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muscle strength. It may also be of interest that stimulation of proximal lower limb muscles in preparation for standing and walking programmes in spinal patients is sometimes accompanied by reduction in spasticity. Whatever the outcome of the studies on neuromuscular stimulation one thing is clear - it is an adjunct to and not a replacement for good physiotherapy practice. This is a point that we did not emphasise strongly enough in our article. ROSIE JONES BSc PhD Bristol REFERENCE De Souza, L and Musa, I (1987). 'The measurement and assessment of spasticity', Clinical Rehabilitation, 1, 89 - 96. Would You Attend the Proposed CSP Validated Acupuncture Course? MADAM - The course planning team set up by the previous Post-registration Education Committee to consider a course in acupunc- ture for Chartered physiotherapists has now reached the stage of an outline course This would consist of eight study blocks of five days, including a distance learning element and planned clinical experience between study blocks Thts will be over a two-year period The esttmated fee will be approximately €1,000 per year, and the course will run in London. It is hoped that limited accommoda- tion will be available. The course is to be submitted for validation by the CSP, and it is therefore essential to determine likely demand. Anyone both interested and likely to be able to attend such a course is asked to contact Mrs J Carey at the CSP, 14 Bedford Row, London WC1 R 4ED. TONY BREWER MCSP ANN BURKITT MSc DipFE RGN JENNIE COLLINS MCSP SUE HUART MCSP JENNY WIGRAM MSc MCSP CHIN WONG AIDS MADAM - The Glenfield Unit, Leicester, houses an infectiods diseases ward which often admits AIDS cases. The physiotherapy department is involved in both the diagnosis and treatment of these patients. The Leicestershire Health Authority has a concise policy on AIDS but we feel we should have an independent policy for the physio- therapy department. We would be very interested to hear from any other department which has its own policy on AIDS or if anyone would wish to be involved in setting up such a document. C J C HILL MCSP Physiotherapy Department Groby Road Hospital Groby Road Leicester LE3 9QE Letters to the Journal Letters for publication are always welcome. They should be original and not sent to any other publication. It is helpful if they are typed on one side of the paper only. NHS Circulars and Guidance This selection is from documents issued by Health Departments. Copies should be avail- able for inspection at health authority offices. Health Circulars 1871 No 21 General managers: Pay rates. No 22 Health Authority senior managers: Arrangements for remuneration and cQnditions of service. No 26 Data Protection Act 1984: Modified access to personal health information This circular gives guidance as to the rights of parents and children under the act. No 29 Community nursing services and primary health care teams Guidance is given on ways in which the work of the primary health care teams may be strengthened by means of a neighbourhood or locality approach to the organisation of commlrnlty nurstng services. EQUIPMENT NOTE K9 Orthopaedic Scooter ANNETA R GAMBLE MCSP THE otthopaedic scooter K9 was invented by an engineer who sustained a severe lower leg injury and wanted to carry on working during a long period of non-weight-bearing. The major disadvantages of crutches for such an injury are that they occupy both arms, make walking very tiring, and leave the leg hanging down. The K9 overcomes these problems because it can be controlled by the knee, leaving both arms free, when used indoors. Outside, inclines and rough ground need the support of at least one hand on the handle. The lower leg is kept level with the knee which helps prevent swelling and pain. The K9 is adjustable in height for patients between 1.5 m and 2 m tall, dismantles into four parts and weighs 6 kg. My patient, a 20-year-old female student, sustained a severe compound fracture dislo- cation 6f the ankle which was fixed internally. Twelve days after the injury she was allowed home on the K9, and was immediately mobile around the house and local shopping area. At five weeks, still non-weight-bearing,she re- turned to college where she moved around the campus on the K9 using it as a leg rest during lectures, or a$ a seat when tired. Indoors on flat surfaces she was able to move quite fast, and quickly built up the necessary muscles to propel the scooter with agility. Outside progress was harder and slower, but still allowed far more freedom than crutches. The scooter also fitted into the boot of an average car without dismantling, so it could be transported with the patient. Swelling of the ankle was minimal when the plaster was removed and non-weight-bearing movement started after four weeks. The muscles in the upper leg were kept active by using K9, and the patient stayed generally fitter and less frustrated through having more exercise and mobility. K9 proved psychologic- ally a great benefit in recovery from a severe injury. Many modifications, such as brakes, were thought of, but all would increase the weight and cost of the scooter. Experience with other patients has proved similar, but less active patients find outside use very tiring. The scooter is a very valuable aid which will enable many people to turn a period of incapacity to active use. /' Suppliers: Egnell-Ameda Ltd, Quarry House, Mill Lane, Uckfield, E Sussex TN22 5AA (tel 0825 67715). Price: f 120 each plus postage ldiscounts available on purchases of two or more). Physiotherapy, January 1988, vol 74, no 1 23
