M.Tech. / Objectives: To gain statistics on the perception parents in Johannesburg have regarding paediatric chiropractic and to educate the public as to the value of paediatric chiropractic in infants and children and increase the number of paediatric patients presenting to chiropractic practices. Methods: One-hundred-and-fifty questionnaires were completed by willing participants attending various antenatal classes throughout Johannesburg. Thereafter, a brief educational talk on paediatric chiropractic was given to all participants and information brochures were distributed. Results: A total of 34.50% of the participants had been previously treated by a chiropractor, with only 12.80% having been treated during their pregnancy and a further 15.70% who intended to receive chiropractic treatment while they were pregnant. Throughout the various age groups majority (54.20%- 56.30%) of the participants felt that might consult a chiropractor for the treatment of a child, although very little was known about the paediatric conditions that may be treated by chiropractors. Majority of the participants felt that chiropractic treatment of paediatrics and during pregnancy was completely safe. Conclusions: Although the participants were not entirely opposed to paediatric chiropractic (the treatment of children and pregnant mothers) they had very little knowledge regarding the topic of paediatric chiropractic, the conditions it may be successful in treating and the health benefits for children who receive chiropractic treatment. Majority of the participants were interested in furthering their knowledge regarding the topic of paediatric chiropractic.

This study compared the effectiveness of three different Chiropractic treatment protocols in the treatment of post-partum low back pain. This was done in order to establish whether or not a combined treatment of Chiropractic Manipulative Therapy (CMT) of the sacroiliac joint combined with slow dynamic strengthening exercises to strengthen and stabilise the pelvis is a more effective treatment than CMT of the sacroiliac joint alone, or slow dynamic strengthening exercises in isolation. Thirty participants were used for this study. They were randomly placed into one of three groups namely; group 1, group 2 and group 3. Group 1 received CMT solely to the involved sacroiliac joint. Group 2 received slow dynamic strengthening exercises of gluteus medius, piriformis and psoas muscles. These exercises were designed to strengthen and stabilise the pelvis. Group 3 received a combination of the above two treatments. Six treatments were administered over a period of three weeks with each participant receiving two treatments per week. Prior to the commencement of treatments one, three and six; each participant was objectively measured for forward flexion range of motion using the Modified Schober’s test. The subjective measurements used in this study were the Numerical Pain Rating Scale and the Oswestry Lower Back Pain and Disability Questionnaire, these were also completed prior to first, third and sixth treatments. All the collected data was statistically analysed using the one-way Anova test, the Scheffe Multiple Comparisons test and the Paired-t test. This statistical analysis revealed statistical differences on intra-group analysis, for all the three groups involved, mostly between treatment three and treatment six for both the objective and subjective measurements. On inter-group analysis no statistical differences were found although group three subjective and objective measurements improved by a larger percentage than both group one and group two. It was thus concluded that a combined treatment of CMT and slow dynamic strengthening exercises of gluteus medius, piriformis and psoas muscles was the most effective protocol to use on women with post-partum low back pain. / Dr. C.D. Losco Dr. B. Losco

Hallux Abducto Valgus (HAV) is a common cause of foot pain causing deformity and often disability. The female population is more frequently affected by HAV than the male population with the two main causative factors being congenital and inappropriate footwear. Surgery is the most prevalent treatment, but it does not take into consideration the biomechanical effects on the biomechanical chain and therefore the deformity frequently reoccurs and complications after surgery are many. The aim of this study is to compare the efficacy of the Brantingham protocol versus the HAV Night Splint in the treatment of painful HAV. Thirty participants were selected to participate in the study and certain criteria had to be met. Participants were randomly divided into two groups, Group 1 was treated using a chiropractic protocol. The Brantingham Protocol that consisted of mobilization and specific adjustment of the first metatarsophalangeal joint was used. Group 2 was treated by the use of a HAV Night Splint. Patients were treated over a 2-week period, twice a week with a 1-week follow up and a 1-month follow up. The lasting effect of the individual treatments was determined by the follow-up periods. Objective and subjective measurements were taken at each visit. Subjective measurements consisted of the McGill pain questionnaire (Melzack, 1975) (Appendix D), visual analogue scale (Masarsky and Todres-Masarsky, 2001) (Appendix B) and the foot function index pain scale (Saag et al., 1996) (Appendix C). Objective measurements consisted of passive Plantar and Dorsiflexion of the First metatarsophalangeal joint. The results indicated a statistical and numerical significance within and between each group both subjectively and objectively. Group 1 proved to be superior to Group 2 in the treatment of painful HAV. In conclusion, both the Brantingham Protocol and the HAV Night Splint proved to be effective in the treatment of painful HAV. However, Group 1 proved to be superior to Group 2 in the treatment of painful HAV. / Dr. Birdsey Mr. Zipfel

A dissertation presented in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the Master's Degree in Technology: Chiropractic, Durban Institute of Technology, 2004. / Chiropractors and physiotherapists treat a common pool of patients, often using similar modalities to treat them, yet there has always been an apparent antagonism towards each other as recorded in the literature. This is therefore assumed to be true in the South African context; however there has never been any quantifiable evidence as to what the interprofessional ties are between these two professions in this context / M

A dissertation submitted in partial compliance with the requirements for the Masters Degree in Technology: Chiropractic at Technikon Natal, 1997. / Mechanical low back pain is one of the most common and costly conditions confronting health care providers and medical insurers today. Despite' the magnitude of the problem no general consensus exists concerning an appropriate treatment for this condition. / M

Dissertation presented in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the Master's Diploma in Technology: Chiropractic, Technikon Natal, 1994. / The efficacy of myofascial trigger point therapy in treatment of myofasciitis was evaluated in a single blind, randomised, placebo controlled trial. The patient population consisted of twenty individuals who presented with one of the following: upper-back pain, shoulder pain, and neck-pain and or headaches and who were diagnosed as having myofasciitis. / M

A dissertation proposal presented in partial fulfillment of the requirement for the Master's Degree in Technology: Chiropractic, Technikon Natal, 1999. / The purpose of this study was to evaluate the efficacy and reliability of motion palpation as a post-adjustive diagnostic tool in the evaluation of the cervical spine. This study attempts to assess motion palpation's ability to determine change in a motion segment fixation following manipulation / M

Dissertation submitted to the Faculty of Health in partial compliance with the requirements for the Master's Degree in Technology: Chiropractic at Technikon Natal, 2000. / The purpose of this study was to test the effectiveness of anterior night splints alone compared to the combination of foot and ankle manipulation with anterior night splints, in terms of subjective and objective clinical findings, in the treatment of plantarfasciitis. / M

Dissertation submitted in partial compliance with the requirements for the Masters Degree in Technology: Chiropractic, Technikon Natal, 1997. / The purpose of this study was to evaluate the .ost effective electrotherapy wavefore, in the treatment of mechanical low back pain, by comparing a Relief Pulse wavefor to that cf Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation wavefore, in combination with a chiropractic lumbar roll adjustment. This was accoaplished by means of objective and subjective assesments / M

Dissertation submitted in partial compliance with the requirements for the Master's Degree in Technology: Chiropractic at Durban Institute of Technology, 2004. / The purpose of this study was to investigate the association between the role of Myofascial Trigger Points of the lower extremity to the clinical presentation of lIiotibialband Friction syndrome / M