___]]> ___]]> ___]]> Having been exposed to the concept of disabled skiing in Switzerland, Gilly returned to New Zealand with the hope of making skiing for the disabled a reality in this country. Gilly’s dual role of physiotherapist and ski-instructor made her a highly appropriate ambassador for the cause - she fully understood the impact of uneven snow slopes, excessive curves, and the challenges of various physical disabilities.
Gilly was instrumental in setting up the NZ Association of Disabled Skiing in 1976. She took on the role of team physiotherapist for the Paralympic Games on four occasions and was awarded the inaugural New Zealand Ski
Association’s Skier of Year Award (1978), and the Queen’s Service Medal for her services to the sport and the disabled (1986). On her untimely death in 2009 Gilly received both national and international tributes for her contribution to disabled skiing.]]>
___]]>
___]]> ___]]> With an interest in sports physiotherapy, he elected to go directly into a research pathway by enrolling in the Master of Physiotherapy degree, a first in the history of the School’s programme. He graduated with a Master of Physiotherapy (with distinction) in 2012.
Armed with a number of academic awards and several publications in peer-reviewed international journals arising from his time at Otago, Hopin has set his sights firmly on a research career. He was recently granted an Australian Postgraduate Award which has enabled him to undertake doctoral studies under the supervision of prestigious Australian physiotherapy researcher, Professor Lorimer Moseley.
Taking advantage of his opportunities, particularly in the research field, Hopin has become a great role model for other graduates of the School. This photograph shows Professor John Sullivan, supervisor for Hopin’s Master of Physiotherapy thesis, and Hopin Lee (Senior Lecturer Dr Tony Schneiders was also a supervisor for this work). ]]>
___]]>
___]]> ___]]> ___]]> ___]]> Anne volunteered her time with the Riding for the Disabled (1968-75) before becoming heavily involved with the Multiple Sclerosis (MS) Society. She put her physiotherapy knowledge to good use in her roles as Otago Branch President, delegate and National Vice-President (1974-87), and then National President (1987-91) of the MS Society. Persons with multiple sclerosis (P.W.M.S) sought improved levels of information and Anne co-authored the first of several pamphlets on pain and spasticity to be produced by the Society. Her experience with the Riding for Disabled provided her with insight into the potential for P.W.M.S to become involved in sport, and she promoted both riding and swimming as suitable sporting options.
Anne also found time to become the President of the Otago-Southland Branch of the New Zealand Society of Physiotherapists. A feature of Anne’s leadership in all of these volunteering roles was the need for the physiotherapy profession to link with the wider community of disabled people, both young and old.]]>
___]]>
___]]> ___]]> ]]> ___]]> ___]]> The exercises were initially limited to land-based exercises in the Hanover Street Physiotherapy Gymnasium. Before long, hydrotherapy was added to the programme and patients enjoyed modified water polo in the Physiotherapy Pool. The Dunedin Phoenix Club was established in 1967 as way of ensuring community-led exercises for patients with varying degrees of coronary heart disease, who could then have access to appropriate gymnasium and hydrotherapy facilities under the supervision of physiotherapists.
Otago-based physiotherapists continue to take on a supervisory role in their on-going support for the Phoenix Club, which has extended its activities to tramping and encouraging greater family involvement.
]]>
___]]>
Following further postgraduate education Julie wrote a series of books which were designed to develop awareness of disability. The people she worked with in PNG and those she came to know inspired the creation of these works.
In more recent times, together with her surgeon husband, Julie has participated in short-term work in Timor Leste and in PNG, where former colleagues continue to contribute to her story writing.]]>
___]]>
___]]> ___]]> ___]]> ___]]> ___]]> The red battery-operated point finder (middle) was used to detect the levels of skin resistance. It was used by physiotherapists to locate acupuncture points or alternatively, to determine the optimal location of points to electrically stimulate muscles or nerves.
The high-pressure mercury vapour bulb (far left) encases two thorium-coated electrodes at each end. It was designed to fit into a parabolic shaped Hanovia ultra-violet lamp. The mercury vapour produces short ultra-violet light rays which were used therapeutically for irradiating superficial infections of the skin and mucous membranes.]]>
___]]>
De Medicina. Francis Guthrie-Smith, a British trained physiotherapist at St Mary’s Hospital, London, was largely responsible for realising the therapeutic potential of suspension therapy in physiotherapy. To this end, Guthrie-Smith and Arthur Porritt (1900-94), orthopedic surgeon and former Governor General of New Zealand, published a paper in the British Medical Journal (1931) describing the use of suspension therapy in rehabilitation for conditions such as poliomyelitis (polio) and fractures. Here is a range of suspension therapy equipment which has played its part in the time honoured approach to facilitating movement.]]> ___]]>