M.Tech. (Chiropractic) / The aim of this research study was to determine whether the adjustment of the cervical spine, specifically the atlanto-occipital joint, resulted in an increase in quadriceps muscle strength. Patients were recruited in response to advertisements placed in and around Technikon Witwatersrand (TWR), Doornfontein Campus. One hundred patients were included in the research (N=l00). The patients were then randomly divided into a treatment/adjustment group and a control group. Each group consisted of fifty patients. Both groups were then further divided into athletes without pain, athletes with pain, nonathletes without pain and non-athletes with pain. A full cervical spine regional examination was performed on each patient to isolate atlanto-occipital joint dysfunction and to rule out any contra-indications to treatment. The quadriceps muscle strength was measured three times at one-minute intervals in both groups. The treatment/adjustment group was then treated with a single chiropractic adjustment, specifically the superior condyle technique, to the atlanto-occipital joint and the control group rested for one-minute. Three quadriceps muscle strength readings were taken again in both groups. Each patient was treated once. The results from the two groups were then statistically analysed. It was hypothesised that the treatment group would benefit with regard to an increase in quadriceps muscle strength and that the control group would remain unchanged. The objective data was gathered using an isometric force-plate dynamometer and this was used to measure bilateral quadriceps muscle strength in kilograms. The objective data was analysed using Sign Test, Mann-Whitney U Test, One Sample t-Test and Independent Samples t-Test. The results of the study showed that the treatment group benefited with regard to quadriceps muscle strength, while the control group responded negatively and a decrease in quadriceps muscle strength was noted. The group with the greatest increase in quadriceps muscle strength was the non-athletic group with pain

M.Tech. / It has been reported that the sympathetic nerve fibres coursing with the vertebral arteries may potentially be irritated by cervical pathology such as cervical dysfunction causing vasoconstriction of the vertebro-basilar arterial system leading to an ischaemic state in particular areas in the brain (Wingfield and Gorman, 2000). This arterial insufficiency to the brain has been shown to effect higher level complex brain functions (Terrett, 1995). The purpose of this research was to determine whether atlanto-occipital joint as well as atlanto-axial joint adjustments had an immediate effect on mental rotation ability in individuals with asymptomatic cervical facet joint dysfunction. Sixty male and female asymptomatic patients took part in this study. These patients were recruited by means of word of mouth and through the use of advertisements placed in the University of Johannesburg Chiropractic Day Clinic, Doornfontein Campus. Inclusion criteria required for patients to participate in the study included the patients (both male or female) be between the ages of 18 and 30 years, they presented with an asymptomatic cervical facet joint dysfunction at the atlantooccipital and or atlanto-axial joints, not have had either Chiropractic or any other form of treatment to the cervical spine for at least six days prior to involvement in the study, had normal or corrected to normal vision and no contraindications to cervical adjustments. vi Objective data was collected by means of a mental rotation reaction time test installed on a laptop computer which measured the patients mental rotation reaction time ability in both accuracy and time to complete each test. The objective results demonstrated that there was no statistically significant increase in mental rotation ability following the Chiropractic adjustments. In conclusion, it was shown that Chiropractic adjustments performed on patients presenting with asymptomatic cervical facet joint dysfunction at the atlantooccipital and/or the atlanto-axial joint complexes brought about no improvement in mental rotation ability.

M. Tech.