Thesis (MAppSc in Physiotherapy) -- University of South Australia, 1998

Thesis--University of Turku, Finland, 1991. / Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis--University of Turku, Finland, 1991. / Includes bibliographical references.

M. Tech. / It has been noted in the literature that the sensory system consists of the visual, vestibular and somatosensory systems (Guyton and Hall, 1997; Arnold and Schmitz, 1998; Murphy, 2000; Nakata and Yabe, 2001; Magee, 2002 and Gatterman, 2004). In congruence with the above authors Katz (1996), Gatterman (2004) and Murphy (2000), Morningstar, Pettibon, Schlappi, Schlapp and Ireland (2005) further stated that the postural reflexes can be subcategorised as the following: visual righting reflex, labyrinthine righting reflexes, neck righting reflexes, body on head righting reflexes and body on body righting reflexes. Each of these neurological mechanisms plays a role in balance / equilibrium. Furthermore it has been shown that spinal manipulative therapy has an effect on neurological systems. Therefore it stands to reason that spinal manipulative therapy may have an effect on balance or equilibrium.

A dissertation submitted in partial compliance with the requirements for the Master's Degree in Technology: Chiropractic at Technikon Natal, 1998. / The absence oftested theory has resulted in the continued variation of treatment protocols in the treatment of mechanical low back pain. This study was designed to determine the relative effectiveness of specific passive mobilization versus spinal manipulation in the treatment of uncomplicated mechanical low back pain. It was hypothesized that both spinal manipulative therapy and specific passive mobilization would be effective, but that manipulation would be significantly more effective in terms of objective and subjective findings, over the same two week treatment period / M

Submitted in partial compliance with the requirements for the Master’s Degree in Technology: Chiropractic, Department of Chiropractic, Durban University of Technology, Durban, South Africa, 2016. / Aim: To determine the intra- and inter-examiner reliability of the radiographic assessment of the cervical lordosis of asymptomatic adult males. Participants: Eighty lateral plain film radiographs of the cervical spine of asymptomatic males aged 18-45 years (taken in a previous study) were utilised for this study. However, due to the obstruction of the C7 vertebral body by the trapezius muscle, the examiners were unable to assess the CL on all 80 plain film radiographs. Three examiners took part in the study viz. Examiner One who was a qualified chiropractor with three years of clinical experience, Examiner Two who was a qualified chiropractor with six years of clinical experience and Examiner Three who was a chiropractic master’s student. Methodology: The initial set of assessments of the CL using the C1-C7 and C2-C7 modified Cobb methods was completed by Examiner One and captured on an Excel spread sheet for Round One. The procedure was then repeated for Examiners Two and Three. The process was repeated for the second set of assessments (Round Two). Each examiner was given a maximum of two weeks to complete their assessments for each round. The data was statistically analysed using SPSS 22.0 and Stata 13. Descriptive data was presented in tables as mean and standard deviation at a 95% confidence interval while intra- and inter-examiner reliability was determined using the Kappa coefficient. Results: The mean (± SD) CL values obtained by each examiner using the C1-C7 modified Cobb method for Round One was: Examiner One: 45.6˚ (± 10.4˚) (n = 70), Examiner Two: 44.0˚ (± 11.0˚) (n = 75) and Examiner Three: 43.8˚ (± 12.0˚) (n = 72). The mean (± SD) CL values obtained by each examiner using the C1-C7 modified Cobb method for Round Two was: Examiner One: 46.7˚ (± 10.7˚) (n = 72), Examiner Two: 43.3˚ (± 11.1˚) (n = 74) and Examiner Three: 43.8˚ (± 11.5˚) (n = 72). The mean (± SD) CL values obtained by each examiner using the C2-C7 modified Cobb method for Round One was: Examiner One: 15.9˚ (± 9.2˚) (n = 72), Examiner Two: 22.6˚ (± 9.7˚) (n = 75) and Examiner Three: 17.2˚ (± 9.7˚) (n = 72). The mean (± SD) CL values obtained by each examiner using the C2-C7 modified Cobb method for Round Two was: Examiner One: 16.3˚ (± 9.4˚) (n = 72), Examiner Two: 20.5˚ (± 9.0˚) (n = 74) and Examiner Three: 16.9˚ (± 9.2˚) (n = 72). The intra-examiner reliability obtained by each examiner using the C1-C7 modified Cobb method for Round One and Round Two was: Examiner One: K = 0.16, Examiner Two: K = 0.11 and Examiner Three: K = 0.16. The intra-examiner reliability obtained by each examiner using the C2-C7 modified Cobb method for Round One and Round Two was: Examiner One: K = 0.21, Examiner Two: K = 0.04, Examiner Three: K = 0.22. The inter-examiner reliability obtained by each examiner using the C1-C7 modified Cobb method for Round One and Round Two respectively was: Examiner One vs Examiner Two: K = 0.03; K = 0.09, Examiner One vs Examiner Three: K = 0.19; K = 0.15, Examiner Two vs Examiner Three: K = 0.03; K = 0.08. The inter-examiner reliability obtained by each examiner using the C2-C7 modified Cobb method for Round One and Round Two respectively was: Examiner One vs Examiner Two: K = 0.00; K = 0.01, Examiner One vs Examiner Three: K = 0.19; K = 0.11, Examiner Two vs Examiner Three: K = 0.02; K = 0.05. There was a significant difference in the intra-examiner findings for both the modified Cobb methods (p < 0.05). Using the C1-C7 modified Cobb method, there was a significant difference in the inter-examiner reliability findings between all three examiners for both rounds (p < 0.05). There was no significant difference in the inter-examiner findings of the CL using the C2-C7 modified method between Examiner One versus Examiner Two for Round One (p = 0.33) and Round Two (p = 0.23) but there was a significant difference in the findings between Examiner One versus Examiner Three (p < 0.05) and between Examiner Two versus Examiner Three (p < 0.05) for Round Two only. Conclusion: The results of this study are in agreement with those of a previous study which reported that the C1-C7 modified Cobb method over-valued the magnitude of the curve while the C2-C7 modified Cobb method under-valued the curve. A significant difference in the intra-examiner findings suggests that recall bias did not significantly affect the assessments while inter-examiner findings suggest that experience and skill of the examiners as well as assessments that require drawing of lines and measuring of angles might lead to differences in the results obtained. Further studies which would utilise a large number of digitised radiographic images from both asymptomatic and symptomatic individuals are required to confirm the findings of this study. / M

Published Article / The objective of this study was to examine the relationship between external markers typically used in external motion capturing devices and the true vertebral kinematics in the cervical spine. Twenty one healthy subjects were subjected to low dosage X-rays in five different positions, while radio opaque markers were attached to the skin at each vertebral level. Distance and angle parameters were constructed for vertebral prediction from skin surface markers. The causes of variation in these parameters were identified by investigating the correlations of these parameters with anthropometrical variables. Strong correlations of the parameters were observed in flexion, but in extension, especially full extension, the correlations were poor to insignificant. In neutral, half flexion, and full flexion it is possible to predict the vertebral position from surface markers by using the parameters and anthropometrical variables. In half extension this prediction is less accurate and in full extension alternative methods should be investigated for external motion capturing.

M.Tech. (Chiropractic) / The purpose of this study was to establish whether cervical spinal manipulation induces an appreciable and sustainable alteration in muscle torque performance regarding the elbow flexor muscles. Forty asymptomatic individuals participated in this study. Twenty individuals were randomly assigned to either an experimental or control group. Participants selected had to be between 18 and 40 years of age and had to present with cervical motion restrictions involving the fourth to sixth cervical vertebrae, as determined by motion palpation assessment. Participants were randomly recruited from the University of Johannesburg and surrounding areas, based on their response to information pamphlets and word of mouth. The experimental group received cervical spinal manipulation involving the lower cervical segments on three separate occasions. The control group received no intervention. Elbow flexion torque assessments were conducted using the Biodex System 3, isokinetic dynamometer. Two assessments were done prior to intervention and one test following one week of intervention, to ascertain whether cervical manipulation can provoke a sustainable improvement in elbow flexion performance. Cervical range of motion (CROM) assessment was used as a secondary objective evaluation to assess the effectiveness of the manipulation procedures, considering that improvement in cervical range of motion following spinal manipulation is well documented. Minimal improvement in elbow flexion torque involving both arms was observed in the experimental group following one weeks‟ intervention however, no statistical significance was reported. Gender relations regarding the elbow flexion torque performances revealed and improvement in strength in the male participants and a reduction in performance in the female participants. Statistical significance was reported although the significance regarding intervention remains unclear. No sustainable improvement in elbow flexion torque was revealed following spinal manipulative therapy and therefore does not provide conclusive evidence to substantiate the motor neuron excitability theory. The contradictory results with regards to the female participants bring into context an indefinite and unfamiliar neuromusculoskeletal paradigm which requires additional research to clarify these anomalous findings.

No description available.

This retrospective cohort study of 336 lateral cephalometric radiographs from 62 children (34 males and 28 females) with non-syndromic complete unilateral cleft lip and palate from the Hospital for Sick Children and 50 non-cleft children (25 females and 25 males) from the Burlington Growth Centre. Cervical vertebral maturation stages at age 10, 12 and 14 were determined. The cervical vertebral maturation (CVM) was established using the 6-stage method described by Baccetti and coworkers. The reproducibility of classifying CVM stages was high, with an inter-rater reliability (ICC) with the standard (Baccetti et al, 2005) of 80% and intra-rater reliability of 85%. The Cervical vertebral maturation stage for both males and females with UCLP was significantly later than children without a cleft at age 10, 12 and 14. The results suggest that patients with UCLP show delayed skeletal maturation in comparison to non-cleft patients.