Thesis (M.Tech.: Chiropractic)-Dept. of Chiropractic, Durban Institute of Technology, 2006. xviii, 134, 7 leaves. / Shoulder injuries, which account for 8% to 20% of volleyball injuries, are usually rotator cuff and / or biceps tendinosis caused by overuse (Briner et al.1999); in addition 38-75% of competitive swimmers have had a history of shoulder pain, while 9 - 35% of these swimmers were currently experiencing pain (McMaster and Troup, 1993). Rotator cuff tendinosis is also found in laborers involved in repeated overhead activities (i.e. among shipyard welders and steel plate workers), with a prevalence of 18, 3% and 16, 2% respectively (Herberts et al. 1984). Fricker and Hoy (1995), suggest that the principal cause of tendinosis of the rotator cuff muscles is repetitive microtrauma, due to overfatigued muscles and / or weakening of the rotator cuff and scapulothoracic muscles. The etiology of impingement syndrome is therefore multifactorial and is commonly associated with other clinical entities such as weak or dysfunctional scapular musculature, posterior glenohumeral capsule tightness, inflammation of tendons (viz. supraspinatus and long head of biceps), bursal inflammation and glenohumeral instability (Michener et al., 2003). Shoulder syndromes are often related to the development and perpetuation of myofascial trigger points (TrPs) as found by Hains (2002), who suggested that these TrPs become activated during mechanical stress and overload of the involved shoulder musculature. Hammer (1991), suggests that the most valuable modality to treat chronic overuse soft tissue syndromes (irrespective of muscular or tendinous in origin) is friction massage to both regions. Cyriax (1984) and Prentice (1994) state the effect of frictions to include the breakdown of adhesions (scar tissue), as well as preventing the formation of further adhesions.

Thesis (M.Tech.:Chiropractic)- Dept. of Chiropractic, Durban Institute of Technology, 2006. xiii, 84 leaves, Annexures A-J. / Many studies have been done investigating the role that muscle imbalances play in causing injury to the body, for example the knee and the shoulder. It has been found that keeping muscle balances around a joint play an important role in protecting the soft tissue structures. There is a need to further investigate the effect of muscle imbalances in the upper limb. Additionally, according to the literature, as yet no effective treatment protocol or a specific cause has been found for lateral epicondylitis making it a troubling condition for practitioners to treat and a disabling condition for patients to live with. Therefore, this research aimed at investigating whether muscle imbalances are associated with the aetiology of lateral epicondylitis. If an association was found, people involved in predisposing activities could improve the imbalance to avoid the condition, thereby minimizing time spent away from work and sport. Also, a more effective and efficient management protocol for the painful condition could be attained. The objectives of this study included: 1) assessing the peak torque (using the Cybex Orthotron II) and muscle activity (using surface electromyography) of the wrist flexor and extensor muscle groups of asymptomatic subjects; 2) assessing the peak torque (using the Cybex Orthotron II) and muscle activity (using surface electromyography) of the wrist flexor and extensor muscle groups of symptomatic subjects and 3) to integrate this information, compare the two groups and subgroups and statistically analyse the difference between them.

Dissertation submitted in partial compliance with the requirements for the Master's Diploma in Technology: Chiropractic, Technikon Natal, 1994. / This study proposes to evaluate the combined effects of music therapy and chiropractic treatment in the management of muscle tension headaches, in terms of the patients' response, in order to establish the efficacy of music therapy as an adjunct to chiropractic management of muscle tension headaches. It was hypothesized that music therapy and chiropractic treatment combined have a more beneficial effect, in that it would reduce muscle tension headaches to a greater extent than chiropractic treatment alone, thus reducing the severity, duration and frequency of muscle tension headaches. The diagnostic criteria for muscle tension headache were consistent amongst the majority of authors. The most common cause was attributed to psychological or occupational stress on the posterior neck musculature i .e. an increase in muscle tension. An increase in muscle tension in muscle tension headache sufferers measured with an electromyogram was reported on by various authors. A decrease in electromyogram readings in response to music therapy has also been measured. Certain authors have attributed muscle tension headaches to cervical facet joint dysfunction. The presence of myofascial trigger points occurring concurrently with a muscle tension headache was mentioned. The majority of authors were in agreement as to the most beneficial type of music to be used. The music is to have a / M

A dissertation submitted in partial fulfillment with the requirements for the Master's Degree in Technology: Chiropractic, Technikon Natal. / The purpose of this investigation was to determine the most beneficial chiropractic management programme with respect to frequency of treatments for migraine headaches. It was hypothesised that an intensive treatment programme would be most effective. Thirty four (34) patients were accepted into this single blind, randomised trial, however only thirty (30) patients were compliant. Only patients diagnosed with migraine were accepted. The sample group was drawn from a population of migraine sufferers from t.,hegreater Durban area, and they were randomly divided into the two treatment groups. Both treatment groups received chiropractic adjustments to fixations found in the cervical and thoracic spines, as well as soft tissue massage to the above-mentioned areas. The only difference was the treatment periods, where the intensive treatment group was treated nine times in three weeks and the conservative treatment group was treated nine times in nine weeks. Both groups were re-evaluated after a six week followup period. Only subjective measurements were taken, all tabulated weekly I by each patient in the headache diaries provided.l6 / M

A dissertation presented in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the Masters Degree in Technology: Chiropractic, Technikon Natal, 1997. / The purpose of this investigation was to compare the effectiveness of chiropractic manipulation alone to the use of chiropractic manipulation together with therapeutic exercise in the management of chronic mechanical cervical spine conditions. Measurements in terms of objective and subjective clinical findings, were to be used to substantiate or refute the use of auxiliary therapeutic exercise in these conditions. It was hypothesised that therapeutic exercise would be a valuable adjunct to the chiropractic management of chronic mechanical cervical spine conditions in terms of objective (flexibility) and subjective (pain and disability) clinical findings. Thirty consecutive subjects suffering from chronic neck pain were obtained from local advertising (radio and newspapers) and randomly placed into two groups for comparison. The 0. age group of subjects accepted ranged from 16 to 60 and included both sexes from any race, who had suffered from neck pain for six weeks or longer. Subjects were assessed to determine whether there were any contra-indications to manipulation or exercise. Treatment commenced for a month with both groups receiving spinal manipulative therapy and one group doing daily therapeutic exercises. The eROM goniometer, McGill Pain Questionnaire, Numerical Pain Rating Scale - 101 Questionnaire and the CMee Neck Disability Index were / M

A dissertation presented in partial compliance with the requirements of the Masters Degree in Technology: Chiropractic, Durban Institute of Technology, 2006. xiii, 84 leaves, Annexures A-J. / Many studies have been done investigating the role that muscle imbalances play in causing injury to the body, for example the knee and the shoulder. It has been found that keeping muscle balances around a joint play an important role in protecting the soft tissue structures. There is a need to further investigate the effect of muscle imbalances in the upper limb. Additionally, according to the literature, as yet no effective treatment protocol or a specific cause has been found for lateral epicondylitis making it a troubling condition for practitioners to treat and a disabling condition for patients to live with. Therefore, this research aimed at investigating whether muscle imbalances are associated with the aetiology of lateral epicondylitis. If an association was found, people involved in predisposing activities could improve the imbalance to avoid the condition, thereby minimizing time spent away from work and sport. Also, a more effective and efficient management protocol for the painful condition could be attained. The objectives of this study included: 1) assessing the peak torque (using the Cybex Orthotron II) and muscle activity (using surface electromyography) of the wrist flexor and extensor muscle groups of asymptomatic subjects; 2) assessing the peak torque (using the Cybex Orthotron II) and muscle activity (using surface electromyography) of the wrist flexor and extensor muscle groups of symptomatic subjects and 3) to integrate this information, compare the two groups and subgroups and statistically analyse the difference between them. / M

Dissertation submitted in partial compliance with the requirements for the Master's Degree in Technology: Chiropractic, Durban Institute of Technology, 2002. / Blood pressure, defined as the force per unit area exerted on the wall of a blood vessel by its contained blood, is expressed in terms of millimeters mercury (mm Hg). Hypertension is a common problem in Westernised nations, including South Africa. The nervous system's role in the induction of hypertensive disease is the least understood; however, it is postulated that chiropractic adjustment normalises raised blood pressure via modification of the tonicity of the autonomic nervous system. The treatment of organic-type disorders with manipulative therapy is a controversial topic within and outside the chiropractic profession. However, research has indicated that manipulation may affect blood pressure, and the literature does propose a number of hypotheses on how this may be achieved. The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of spinal manipulative therapy to the atlanta-occipital and atlanta-axial articulations on the blood pressure of normotensive Caucasian male subjects. This prospective controlled clinical trial consisted of a total of sixty normotensive Caucasian male subjects who were recruited by canvassing for volunteers from the Durban Institute of Technology campus as well as the general Durban area. By simple consecutive randomisation, 30 subjects were entered into a control group, and another 30 were entered into an experimental group. Both groups followed the same procedure with the exception that the control group did not receive any manipulation. Phase one of the study, which covered two visits, was / M

Dissertation submitted in the partial compliance with the requirements for the Master's Degree in Technology: Chiropractic, Technikon Natal, 1996. / There have been few substantiated studies done to investigate the efficacy of spinal manipulative therapy for cervical syndromes [Vernon et.al. (1990: 13), Sloop et.al. (1982: 532) and Cassidy 1\ et. al. (1992: 495)]. Therefore, more conclusive evidence is needed to verify the success of manipulation, especially in terms of chiropractic treatment methods. The purpose of this investigation was to evaluate cervical spine manipulation and combined cervical and thoracic spine manipulation, according to subjective and objective clinical findings, in order to determine the efficacy of each approach in the management of mechanical neck pain. It was hypothesized that cervical spine manipulation, and combined cervical and thoracic spine manipulation would both be effective in the treatment of mechanical neck pain. However, it was proposed that combined cervical and thoracic spine manipulation would be more effective than just cervical spine manipulation, in terms of subjective and objective clinical findings. This study consisted of a controlled trial of a sample population diagnosed with joint dysfunction (cervical and thoracic facet syndrome) . Thirty subjects were randomly divided into two groups: the control group and the experimental group. The control group was treated with cervical adjustments only and the experimental group received combined cervical and thoracic adjusfments. / M

Dissertation submitted in partial compliance with the requirements for the Master's Degree in Technology: Chiropractic, Technikon Natal, 1999. / Objectives To investigate the efficacy of spinal manipulative therapy (SMT) in the management of mechanical thoracic spine pain. It was postulated by the researcher that with manipulation of the affected thoracic spinal segment, there would be a significantly greater improvement than by only applying placebo treatment. Summary of background data There have been no substantiated studies performed up to this date to investigate the efficacy of SMT on thoracic syndromes. Study design A single-blind, randomised, comparative, controlled pilot study. Methods Thirty subjects selected from the general population, diagnosed as having mechanical thoracic spine pain, were randomly divided into two different treatment groups. Each group consisted of fifteen patients between the ages of 16 and 60 years. The first group received thoracic spine manipulation. The second group received placebo treatment only. iii The research project was carried out where both groups received a maximum of six treatments over a minimum period of two weeks. Thereafter a follow-up appointment / M

Dissertation submitted in partial compliance with the requirements for the Master's Degree in Technology: Chiropractic,Technikon Natal, 1999. / Pain arising from myofascial trigger points is common and is often so disabling that the need for fast effective treatment is urgent. Of the many documented treatments for trigger points, there is little evidence to support one treatment over another. It is thus the purpose of this study to determine the relative effectiveness of stretch and ice to stretch and spray in the treatment of myofascial trigger points found in the upper trapezius muscle. This comparative clinical study involved the participation of thirty patients presenting with myofascial trigger points of the upper trapezius muscle. By means of consecutive sampling, patients complaining of neck pain, and/or headaches, and/or shoulder pain or a combination thereof, and who were between the ages of sixteen and sixty-five, underwent a screening processes to determine if they had active myofascial trigger points in the upper trapezius. Those that were eligible for the study were randomly assigned to either the stretch and ice group or the stretch and spray group. The subjective primary data consisted of three pain questionnaires, namely the Short Form McGill Pain Questionnaire, CMCC Neck Disability Index, and Numerical Rating Scale-101. The objective data was supplied by readings taken from an algometer. The patients underwent three consultations in the first week, two consultations in the second week and a final consultation one-month after the fifth treatment. All the primary data was collected at four occasions. These were at the first, third, fifth and one month follow-up consultations. Intra-group analysis using the Wilcoxon Sign-Rank Test determined if each group improved significantly with respect to the data collected. The Mann-Whitney U test was used to determine which group was statistically better than the other. The results, including the standard deviation, standard error, mean and power / M