Thesis (M.Tech.: Chiropractic) -Dept. of Chiropractic, Durban Institute of Technology, 2004. 1 v. (various pagings) / Background: Back pain among the golfing population is considered endemic as it has been recommended to golfers that they should attempt to use a state of maximal spinal rotation in their golf swing in order to achieve maximum ball distance. Evidence suggests that maximum spinal rotation range of motion will be more restricted in the golfers with low back pain, even though this maximum rotated position has been considered ideal for developing optimal Club Head Velocity (CHV). Research has demonstrated an approximate 1:3 relation between CHV and air travel (i.e. distance) of the golf ball. An increase in 1mph in CHV would increase air travel of the golf ball by approximately 3 yards. If one considers that CHV is primarily influenced by the strength and power of the torso (low back and abdominal muscles), muscle balance and flexibility, which are responsible for the static and dynamic postural stability of the golf swing, it stands to reason that low back pain, which has been identified as the most common problem affecting amateur golfers, will affect CHV. Objective: The purpose of this investigation was to evaluate the immediate effect of spinal manipulative therapy on club head velocity in amateur golfers suffering from mechanical low back pain in terms of subjective and objective measures.

Thesis (M.Tech.: Chiropractic)--Durban University of Technology, 2008 / The core stability, club head velocity and ball carry in golfers with and without low back pain – a comparative study. Objective: The aims of this study was to establish whether an observable difference exists in the abdominal core stability of two comparable groups of golfers: one asymptomatic and the other suffering from low back pain, and whether an observable reduction of performance, expressed as club head velocity and ball carry can be observed in those with low back pain. First Objective was to differentiate the groups at baseline with respect to core stability strength between asymptomatic golfers and golfers suffering from low back pain. Whereas the Second Objective was to establish whether a relationship exists between abdominal core stability, CHV and ball carry in the two population groups under study. Following the above the Third Objective was to establish which other factors besides core stability strength have an effect on CHV and ball carry. And lastly the Fourth Objective was to establish the correlation between CHV and ball carry. Design: A comparative study was carried out between the two sample groups. A sample of forty patients were selected for this study, where twenty patients were asymptomatic and had no current episode of low back pain and were able to maintain a core contraction; and the other twenty patients low back pain and could not maintain a core contraction. Because the patients presented in a random manner, the patients were matched as close as possible according to age, so as to have better comparative value between the groups (the maximum age difference of a year was instituted). This allowed for comparisons among similar ages, with the difference being their low back pain and core contraction status. Outcome Measure: Each golfer was required to hit 5 balls using a standard club (in this study, a standard driver was used), after which an average value v was calculated for CHV and ball carry. All measurements were carried out using the Flightscope Pro machine at the Durban Pro Shop. Results: Core stability and low back pain did not influence CHV. However there was a non significant trend which indicated higher ball carry in the group with better core stability and no low back pain than in the group with low back pain and poor core stability. Increasing age and handicap reduced the CHV and ball carry values significantly. Ball carry and CHV were positively correlated together in both groups.

Mini-dissertation in partial compliance with the requirements for the Masters Degree in Technology: Chiropractic, in the Department of Chiropractic at the Durban University of Technology, 2009 / The aim of this study was to investigate the relative effectiveness of Transeva and spinal manipulative therapy for mechanical low back pain. The objectives evaluated the effectiveness of only administering Transeva therapy alone, or Spinal manipulative therapy alone as well as Transeva therapy with Spinal manipulative therapy on mechanical low back pain with respect to the patients’ subjective and objective responses to the respective treatment group. The final objective was to correlate the subjective and objective data collected to determine the effectiveness of each of the therapies in comparison with another. Design: A sample of thirty patients diagnosed with mechanical low back pain were accepted into the study. These patients were randomly divided into three groups of 10, which received different treatment protocols for mechanical low back pain. Outcome Measure: The following outcomes were measured; a decrease in pain (measured with the Numerical Pain Rating Scale (NRS), a decrease in disability (measured with the Roland-Morris Questionnaire), a decrease in local tenderness (measured with the pressure Algometer) and an increase in lumbar range of motion (measured with the Inclinometer). The data was collected prior to treatment one, prior to treatment four and at the sixth follow-up visit. Results and Conclusion: All groups improved with the treatments they received; however, no single treatment was statistically better than any other treatment intervention tested. However, the Spinal manipulative therapy group had a statistically significant faster reduction in pain on the NRS readings with p=0.048.

Dissertation submitted to the faculty of Health Sciences at the Durban University of Technology in partial compliance with the requirements for a Master's Degree in Technology: Chiropractic, 2007. / The objectives of this study were: To determine how the frequency of manual work contributes to low back pain in nurses in state versus private hospitals in the Durban area. To determine how the frequency of manual work contributes to low back pain in nurses in state versus private hospitals in the Durban area. Hospital nurses have a high prevalence of low back pain (LBP) (Smedley et al., 2003). It has been found that nursing personnel ranked fifth in occupations claiming worker compensation for low back injuries (Owen and Garg, 1994). A number of studies have also indicated a strong association between musculoskeletal disorders and work related factors (Maul, 2002). An epidemiological study by Smedley et al (1997) has suggested that repetitive lifting, frequent bending and twisting play a role in the development of LBP, and that heavy physical workload has played a major role in the development of LBP in nurses. LBP is therefore a serious problem in the nursing field with a relatively high prevalence worldwide. It causes increased absenteeism from work and could impact on patient care. This study was a survey, which was quantitative in nature. Data was collected by means of a questionnaire. The questionnaires were handed out in randomly selected hospitals in the Durban Metropolitan area. The names of all state and private hospitals in the Durban Metropolitan area were put into two boxes and three names were picked from each box. A letter requesting permission to carry out this research was sent out to each hospital and a positive response was received from one state hospital, R.K Khan Hospital and two private hospitals, Westville and Entabeni hospitals. Questionnaires were handed out to the nurses by the researcher, as requested by the hospitals, and collected at a later time by the researcher. Questionnaires were handed out at each ward in the hospitals to nurses who met the criteria for the study and agreed to participate in this study. Questionnaires were also handed out to nurses in the nurses lounge during lunch breaks. The questionnaire was developed as combination of; a pre-validated questionnaire made available by Yip (2001), questions on socio-demographic data, work history, patient handling activities and LBP. The compiled questionnaire was tested for face and construct validity through a focus group, and piloted before being used in the study. A total of 500 questionnaires were handed, 250 to state hospitals and 250 to private hospitals. Participants consisted of nurses (registered, enrolled and student) between the ages of 18 and 45 years, both male and female. Nurses from all hospital wards were allowed to participate in this study. A total of 124 questionnaires were received back, ( 50 from private hospitals and 74 from the state hospital), from the nurses in all the hospitals. Data was then collected from these questionnaires and was analysed using the statistical package SPSS version 13 (SPSS Inc. Chicago, Illinois, USA). A p value of <0.05 was considered as significant. The data collected from the questionnaires was analysed and the results obtained were as follows: The prevalence of work related LBP in this study was 59.7%. Of the 74 nurses with LBP, only 7 (9.5%) reported having LBP before working as a nurse. 35.1% of participants reported that they experienced pain on a daily basis while 62.2% described their LBP as moderate and 27% described their pain as severe. The median duration of LBP was 3.5hours per episode. Of all the participants in this study, 64,9% had needed bed rest due to their LBP with 43.2% having taken sick leave from work for LBP. Back pain in nurses has been found to be a major cause of days lost due to sickness (French et al., 1997). The majority of nurses (93.2%) reported lifting to be the cause of their LBP, standing and bending were also found to be important causes. Low Back injury was reported in 31.1% of participants with up to 51.4% receiving treatment for their injuries, the main choice of treatment was from a hospital or General practitioner. With regards to the frequency of manual work on LBP, there was found to be a slight tendency toward LBP with more frequent manual activity, however this was viii found to be non significant. In those respondents with LBP, the activity associated with the most intense LBP was carrying or lifting patients. Time spent; standing, holding up hands and bending were found to be higher in the group which reported LBP. Having 1-2 children was also associated with increased LBP. The prevalence of LBP was found to be higher in the state hospital (67.6%) than in the private hospitals (48%). The aim of this study was to determine the association between frequency and intensity of manual work on LBP in nurses. The results showed that frequently performed manual activities were associated with LBP but not significantly. In terms of intensity of manual work, carrying or lifting patients was found to be most associated with LBP, standing and bending were also significantly associated with LBP. This study also aimed to determine any difference in LBP between state and private hospitals and a significant difference in LBP prevalence was noted between state and private hospitals. The findings of this study suggest that LBP is a common problem among hospital nurses. The results of this study were also found to be within the same prevalence rates of international studies, which ranged from 35.9% in New Zealand to 66.8% in the Netherlands (Nelson et al., 2003). As was found in the literature (French et al., 1997 and Smedley et al., 1997), lifting was reported to be a major cause of LBP.

<p>Nursing is a high-risk profession for the development of musculoskeletal problems and low back pain (LBP) in particular. Currently there is limited information available for the prevalence of LBP among the South African nursing population and no evidence on knowledge, attitudes and beliefs about the prevention and self-treatment principles for LBP among this group. The aim of this study was to evaluate the knowledge, attitudes and beliefs about the prevention and self-treatment principles for LBP among nursing staff in Cecilia Makiwane Hospital, East London Hospital Complex. The study found that the majority of the participants experienced LBP on a regular basis.</p>

Thesis (PhD)--University of South Australia, 2002.

Thesis (MPhysio)--University of South Australia, 1998

Thesis (MPhysio)--University of South Australia, 1998

Thesis (Ph.D.)--University of Wollongong, 2006. / Typescript. Includes bibliographical references: leaf 271-302.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Texas at Austin, 2004. / Supervisor: Lawrence D. Abraham. Vita. Includes bibliographical references. Also available from UMI.