HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Goderich Signal-Star, 1977-06-09, Page 40PAGE 16A—GODERICH SIGNAL -STAR, THURSDA\I, JUNE 9, 1977
Ientyof backbone in this'.
BY JOANNE WALTERS
Scoliosis in simple teems, is
a bending of the spine,
commonly found in females
10 to 14 years of age. It is a
condition which may be
congenital or acquired
through poor posture and
spinal injury.
1f the condition is allowed to
progress unde.tected to severe
scoliosis, crippling may
result and surgec!y is
necessary.
In 1975 the Scarborough
Health Unit carried out a
survey by examining 19,000
school children for scoliosis.
Of these children, 637 were
referred to physicians and 235
of them required some type of
treatment. Based on these
results, the Ministry of
Health suggested that all
Canadian school children in'
Grades 6, 7 and 8 be tested for
scoliosis with parental
consent.
The Huron County Health
nit began screening in
Huron County public schools
on May 1. Although the
screening is not yet complt te,
about three per cent nr the
students tested so far have
been referred to their family
physicians for further ob-
servation.
Screening of school
children involves the bend
test in which the child bends
to touch his knees while a
Huron County health nurse Laurie Ginn gives Jim Keller, a Grade 6 student the bend test
for scoliosis. Scoliosis is a condition which may result in crippling if undetected. All Grade
6, 7 and 8 students in Huron County are being tested. The students bend forward with their
hands on their knees while the nurse Observes the shape of their shoulders and back from
behind. (staff photo)
r
nurse sits behind him. By
bending this way, the child
accentuates the shoulder
girdle asymmetry -and the
nurse can easily observe the
early signs of scoliosis. Some
of these signs are asymmetry
of the back, curved vertebral
depression, difference of
height and prominence of
right and left hips, angulation
on the left flank as compared
with the right, prominende of
the left shoulder blade and a
difference in the height of the
shoulders,
The objective of the
screening of Grade 6, 7 and 8
students is to recognize a
minor defect at an early age
and so avoid surgery. When
the nurse observes an ab-
normality, they refer the
child to his family physician
for further observation. In
some cases the problem will
be simply poor posture.
Scoliosis is progressive
while the child is growing
from age 10 to 14 years. If
•
recognized at the early stage,
about Grade 6, scoliosis can
be treated by Milwaukee
brace. The brace is a type of
steel, frame which holds the
pelvis tilted while keeping the
spine straight. The brace
must be worn 24 hours a day
for several years until the
condition rights itself.
Wearing the brace iscom-
bined with a series Of exer-
cises formulated to help the
condition also.
Although the Huron County
Health Unit knew the results
of the Scarborough testing for
some time, they decided not
to start their own testing until
May when the students would
be wearing lighter clothing
which would be easier to
remove for the bend test.
Dr. Frank Mills, Huron
County Medical Officer of
-Healthy says the testing of
school children is "a very
simple, good program". He
says he has received many
letters of thanks from parents
Six win animal
The Bank of Montreal gave
away six animal's last
Tuesday when it wrapped up
a savings campaign that
stretched from March 21 to
May 31. The campaign was
tagged Safari '77 and the
animals given away were
stuffed jungle animals used
as props in the Goderich
branch.
Bank employee Mariette
Chisholm announced the
winners of the animals after a
draw in the bank on Tuesday,
People - who opened a
savings account during the
campaign had their name put
in a hat and the winners were
drawn from those names.
The winners were Barry
Kinahan,, Bob Dyer, Carl
Fisher, Nellie Borland, Lois
Hallam and Marlene
MacDonald.
Lucie Turcotte was selected
as the social convener ..
GDCI for the school year 1,977a'-',.-
'8. Lucie was chosen by a
student vote taken last week
at the school. (staff photo)
00
1 O
travel WIS(
sports
separates
Mix and matchable ...
perfectly packable! All
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STAN
JONES
d SHQPPERS SQUARE
SHOPPE
LIMITED
dP N ALL DAY WEDNESDAYS
OPEN FRIDAY NIGHT TIL 9 P.M.
'1
whose children have been`
tested.
Mills feels that the best
preventative program for
scoliosis is a good physical
education program in the
schools with an emphasis on
good posture.
He says even the way in
which a child sits in front of a
television set for long periods
of time can result in leg
deformity from poor posture.
In Canada about three per
cent of the population has
scoliosis. It, is the only`
country where surgery for
scoliosis is still carried out.
Because of effective
screening programs in other
countries, the occurrence of
scoliosis has drastically
declined.
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New Banking Hour
Effective Monday, June 6, 1977
Monday thru Thursday, 10 a.m. - 4:30 p.m,
Friday 10 a.m. - 6:00 p.m.
41646 The First Canadian Bank
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The Employees of
Sandy's
ashion Shoos
To
Extended
Health Care
These employees now have the added bene-
fits of extra health protection for themselves
and their families a Blue Cross Extended
Health Care Plan,
EHC provides protection against health ser-
vices not covered by the basic government
' health plan, coverage for such items as pre-
scription drugs, private nursing and private
room accommodation -in hospital. In addition,
EHC can be tailored to meet the needs of any
employee group.
3747
Mike Keegan
665 King Street East, Suite 203, Kitchener, Ontario
N2G 2M4 (519) 578-4700.
"As your Ontario Blue Cross
.. representative I am pleased to
add my personal welcome, and
lootforward to serving you
aldng with the many otherstn,
this region already enjoying -
the protection of a variety of
Blue Cross Plans"
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