Month: May 2024

Sleeping With ASMR

Reassuring for part time bloggers, such as myself, is the understanding that fitting in a bit of blog creation in a rush between other things is not supposed, necessarily, to lessen the quality of the output. (Well, the proof will be in blog items I have created of late, as the time to create them is definitely sandwiched between other demands). You will be the judge and feel free to feedback.

The playlist continues to grow in size and I continue to get more picky about the items in it. Such that the archive list of former members also continues to grow.

However, I have noticed a problem with YouTube. For example, yesterday I was watching the playlist and a set of adverts kicked in, there were a lot of them. After a few minutes the video started and them immediately another set of adverts kicked in. This then continued, I retried over the course of the next few hours with the same result. Of course, this is not conducive to sleep. I could not in all conscience recommend a set of videos if I knew this was going to be the experience.

I am hopeful this was an error on the part of YouTube and not some new revenue generation idea. If it turns out to be permanent, I will shut down the blog as I will not be watching YouTube any longer. I am now some months ahead with generated blog articles so we will see if by the time I get this one released, things have improved (or at least returned to how they were).

Shoulder Examination

This one has notes, now the established marker of a professionally created video:

“31 Jan 2021 RheumTutor MSK Examination Videos

This video was created by Dr. Raj Carmona.  It is a step-by-step instructional video for examination of the shoulder.  It is designed for medical students, residents and rheumatology fellows, but would also be beneficial to general practitioners and allied health professionals.”

There is also a title page:

“McMaster MSK Examination Series, Shoulder Examination, RheumTutor.com, Raj Carmona, MBBS, FRCPC, Rheumatologist, Department of Medicine, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada”

So quite a lot to work with. The url is still current: https://www.rheumtutor.com/.

A page lists out the videos that can be seen (helpfully it appears these are all available on YouTube https://www.rheumtutor.com/msk-examination/videos/.

McMaster University of course has its own webpage https://www.mcmaster.ca/, the available programmes seem to feature health and medicine strongly https://future.mcmaster.ca/programs/.

And of course, the university has its own YouTube channel with 1.2K videos as at today’s date. Rather too many for any single review but perhaps a channel for a future visit.

Raj appears to be an associate professor at the university and has been at McMaster nearly fourteen years.

This video at just over seventeen and a half minutes is a decent length for a medical examination video.

Raj has a nice calm voice but the video is rather marred by continuous background noise of the variety we are used to enduring in these kinds of videos.

Helpfully the “patient” here is also identified as Dr Kim Legault MD FRCPC Rheumatology Fellow McMaster University.

As an educational video it seems (to the uninitiated) to be useful. The comments seem to reinforce this view. From our perspective it seems to also be a useful video for relaxing off to sleep.

The video is jam-packed with medical terminology. There is far too much for the odd definition to be helpful. (Although this would be my usual style). If you are watching, some definitions come up on screen, but I’m expecting that you’ll be listening so these will not be of much assistance.

I suggest for this one that you let the terminology wash over you but let me know if you find it frustrating. I always review the Procrastination Pen playlist and this could in the future find itself in the dreaded Procrastination Pen archive list i.e. those videos which do not stand up to long term examination.

Although the video shows as posted to YouTube in 2021, the tail page of the video indicates created in 2011 so it was already old by that time.

Not unexpectedly the channel is RheumTutor, thirty videos and six playlists. The choices are narrowed by the fact that a number of the playlists concern giving injections, which I am not certain would be a restful subject for some readers. The video we first looked at occurs in a playlist called RheumTutor MSK Examination Videos

This consists of seven videos of which this first one is video number six.

Ankle and Foot Exam – McMaster MSK Examination Series

At nearly twenty-three minutes in length this is another chunky video.

Again it has notes: “10 Nov 2019  RheumTutor MSK Examination Videos

This video was created by Dr. Raj Carmona.  It is a step-by-step instructional video for examination of the ankle and foot. It is designed for medical students, residents and rheumatology fellows, but would also be beneficial to general practitioners and allied health professionals.”

The title page is similar to the one we saw for the first video reviewed in this post.

The sound is consistent with that first video. Here the “patient” is not identified, possibly because we only see the foot which has been helpfully decorated to indicate some of the internal structures. I would guess the “patient” is male but given there is only one foot to go on that could be way off.

Later in the same video the credit goes to Dr Andrew Duncan MD, Internal Medicine Resident McMaster University. He appears to be the owner of the foot. Andrew appears to have been at McMaster until 2014.

The tail page of the video indicates it was recorded in 2012 which would fit with this time period. Some of the conditions described are a little off-putting to be honest, I think that this is too much for real restfulness. This will not be in the Procrastination Pen playlist.

Back Examination – McMaster MSK Examination Series

Notes again: “10 Nov 2019  RheumTutor MSK Examination Videos

This video was created by Dr. Raj Carmona.  It is a step-by-step instructional video for examination of the back. It is designed for medical students, residents and rheumatology fellows, but would also be beneficial to general practitioners and allied health professionals.”

This is just as with the previous videos in terms of approach, voice, presenter, location, noises, structure. This one credits Brendan Flowers MSc Clinical Clerk McMaster University it looks like Brendan attended in 2012 which fits with the filming of the video.

Elbow Examination – McMaster MSK Examination Series

If you have seen one of these videos, then you are going to be at home with the look-feel of the rest. Same layout, same voice, same background noise. If you liked the first one this is a breeze, but not so great if you did not like it.

Again there are notes:

“10 Nov 2019 RheumTutor MSK Examination Videos

This video was created by Dr. Raj Carmona.  It is a step-by-step instructional video for examination of the elbow. It is designed for medical students, residents and rheumatology fellows, but would also be beneficial to general practitioners and allied health professionals.”

The format of this will by now also be familiar. The tail page of the video indicates it was filmed in 2012 and it was posted to YouTube in 2019.

The “patient” is credited again this time Dr Arthur Lau MD FRCPC Theumatology Fellow McMaster University. Arthur seems to have been there from 2011 to date so one would imagine a true asset.

It is just over thirteen and a half minutes so a bit shorter than the last one.

The great thing about professional videos is the lack of surprises. The last thing you want when trying to fall asleep is to find that someone thought a brass band backtrack was fantastic in this video whereas the previous two did not include it. The downside is that if you do not like the style it is very unlikely you will find a video in the series that is any different.

For example, thus far the patients do not get a lot of contribution so if this bothers you this particular series is just not for you. I accept feedback if you want to indicate your displeasure about it.

Hip Examination: McMaster MSK Examination Series

Notes: “10 Nov 2019 RheumTutor MSK Examination Videos

This video was created by Dr. Raj Carmona.  It is a step-by-step instructional video for examination of the hip. It is designed for medical students, residents and rheumatology fellows, but would also be beneficial to general practitioners and allied health professionals.”

Almost exactly as before.

A return of Dr Kim Legault (who we saw in the first video). By comparison with the other videos a real short one at just over twelve and a half minutes. This one is filmed in 2011 so possibly the earliest one we have seen thus far.

Knee Exam – McMaster MSK Examination Series

notes: “11 Nov 2019 RheumTutor MSK Examination Videos

This video was created by Dr. Raj Carmona.  It is a step-by-step instructional video for examination of the knee.  It is designed for medical students, residents and rheumatology fellows, but would also be beneficial to general practitioners and allied health professionals.”

Dr Kim Legault is turning into a bit of a favourite it seems as she appears again in this one. This one is just less than fifteen and a half minutes.

The video is consistent with all those we have so far seen (quite an achievement). It is filmed in 2011 so as for the previous video.

Shoulder Examination

This is where we came in.

Hand and Wrist Examination

The final video in this playlist

It starts in a different way. No shot of a seated Dr Carmona in this one. It is quite long for this series at nearly twenty-one and a half minutes.

Back to Brendan Flowers. It was filmed in 2012 and posted to YouTube in 2021.

There are notes: “3 Feb 2021 RheumTutor MSK Examination Videos

This video was created by Dr. Raj Carmona.  It is a step-by-step instructional video for examination of the hand and wrist.  It is designed for medical students, residents and rheumatology fellows, but would also be beneficial to general practitioners and allied health professionals.”

The breakdown of the video is not as structured as in the previous videos – perhaps the style was evolving at this stage. But presentation in all other respects seems the same.

In summary this is no Dr James Gill but I think all of them deserve a place in the Procrastination Pen playlist. (Assuming YouTube stop deluging me with adverts I’ll keep reviewing that list for less deserving videos.

The RheumTutor playlist on the Procrastination Pen is here:

The Procrastination Pen playlist (which is no-doubt what you have all been reading this in order to locate) is found here:

I have been listening to this playlist most nights and some of the videos that were members have now been removed. If any of your favourites are missing from that main playlist you can find them here in the archive list:

Quite often the videos getting removed have no faults other than occasional intrusive noises.

The playlist of items that are great for ASMR (but contain an age verification function), usually a great way to interrupt your listening in the middle of the night, is here:

I hope that you find the playlists restful and that you get a good night’s sleep.

Hope to see you again back here for the next blog article.

If you liked this blog item, why not subscribe to this blog.

Until next time.

Photo by krakenimages on Unsplash

Sleeping With ASMR

The Procrastination Pen playlist continues to grow in length. I think soon it will be at such a length that even if you leave it playing along in the background whilst you sleep, you will wake up and find that it is still going.

I am weeding the odd video out at intervals that does not seem to be as good as when first I heard it. However, I take suggestions, if you find any of the videos in that playlist just aren’t that helpful in getting some shut eye, let me know and I might remove the ones that you do not like.

As always if you’re too tired to read (and I don’t blame you) the playlist will be at the end of this article, such that you can scroll all the way there and pick it up without reading anything else.

For those who are continuing to read, welcome, and here is the subject of today’s blog post:

Shoulder Exam (Stanford Medicine 25)

This is very brief for the kind of video we usually see on the Procrastination Pen, at only one minute twenty seconds. It is narrated and the narrators voice is not as quiet as I would like. Because it is a professional video it comes with notes: “16 Mar 2014 Stanford Medicine 25: Musculoskeletal Exam

This Stanford Medicine 25 video was created in conjunction with Stanford’s AIM lab teaching the examination of the shoulder.

The Stanford Medicine 25 is a Stanford School of Medicine initiative to teach and promote the bedside physical exam. Here you will find videos teaching bedside physical exam techniques.

Please subscribe, like and visit our websites:

Main Website: http://stanfordmedicine25.stanford.edu/

Blog: http://stanford25blog.stanford.edu/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/StanfordMedi…

Twitter: https://twitter.com/StanfordMed25

Google+: http://goo.gl/UBM7SP”

The notes have done most of the work for me in that is states who it is by and where you can find them.

The video has a little background noise, but strangely this does not sound like air conditioning. This time it sounds more like the audio was recorded onto tape (I guess you need to be a certain age to know what that sounds like).

The channel is Stanford Medicine 25

This has eighty-five videos at the time I am looking at it. Thankfully for the purposes of writing a blog post (of hopefully short length). The videos are organised into playlists and ours is in a suitable playlist i.e.:

Stanford Medicine 25: Musculoskeletal Exam



This playlist has eight videos in it and just for a change
they are all visible.

The one above is the first in this playlist and so we can

cover them in order.

Knee Examination (Stanford Medicine 25)

Again, this is brief at just over one and a half minutes. It
is consistent with the first – the same narrator, the same background noise. Indeed, this is often the benefit of professional videos once you have seen one, you have a good idea what it is that you’re going to get. Of course, if the first
one is a tad loud, sadly it means that there is little variability in that volume. Still, the approach is methodical and calm which is helpful.

Approach to Low Back Pain Physical Exam – Stanford Medicine 25

This is a more “usual” length at just over eight and a half minutes.

Oh dear, start music, the thing designed to strike wakefulness into the slumbering person.

This is unlike the previous two videos in this set in that the medical professional in the video is the one doing the talking.

The medical professional is Baldeep Singh MD Clinical Professor, Medicine, Stanford School of Medicine.

The professor actually has quite a reasonable voice for our purposes, although due to the instructional nature of the video he isn’t as quiet as we would like. However, he is calm, methodical and even better, the video lacks background noise.

The “patient” is Steve here, sadly, we don’t have any further info about Steve.

The examination looks like something of a torture for anyone who actually has back pain. I imagine on the days I am suffering, there would be screaming involved. Best ignore that when listening to this video and trying to get some kip.

Approach to Hip Region Pain Physical Exam – Stanford Medicine 25

Unfortunately for us, the introductory music now seems to be the standard. Farewell to videos with no introduction hello introduction which is less conducive to sleep. I have heard a great deal worse however.

At least one comment indicates that an ASMR fan has already found this one, which isn’t surprising. From the video comments I’ve seen on YouTube, ASMR fans are even more voracious than I am (and I have made it my mission to write blog articles about it).

Here we have Dr Singh again with our old chum “Steve” as “patient”. Dr Singh starts a little fast but slows right down within seconds. The volume is a little variable. At six- and three-quarter minutes it is of reasonable length for one of these instruction videos.

The best way to watch a set of these from the Procrastination Pen playlist is to watch it on YouTube (rather than use the embedded videos on the blog). Then you can use the shuffle function. Without the shuffle function you will get a number of similar videos one after the other and you may quickly tire of that.

Again, the examination appears, to me, to be designed to elicit pain. I’m sure on the days I have hip pain I would not enjoy my leg being manipulated in the way demonstrated. However, I think as a video to fall asleep to, it actually works. Mainly because of the calm, methodical presentation.

Iliotibial Band Syndrome Physical Exam – Stanford Medicine 25

Definition: Iliotibial Band a thick band of tissue running down the length of the outside of the thigh.

Again the “Noble test” seems designed to cause pain, perhaps these doctors were trained in a torture chamber. Probably wise to ignore the scope for suffering with this one as well. Dr Singh remains consistent as before and Steve remains compliant.

And now the playlist moves onto a different medical professional and a different patient so it seems a good time to end this, we can recommence in a future blog post. Stanford Medicine 25 certainly seems worthy of more attention.

The Stanford Medicine playlist on the Procrastination Pen is here:

The Procrastination Pen playlist (which is no-doubt what you have all been reading this in order to locate) is found here:

I have been listening to this playlist most nights and some of the videos that were members have now been removed. If any of your favourites are missing from that main playlist you can find them here in the archive list:

Quite often the videos getting removed have no faults other than occasional intrusive noises.

The playlist of items that are great for ASMR (but contain an age verification function), usually a great way to interrupt your listening in the middle of the night, is here:

I hope that you find the playlists restful and that you get a good night’s sleep.

I hope to see you again back here for the next blog article.

If you liked this blog item why not subscribe to this blog.

Until next time.

Photo by Shona Macrae