Cadaver imaging proves valuable learning method.

In evaluating the project as a whole, students expressed feeling greater worthwhileness through participation in a special project. They enjoyed working as a team with faculty in an imaging environment and reported having fun and learning simultaneously. Also, students felt a sense of accomplishment in contributing to medical students' learning by participating in this service experience. This helped reinforce their role in health care and the need for cooperative relationships in medical education and practice. Based on student and faculty perceptions, this learning method is considered a valuable alternative to traditional means of performance practice and clinical education. The project's success is the result of: Its organization to meet the needs of both the service commitment and a learning environment. The motivational nature of a special voluntary experience alternative. The highly interactive and dynamic nature of the imaging sessions. The realistic feedback for performance with opportunity for analysis and improvement. While it is evident that a cadaver resource must exist to make such a project a viable option for radiography programs, those with such a resource should consider integrating it with the more traditional learning methods. Many program sponsors may have similar resources available in their environments for projects that provide imaging services as well as unique learning laboratories for radiography students. Close interaction with health educators and researchers along with creative investigation may reveal opportunities for special projects.

Radiographic measurements of intervertebral foramina of cervical vertebra in forward and normal head posture.

Forward head posture has long since been associated with a number of clinical problems treated by the fields of physical therapy and dentistry. The consistent and longstanding difficulty in the diagnosis and treatment of these conditions has been a lack of a clear understanding of the anatomical and biomechanical conditions that underly forward head posture. It has been reported that there is a narrowing of the cervical interspaces in forward head posture with the greatest change being between C4-5 and C5-6. These observations were made by viewing lateral radiographic films, yet the size of the foramina can only be viewed using oblique views. This study used oblique radiographic views of the intervertebral foramina to determine if there is a difference in the size of the intervertebral foramina in the forward head posture versus the normal head posture. The intervertebral foramina of the cervical vertebra were found to be larger in the forward head posture from levels C3 to T1. These results conflict with previous observations, suggesting that additional research is needed to assist in determining the underlying mechanisms responsible for the pain associated with forward head posture.