A dissertation submitted in partial compliance with the requirements for the Master's Degree in Technology: Chiropractic, Technikon Natal, 2001. / Episodic tension-type headache is more prevalent than chronic tension-type headache (Schwartz, et al. 1998). The exact causes of episodic tension-type headaches are not known (Headache Classification Committee, 1988:30-31). Episodic tension-type headache and chronic tension-type headache have different characteristics. Thus the mechanism of episodic tension-type headache is still unclear, and should be studied separately from chronic tension-type headache (Kim, et al. 1995). Presently, studies conflict with regard to spinal manipulation and its efficacy in the treatment of episodic tension-type headache. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to investigate the relative effectiveness of 500mg of acetylsalicylic acid as opposed to cervical spine manipulation for the treatment of episodic tension-type headache. It was hypothesized that manipulation would provide a significantly greater immediate and short-term benefit in comparison to acetylsalicylic acid. This study was conducted as a clinical trial at the Technikon Natal Chiropractic Day Clinic. Sixty patients presenting with episodic tension-type headaches were selected and randomly allocated into two equal groups. Patient's were provided with one of the two treatments at the initial consultation, and again upon a second consultation after a minimum 'washout period' of forty-eight hours, but within two weeks. Patient's in Group 1 received cervical spine manipulation, whereas patients in Group 2 received 500mg of acetylsalicylic acid. The subjective responses of each patient were recorded by means of the Short-form McGill Pain Questionnaire, the Numerical Pain Rating Scale, the CMCC Neck / M

A dissertation submitted to the Faculty of Health in partial compliance with the requirements for a Master's Degree in Technology: Chiropractic at the Technikon Natal. / The purpose of this study is to investigate the relative efficacy of chiropractic manipulative therapy as opposed to placebo ultrasound, in terms of objective and subjective clinical findings, in the treatment of plantar fasciitis. This was a randomised, controlled, clinical trial consisting of two groups. Group A received chiropractic manipulative therapy as their treatment protocol and Group B received placebo treatment in the form of detuned ultrasound as their treatment protocol. Each group consisted of fifteen subjects between the ages of 21 and 68 years who were randomly assigned to their respective groups. It is hypothesised that chiropractic manipulative therapy will be effective in the treatment of plantar fasciitis. Subjects diagnosed with plantar fasciitis were included in the study. The treatment regime consisted of a course of nine treatments spread over a three week time period with a follow-up consultation one month after the final treatment consultation. Subjective and objective measurements were taken at the initial, final and one-month follow-up consultations. Subjective data consisted of the short-form McGill Pain Questionnaire, the Numerical pain Rating Scale - 101 and the Foot Function Index. The objective data was collected by means of Algometer measurements. The data was analysed statistically using the non-parametric Mann-Whitney unpaired U-test for the categorical variables and the parametric two-sample unpaired t-test for the continuous variables for the inter-group comparison. For the intra-group comparison the non-parametric Wilcoxon's signed rank test was used for the categorical variables and the parametric twosample paired t-test was used for the continuous variables. / M

Final submission of a dissertation to the Faculty of Health in partial compliance with the requirements for a Master's Degree in Technology: Chiropractic at the Technikon Natal. / The purpose of this investigation was to investigate the relative efficacy of foot and ankle adjustments as opposed to placebo ultrasound, in terms of subjective and objective clinical findings, in the treatment of primary metatarsalgia. This was a randomised, controlled, clinical trial consisting of two groups. Group A received foot and ankle adjustments, while Group B received detuned ultrasound as the placebo treatment. Each group consisted of twenty subjects between the ages of 20 and 78 years, who were randomly assigned to their respective groups. It was hypothesised that foot and ankle adjustments would be effective in the treatment of primary metatarsalgia. Subjects diagnosed with primary metatarsalgia were included in the study. The treatment regime consisted of a course of eight treatments, with two treatments a week, spread over a four-week period. Subjective and objective measurements were taken at the initial, second, third and final consultations. Subjective data consisted of the short-form McGill Pain Questionnaire, the Numerical Pain Rating Scale -101 and the Foot Function Index. Objective data was collected by means of Algometer measurements. Inter-group comparisons were made using the non-parametric Mann-Whitney unpaired U-test for the categorical variables and the parametric two-sample unpaired t-test for the continuous variables. Inter-group comparisons of the subjective readings showed that the two groups were similar at the beginning of the study, except in terms / M

A dissertation submitted in partial compliance with the requirements for the Master's Degree in Technology: Chiropractic, Technikon Natal, 2001. / Episodic tension-type is a highly prevalent condition with a significant functional impact at home and school (Schwartz et al. 1998). In children as in adults, it is the most common form of headache that a chiropractor will encounter in clinical practice (Davies 2000). The purpose of this study was to investigate the relative effectiveness of chiropractic manipulation in conjunction with soft tissue treatment, as compared with soft tissue treatment alone, in the management of Episodic tension-type headache in children and adolescents. It was hypothesised that manipulation in conjunction with soft tissue treatment would provide a significant long-term benefit in comparison to soft tissue treatment alone. This study was performed as a clinical trial conducted at the Technikon Natal Chiropractic Day Clinic. Thirty children between the ages of eight to eighteen presenting with Episodic tension-type headache were selected to participate in the study and were randomly allocated into two equal groups. Patients in both groups were treated six times over a period of three weeks and were monitored with respect to their headache using a headache diary for one week prior to and one week following the course of treatment. A final assessment was performed once the patients had completed the headache diary for the second time. Both groups received a ten minute massage of the cervical and upper thoracic musculature, while patients in group A received chiropractic manipulation of the cervical and upper thoracic spine as well. / M

M.Tech. / The purpose of this study was to determine the awareness, which is the knowledge, usage, need and attitude, towards the chiropractic profession in the black population of South Africa in the East Rand in Daveyton. The study was conducted as a qualitative survey study, where two hundred and fifty research questionnaires were randomly distributed to two hundred and fifty participants who met the inclusion criteria for the study. The inclusion criteria were that subjects had to be 18 years of age and older, were of black ethnicity, had to be living in Daveyton in the East Rand, and were not involved in any chiropractic practices. All the participants were requested to take part in an interview, and the questionnaire was completed by the researcher. The questionnaire had two sections, section A testing the participants biographic information, and section B, which tested the participants knowledge of chiropractic and the services it rendered. Each questionnaire took about 20 minutes to complete. The response rate was ninety nine point nine percent, with two hundred and fifty questionnaires distributed, and two hundred and fourty nine questionnaires completed. The results demonstrated that only 17.1% within this section of the South African population had any knowledge of what chiropractic is, and 68.4% of the respondents had not utilized the services of a chiropractor. The majority of the participants in the study were males, at 53.4%, and the ages ranged between 19 and 81, with the majority of the participants being between the ages of 19-20, 1 0.8%. The employment status of the participants ranged between 32.9% of the participants being full time employed, and 30.5% of the participants were unemployed seeking employment. The educational status of the participants showed that 37.5% had a grade twelve qualification, and 31.9% had a post school certificate/ diploma or degree. The participants in the study were also not certain of what the job description of a chiropractor was, with 41.3% of the participants describing a chiropractor's work being similar to that of a General Practitioner, and 22.2% to a massage therapist. The referral mode of the participants demonstrated most of the participants were referred by a friend or family member who had consulted with a chiropractor, followed by their General Practitioner. The participants showed that they would like to have a chiropractor in their living or working area, 88.8% of the participants. The researcher therefore concluded, from the results of the study, that the black South African population in Daveyton on the East Rand had very little knowledge of chiropractic as a profession, and more educational efforts were needed to inform this sector of the South African population. It is recommended that future studies be undertaken in a different section of South Africa, with a larger black participant population size, to determine if there is a lack of awareness of chiropractic throughout South Africa, as the findings in the study was not representative of the South African black population as a whole.

Thesis--PlanA (M.S.)--University of Wisconsin--Stout, 2002. / Includes bibliographical references.

A dissertation submitted in partial compliance with the requirements for the Master's Diploma in Technology: Chiropractic, Durban Institute of Technology, 1996. / Focus during this investigation was directed towards determining alterations in the size of the lumbar intervertebral disc in patients symptomatic with low back pain and sciatic distribution pain, in response to chiropractic management of this condition. The efficacy of chiropractic management for low back pain with associated radiculopathy has been examined. Flexion distraction technique and side posture rotatory adjustment technique of the lumbar spine have been used during this trial. / M

A dissertation presented in partial compliance with the requirements for the Masters Degree in Technology: Chiropractic, Technikon Natal, 2000. / Lower back pain represents as a common disorder, with between 60% and 80% of the general population being affected (Kirkaldy-Willis 1992:2). This, apart from just the health aspects, has serious financial implications which are an ongoing concern to industry (Frymoyer 1991: 137). This study was designed to determine the effectiveness of combined spinal manipulation and "Action Potential" therapy versus spinal manipulative therapy and placebo "Action Potential" therapy in the treatment of mechanical lower back pain. It is currently accepted that spinal manipulation is of great benefit in the treatment of lower back pain (Di Fabio 1992), and it appears that "Action Potential Simulation" therapy, a new low-frequency electrical current therapy, would fit the criteria necessary to address the dysfunctional phase of low back pain as set out by the authors such as Kirkaldy- Willis (1988). / M

Dissertation submitted in partial compliance with the requirements for a Masters Degree in Technology: Chiropractic at Technikon Natal, 1996. / A few studies have been conducted to investigate the efficacy of chiropractic treatment for enuresis viz: Gemmel et al. (1989), Leboeuf et al. (1991), Blomerth (1994), Reed et al. (1994) and Kreitz et al. (1994). The only controlled study was done by Reed et al. (1994), and even though it did indicate promising results it was not conclusive. Therefore, more evidence is needed to verify the success of chiropractic treatment for enuresis, especially in terms of spinal adjustments. / M

Introduction: The World Health Organization (WHO) encourages the use of its International Classification of Functioning, Health and Disability (ICF) framework as a biopsychosocial approach for healthcare professions to understand health and disability. The ICF framework is not currently a component of the curriculum at Canadian Memorial Chiropractic College (CMCC); however its concepts adhere to the college’s program ideals and fit well into a chiropractic model of care. Purpose: To examine whether a brief educational presentation introducing the ICF to chiropractic interns could result in a detectable change in the interns' clinical thought processes, thus stimulating the incorporation of a wider variety of ICF concepts into the interns’ report-writing including notes on progress and goal setting. Methods: This study reviewed the clinical report writing style and content of chiropractic clinical interns practicing at one of two Aptus Treatment Centres in Toronto, Ontario. Reports were analyzed prior to and following an educational intervention in which the ICF was introduced to the chiropractic clinical interns with suggestions for applications into practice. Following the intervention a subset of the chiropractic interns was specifically encouraged to incorporate ICF concepts into their report writing. Three participant groups were formed: Group 1 participants attended the presentation and received post-presentation encouragement, Group 2 participants attended the presentations but did not receive direct encouragement to incorporate ICF concepts into their report writing, Group 3 participants were current clinical interns who did not attend the presentations and consented to the evaluation of their clinical reports. After being anonymized to the researchers the pre- and post-intervention reports were reviewed using a standardized evaluation scheme that categorized the use of ICF concepts. Results: This proof of concept study provided evidence that with a brief introduction to the ICF, chiropractic interns were able to incorporate a greater variety of ICF constructs into their report writing. Detectable changes were noted with Groups 1 and 2. Group 1 demonstrated a decrease in use of references to body function and structure and a marked increase in references to both personal and environmental factors. Group 2 demonstrated a decrease in use of references to body function and structure as well as a notable increase in references to both participation and environmental factors. No detectable changes were noted in the report writing of Group 3 participants who were not exposed to the ICF teaching. Conclusions: The results of this study indicate that with even short educational presentations chiropractic interns are able to adopt a well-established framework of healthcare concepts into their patient treatment plans as noted in their report writing. This was apparent in both participant groups who attended the presentations and was not dependent on direct encouragement. This knowledge may influence the chiropractic interns’ understanding of health and disability and their interprofessional communication, and affect patient outcomes. These questions should be explored in future prospective controlled studies. / Thesis / Master of Science Rehabilitation Science (MSc) / Introduction: The World Health Organization (WHO) encourages the use of its International Classification of Functioning, Health and Disability (ICF) framework as a biopsychosocial approach for healthcare professions to understand health and disability. The ICF framework is not currently a component of the curriculum at Canadian Memorial Chiropractic College (CMCC); however its concepts adhere to the college’s program ideals and fit well into a chiropractic model of care. Purpose: To examine whether a brief educational presentation introducing the ICF to chiropractic interns could result in a detectable change in the interns' clinical thought processes, thus stimulating the incorporation of a wider variety of ICF concepts into the interns’ report-writing including notes on progress and goal setting. Methods: This study reviewed the clinical report writing style and content of chiropractic clinical interns practicing at one of two Aptus Treatment Centres in Toronto, Ontario. Reports were analyzed prior to and following an educational intervention in which the ICF was introduced to the chiropractic clinical interns with suggestions for applications into practice. Following the intervention a subset of the chiropractic interns was specifically encouraged to incorporate ICF concepts into their report writing. Three participant groups were formed: Group 1 participants attended the presentation and received post-presentation encouragement, Group 2 participants attended the presentations but did not receive direct encouragement to incorporate ICF concepts into their report writing, Group 3 participants were current clinical interns who did not attend the presentations and consented to the evaluation of their clinical reports. After being anonymized to the researchers the pre- and post-intervention reports were reviewed using a standardized evaluation scheme that categorized the use of ICF concepts. Results: This proof of concept study provided evidence that with a brief introduction to the ICF, chiropractic interns were able to incorporate a greater variety of ICF constructs into their report writing. Detectable changes were noted with Groups 1 and 2. Group 1 demonstrated a decrease in use of references to body function and structure and a marked increase in references to both personal and environmental factors. Group 2 demonstrated a decrease in use of references to body function and structure as well as a notable increase in references to both participation and environmental factors. No detectable changes were noted in the report writing of Group 3 participants who were not exposed to the ICF teaching. Conclusions: The results of this study indicate that with even short educational presentations chiropractic interns are able to adopt a well-established framework of healthcare concepts into their patient treatment plans as noted in their report writing. This was apparent in both participant groups who attended the presentations and was not dependent on direct encouragement. This knowledge may influence the chiropractic interns’ understanding of health and disability and their interprofessional communication, and affect patient outcomes. These questions should be explored in future prospective controlled studies.