This study explored the value of using medical students as standardized patients (SPs) during objective structured clinical examinations for the medical interview. Evaluations by both examiners and examinees revealed that the performance of medical students as SPs provided sufficient reality and reproducibility for the objective evaluation of interview skills. The experience also offered medical students playing SPs the opportunity to learn the importance to patients of eye contact and of a sympathetic and reliable attitude on the part of physicians toward their patients during the medical interview. In conclusion, training medical students to serve as SPs for evaluating interviewing skills in the context of an objective structured clinical examination is beneficial to both the person being evaluated and to the medical student serving as the SP.

Six young males walked in a swimming pool, swimming flume and land treadmill at 0.4, 0.6 and 0.8 m·⋅^-1. At 0.6 and 0.8 m⋅s^-1, VO₂and HR values were significantly lower for the swimming flume walking than for the swimming pool waking. At rest and 0.4 m⋅s^-1, there were no significant VO₂differences between swimming flume walking and land treadmill walking ; while significantly lower HR values were found for swimming flume walking. There was no significant difference in the VO₂-HR relationship between land treadmill waking and swimming pool waking. On the other hand, a significant downward sift in the regression line was observed in swimming flume waking compared to land treadmill walking. The differences between the two types of underwater walking exercise may produce a different effect concerning the muscle pump on leg muscles. Soleus, and especially lateral gastrocnemius muscles, showed lower electromyogram activity at push-off phase during swimming flume walking compard with swimming pool walking. This activity may contribute to the lower VO₂and HR values during swimming flume walking. It is apparent that the swimming flume walking has different physiological and kinematic characteristics such leg muscles EMG activity walking or swimming pool walking.

We report a pediatric baseball player having both a fracture of the posterior ring apophysis and spondylolysis. He was presented to a primary care physician complaining of back pain and leg pain. Despite conservative treatment for 3 months, the pain did not subside. He was referred to our clinic, and surgical intervention was carried out. First, a bony fragment of the caudal L5 apophyseal ring was removed following fenestration at the L5-S interlaminal space, bilaterally: and decompression of the bilateral S1 nerve roots was confirmed. Next, pseudoarthrosis of the L5 pars was refreshed and pedicle screws were inserted bilaterally. A v-shaped rod was inserted beneath the L5 spinous process, which stabilized the pars defects. After the surgery, back pain and leg pain completely disappeared. In conclusion, the v-rod technique is appropriate for the spondylolysis direct repair surgery, especially, in case the loose lamina would have a partial laminotomy.
Back Pain ; Baseball ; Decompression ; Humans ; Laminectomy ; Leg ; Physicians, Primary Care ; Pseudarthrosis ; Spondylolysis