A dissertation presented in partial compliance with the requirements for the Master's Degree in Technology: Chiropractic, Durban Institute of Technology, 2003. / The purpose of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of Chiropractic Manipulative Therapy in the management of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder in children. / M

A dissertation submitted in partial compliance with the requirements for a Master's Degree in Technology: Chiropractic, Durban Institute of Technology, 2006. / This research study was designed in the form of a quantitative, non-experimental, empirical clinical survey. Objectives: 1) To determine the period prevalence (1 January 1997 – 31 December 2004) of congenital cervical spine anomalies. 2) To determine if there is any association between the presenting clinical features and the congenital cervical spine anomalies in general. 3) To determine if there is any association between the presenting clinical features and individual congenital cervical spine anomalies. 4) To compare subjects presenting clinical features with reported clinical features from literature. / M

A dissertation presented in partial compliance with the requirements for the Master's Degree in Technology: Chiropractic, Durban institute of Technology, 2003. / Low back pain is a significant health problem that has had a major impact on quality of life and on health care costs (Weiner, et al. 2000:450). Schwarzer, et al. (1995) established the sacroiliac joint to be a significant source of pain in patients with chronic low back pain. Bernard and Kirkaldy-Willis (1987:2107-2130) established the sacroiliac joint to be the primary source of low back pain in 22.5% of 1293 patients presenting with back pain. According to a review article by Hendler, et al. (1995:169), “manipulation provides dramatic relief” in cases of sacroiliac syndrome. Little research, however, has been done regarding instrument manipulation and it’s effect on acute, chronic or acute on chronic sacroiliac syndrome. Osterbauer and De Boer, et al. (1993) found a significant decrease in Visual Analogue Scale and Oswestry scores following treatment using instrument manipulation for sacroiliac joint syndrome. They also noted a reduction in the number of pain provocation tests applied to the research subjects. “Unless reliability and validity of assessments and effectiveness of treatment procedures can be demonstrated, clinicians should temper their claims of measurement of, and direct effects on, the sacroiliac joint” (Walker 1992:914). The study design was a randomised, omparative clinical trial. Sixty voluntary subjects were accepted onto the trial; each diagnosed as having acute on chronic sacroiliac joint syndrome, and divided into two groups of thirty subjects. Each subject received five treatments within a three-week period. The subjects in group one received manipulation using the Diversified Technique of manipulation and those in group two received instrument manipulation using the “Activator Adjusting Instrument”. / M

A dissertation submitted in partial compliance with the requirements for Master's Degree in Technology: Durban institute of Technologies, 2003. / The purpose of this study was to determine the relative effectiveness of TENS electrodryneedling as compared to single dry needle insertion in the treatment of Myofascial Pain Syndrome . This study was a prospective, unblinded, randomized, placebo-controlled clinical trial. A sample size of 60 patients from the Durban Metropolitan area was used. Only patients diagnosed with active trigger points in the Trapezius muscle were accepted into the study. The sample was divided into two groups of 30 patients each. Group A received single dry needle insertion and Group B received electrodryneedling. Each patient received two treatments over a period of one week. The short term effects of both treatments were noted. Data was obtained from the patients before and immediately after each consultation. Subjective data was obtained with the Numerical Pain Rating Scale (NRS 101) and the objective data was obtained from pressure threshold algometry. Statistical analysis of the data involved parametric testing. Intra-group comparisons were made using the paired t-test for NRS 101 and algometer scores. Inter-group comparisons were made using the unpaired t-test for NRS / M

M.Tech. (Chiropractic) / Lateral elbow tendinopathy is the most frequent periarticular lesion which affects 1% to 3% of the general population and is a difficult condition to manage with a wide range of procedures and management protocols advocated (Abrahamson and Comfort, 2010). This study aimed to assess the efficacy of managing lateral elbow tendinopathy using therapeutic ultrasound (U/S), interferential current (IFC) or alternatively a combination of IFC and therapeutic U/S in addition to chiropractic manipulative therapy of the cervical spine and elbow. This study was a comparative study consisting of three groups of ten participants each with an equal gender ratio. Prior to becoming a participant in this study individuals were assessed according to the inclusion and exclusion criteria. Group A received therapeutic U/S; Group B received IFC and Group C received combination therapy of IFC and therapeutic U/S. All three groups received chiropractic manipulative therapy to the cervical spine and joints of the elbow complex. Subjective data was obtained using the Numerical Pain Rating Scale (NPRS). Objective data was obtained using the pressure algometer (pain pressure threshold) and the Jamar grip strength dynamometer (pain-free grip strength) on the affected side. The study was conducted over a course of three weeks for a total of seven visits per participant. Subjective and objective data was collected pre-intervention on the first and fourth visits and on the seventh evaluation only visit. Analysis of the data collected was performed by a statistician. All three groups showed statistically significant clinical improvements in all measures. The only group not exhibiting a statistical significance was the therapeutic U/S group in the initial pain pressure threshold results. In the objective measures of all intervals none of the groups showed statistical superiority over one another. However, the final NPRS results showed statistically significant improvement in therapeutic U/S and combination therapy groups over IFC alone. From the results it can be concluded that all groups were effective for lateral elbow tendinopathy in conjunction with chiropractic manipulative therapy. With respects to subjective pain therapeutic U/S and combination therapy appeared to have a greater efficacy than IFC, but no superior modality was identified with respects to objective measures.

M.Tech.

M.Tech.

M.Tech. (Chiropractic) / Background: Sport as a whole, and especially cycling, has become a major part of the majority of the world population’s daily lives. There have been several studies done to determine the effects of chiropractic treatment on individual muscle groups (Maris, 2003; Sher, 2002). However, very few studies have been done to look at the combined effects of chiropractic on the performance of specific sports. Objective: To investigate the effects of chiropractic manipulative therapy on power output over a one kilometer distance in asymptomatic amateur cyclists. Method: The study consisted of 30 participants. All participants accepted had to meet the inclusion criteria. They were equally and randomly allocated into 3 groups. Group 1 received chiropractic therapy of the lumbar spine. Group 2 received chiropractic therapy of the sacroiliac joint whilst participants in Group 3 received no immediate intervention as they were the control group. Participants in Group 1 and 2 were motion palpated to determine the level of spinal dysfunction. All three groups then cycled on a stationary bike for a one kilometer sprint. Allocated treatment for Group 1 and Group 2 then followed, with Group 3 receiving no intervention. Objective measurements consisted of average power output as well as time over the one kilometer distance from start to finish. Results: Both test groups showed significant clinical as well as statistical improvement over the six week clinical study period. This means that as the average power output measurements increased, the time decreased for both Group 1 and Group 2. Although there were some degree of increased power output and decrease in time of Group 3, it was not significant enough to say that they had increased performance. Conclusion: Chiropractic manipulative therapy did cause an increase in average power output in asymptomatic amateur cyclists over a one kilometer distance.

Introduction Many chiropractic articles and textbooks discuss gait, but there actually has been little research into the effects of chiropractic adjustment on gait. This pilot study used a quantitative method of gait evaluation before and after a series of chiropractic visits. Hypotheses: (1) adults with chronic low back pain (CLBP) would show increased variability in vertical ground reaction forces (VGRF) while walking, as compared to healthy control subjects, and (2) that, following chiropractic care, will show decreased variability. Methods VGRF data were collected for 6 controls and compared to 9 CLBP participants, who were also evaluated before and after the first visit of care and over 7 visits. Data were analyzed by Mean Standard Deviation (MSD), Mean Coefficient of Variation (MCV), and the Coefficient of Variation of loading rate. Chiropractic care consisted of “high velocity low amplitude” thrust type procedures, flexion-distraction, pelvic wedges, light mobilization, and stretching. Results CLBP participants had somewhat greater variability and became slightly less variable post-care; differences were not significant. Limitations: Some participants had no impairment of walking at baseline; MSD is an uncommon measure, and more research is needed; these results (small group seen by a single doctor) may not be generalizable. Conclusions Participants with CLBP had slightly more variability and had slight decreases in variability following chiropractic care. Differences were not statistically significant. With this small pilot study as a guide, more research should be done with larger groups and improved participant selection.

Thesis (M.Tech.:Chiropractic)-Dept. of Chiropractic, Durban Institute of Technology, 2005 xi, 123 leaves ; 30 cm / The differential diagnosis of back and leg pain should include sacroiliac joint disease as the prevalence of sacroiliac joint pain appears to range from 13%-30%, thus making the sacroiliac joint a significant source of pain in patients with chronic low back pain. Sacroiliac syndrome is well-defined and usually presents with pain over the sacroiliac joint in the region of the posterior superior iliac spine, with possible referral to the buttock, groin, and leg. Most patients with sacroiliac syndrome seem to present with spastic or hyperactive muscles which leads to increased pain and decreased range of motion. Because of the close proximity of the Piriformis muscle to the sacroiliac joint, it is likely to be one of these hyperactive muscles. Various studies on low back pain, including a study on sacroiliac syndrome, have shown a correlation between low back pain, hip rotation range of motion asymmetry, and decreased hip mobility. In addition, the muscles responsible for movements of the hip have an overlapping innervation with the hip joint (L2 to S1) and sacroiliac joint (L2 to S3). It is assumed that the hypertonic muscles associated with sacroiliac syndrome decrease hip joint proprioception as the proprioceptors are facilitated erratically in a highly facilitated neuronal pool common to the innervation levels of the sacroiliac joint and the hip and associated with the level of the involved hypertonic muscle. This is thought to result in aberrant proprioceptive function at the identified levels, affecting the hip. Thus the aim of this study was to investigate the effect which sacroiliac joint manipulation had on hip functional ability in patients suffering from sacroiliac syndrome by means of various measurement tools: . Active hip joint ranges of motion were assessed using an Inclinometer, . Pressure threshold of the Piriformis muscle was measured by using an Algometer, and . Hip joint proprioception was assessed by measuring joint position sense of the hip joint using an Inclinometer.