg.

General. Cold packs. Compression bandages. Gentle massage under the knee where knee joint is involved. For septic bursa add Echinacea to internal medication or apply ointment. For drainage, aspiration is sometimes necessary. Protect knees with knee-pads. Turmeric acquires reputation for relief. ... bush tea

A type of chest injury that usually results from a traffic accident or from violence. In flail chest, several adjacent ribs are broken in more than one place, producing a piece of chest wall that moves in the opposite way to normal as the victim breathes. The injury may lead to respiratory failure and shock.

Emergency treatment consists of turning the person on to the affected side or supporting the flail segment by firm strapping.

In severe cases, artificial ventilation is needed until the chest wall is stable.... flail chest

a deformity of a toe, most often the second, caused by fixed flexion of the proximal interphalangeal joint, which produces extension of distal interphalangeal and metatarsophalangeal joints. A corn often forms over the deformity, which may be painful. If severe pain does not respond to strapping or corrective footwear, it may be necessary to perform *arthrodesis at the affected joint.... hammer toe

osteonecrosis of the *navicular bone of the foot (see osteochondritis). It occurs in children aged 3–7 years, causing pain and limping, and is treated by strapping the foot, rest, and anti-inflammatory drugs. [A. Köhler (1874–1947), German physician]... köhler’s disease

(talipes) n. a congenital deformity of one or both feet in which the patient cannot stand with the sole of the foot flat on the ground. In the most common variety (congenital talipes equinovarus) the foot points downwards, the heel is inverted, and the forefoot twisted. It is diagnosed at birth and may be associated with other congenital abnormalities. Treatment is initially by physiotherapy and strapping or a plaster cast, but if this fails to correct the deformity surgical correction is performed. Other varieties are talipes varus, inward deviation of the hind foot; and talipes valgus, an outward deviation of the hind foot, which is much less common.... club-foot