I've discovered that having photos of nature scenes and animals on the walls of our orthopedic unit enhances physical therapy sessions for many of our patients.

The therapists use the photos as tools to encourage patients to walk farther after joint replacements and other orthopedic surgeries. They'll tell patients to walk to the picture, look at it, then to go to another one.

The patients tell us the pictures give them peace, comfort, and enjoyment, and we think the art distracts them from pain.

I think that a study measuring the benefits of photography in an orthopedic unit would be an interesting one.

OLAF SNYDER, RN, BSN

Brevard, N.C.