Thesis (M.Tech.: Chiropractic)-Dept. of Chiropractic, Durban Institute of Technology, 2004 1 v. (various pagings) / Classical ballet is generally defined as a form of art although it has been found to be more physically demanding than most sports, perhaps due to its very precise technique that differs considerably from normal movement. Epidemiological studies investigating ballet injuries in other countries suggest that the incidence and prevalence of injuries among ballet dancers is high. However, no such studies had been conducted in South Africa. Consequently the purpose of this study was to determine the lifetime incidence and prevalence of ballet injuries in the greater Durban area, and to examine the association between certain individual factors and ballet injuries, in order to identify potential risk factors.

Thesis (M.Tech.: Chiropractic)-Dept. of Chiropractic, Durban Institute of Technology, 2003 1 v. (various pagings) / The purpose of this study was to investigate the immediate and short term effectiveness of dry needling the primary, active Biceps TrP on the pain experienced during shoulder flexion and abduction range of motion, as well as on an associated bicipital tendonitis and satellite TrP’s.

Thesis (M.Tech.: Chiropractic)- Dept. of Chiropractic, Durban Institute of Technology, 2004 74 leaves ; 30 cm / The purpose of this study was to determine concurrent validity of the Zulu translations of the English Numerical Pain Rating Scale-101 and the Patient Specific Functional Scale. The Numerical Pain Rating Scale-101 and the Patient Specific Functional Scale (ENRS-101 and the EPSFS) were translated into Zulu (ZNRS-101 1.0 and ZPSFS1.0) and were tested for face validity by means of a focus group session.

Thesis (M.Tech.: Chiropractic) -Dept. of Chiropractic, Durban Institute of Technology, 2003. 1 v. (various pagings) / The purpose of this study was to compare two forms of mobilization in the treatment of symptomatic Hallux abductovalgus (bunions).

Thesis (M.Tech.: Chiropractic) -Dept. of Chiropractic, Durban Institute of Technology, 2003. xvi, 138 leaves / Knee joint pathologies, in general, are associated with a loss of knee-extensor muscle strength. This weakness has been attributed to arthrogenic muscle inhibition (AMI). Manipulation of the sacroiliac (SI) has been shown to significantly reduce AMI and increase the strength in the quadriceps muscle group. Although both the knee and SI joints have been linked to AMI of the quadriceps muscle group, no studies have been conducted showing that manipulating the tibio-femoral (knee) joint has any effect on quadriceps muscle strength or AMI. The purpose of this study was therefore to verify whether manipulation of the knee (tibio-femoral) joint is as effective as SI joint manipulation in increasing quadriceps muscle strength in PFPS patients. This study also investigated the effect of combining manipulative therapy of the tibio-femoral and SI joints on quadriceps muscle strength in PFPS patients.

Thesis (M.Tech.: Chiropractic) -Dept. of Chiropractic, Durban Institute of Technology, 2004. 1 v. (various pagings) / Background: Back pain among the golfing population is considered endemic as it has been recommended to golfers that they should attempt to use a state of maximal spinal rotation in their golf swing in order to achieve maximum ball distance. Evidence suggests that maximum spinal rotation range of motion will be more restricted in the golfers with low back pain, even though this maximum rotated position has been considered ideal for developing optimal Club Head Velocity (CHV). Research has demonstrated an approximate 1:3 relation between CHV and air travel (i.e. distance) of the golf ball. An increase in 1mph in CHV would increase air travel of the golf ball by approximately 3 yards. If one considers that CHV is primarily influenced by the strength and power of the torso (low back and abdominal muscles), muscle balance and flexibility, which are responsible for the static and dynamic postural stability of the golf swing, it stands to reason that low back pain, which has been identified as the most common problem affecting amateur golfers, will affect CHV. Objective: The purpose of this investigation was to evaluate the immediate effect of spinal manipulative therapy on club head velocity in amateur golfers suffering from mechanical low back pain in terms of subjective and objective measures.

Thesis (M.Tech.: Chiropractic) -Dept. of Chiropractic, Durban Institute of Technology, 2003 103 leaves / The purpose of this study was to investigate the efficacy of dry needling latent myofascial trigger points, in the treatment of Myofascial Pain Syndrome.

Mini-dissertation in partial compliance with the requirements for the Masters Degree in Technology: Chiropractic, in the Department of Chiropractic at the Durban University of Technology, 2009 / The aim of this study was to investigate the relative effectiveness of Transeva and spinal manipulative therapy for mechanical low back pain. The objectives evaluated the effectiveness of only administering Transeva therapy alone, or Spinal manipulative therapy alone as well as Transeva therapy with Spinal manipulative therapy on mechanical low back pain with respect to the patients’ subjective and objective responses to the respective treatment group. The final objective was to correlate the subjective and objective data collected to determine the effectiveness of each of the therapies in comparison with another. Design: A sample of thirty patients diagnosed with mechanical low back pain were accepted into the study. These patients were randomly divided into three groups of 10, which received different treatment protocols for mechanical low back pain. Outcome Measure: The following outcomes were measured; a decrease in pain (measured with the Numerical Pain Rating Scale (NRS), a decrease in disability (measured with the Roland-Morris Questionnaire), a decrease in local tenderness (measured with the pressure Algometer) and an increase in lumbar range of motion (measured with the Inclinometer). The data was collected prior to treatment one, prior to treatment four and at the sixth follow-up visit. Results and Conclusion: All groups improved with the treatments they received; however, no single treatment was statistically better than any other treatment intervention tested. However, the Spinal manipulative therapy group had a statistically significant faster reduction in pain on the NRS readings with p=0.048.

Dissertation submitted in partial compliance with the requirements for the Master’s Degree in Technology: Chiropractic, Durban Institute of Technology, 2006. / Health care practitioners have known for some time that patients benefit from specific manual intervention effects, but also from the manner in which these are presented. The latter at times having as much impact on patient health as the former. Thus the purpose of this study was to determine the effect of the clinical ritual during instrument assisted adjusting whilst managing mechanical lower back pain. The study was a randomized prospective study comprising of sixty participants aged 18-59. These individuals were randomly allocated into two groups of thirty and then further stratified to control for gender. Both Groups were diagnosed according to the Activator Methods Chiropractic Technique (AMCT), however the tension was set at maximum for group A, whilst the device was set to the minimum tension for group B. Each patient received three treatments and one follow up visit over a two-week period. Subjective data was collected at the first, third and follow up visit. Subjective data was recorded using the Visual Analogue Scale, the Numerical Pain Rating Scale, the Roland Morris Questionnaire and the Short-form McGill Pain Questionnaire. Outcomes were analysed through with the SPSS statistical package at a 95% level of confidence. After analysis of the collected data it was found that there was no statistical difference between the groups, but there was a non-specific trend suggesting a better outcome in the full tension activator group (Group A). Thus, the research indicated that patients perceptions, the patient-practitioner relationship, and the assumption of an outcome of success as well as the power of placebo or non-specific effects play a large role in the managing of lower back pain in a chiropractic environment.

Dissertation submitted in partial compliance with the requirements for the Master’s Degree in Technology: Chiropractic, Durban University of Technology, 2011. / Background: Low back pain is a common condition and affects most people at least once in their lives. The causes of low back pain (LBP) are numerous and may include non-specific mechanical causes, or specific causes which may be of a more serious nature. Researchers have tried to link specific history and physical examination findings with certain disorders, but as of yet, have been unsuccessful. Research has shown that x-rays may be over utilized and the guidelines for referral are not always adhered to. Furthermore, there is a paucity of literature on the role of x-rays in influencing the management of patients with low back pain. Objectives: The objectives of this retrospective study were: 1) to determine the relationship between the clinical and the radiographic diagnoses of patients with LBP, 2) to record the consultation at which a lumbar spine x-ray was requested by the student or clinician and the reasons thereof, 3) to record the suspected clinical diagnoses and management of the selected patients prior to referral for lumbar spine x-rays, 4) to determine the number of incidental radiographic findings in the selected patients’ x-rays, and 5) to determine any change in the clinical diagnoses and management following radiographic reporting of the selected patients’ x-rays. Method: The Chiropractic Day Clinic (CDC) at the Durban University of Technology (DUT) archives were searched for lumbar spine radiographs and the corresponding patient files of patients who presented with LBP from 1 January 1997 to 31 July 2010. Data collection was in a stepwise process with the anteroposterior and lateral lumbar spine x-rays being read first, without any knowledge of the patient’s main complaint and then the corresponding patient files were evaluated and selected clinical variables were recorded. Statistical analysis included the use of frequency counts, percentages, mean, standard deviation and range for the descriptive objectives. Diagnoses were categorized into specific groups and indicator variables were used to construct two-by-two tables of absence or presence of radiographic vs. clinical diagnosis for each specific diagnosis to determine any possible associations. Results: The mean age of the patients was 43.9 (± 16.9) years and the number of male and female patients were 40 and 34 respectively. It was not possible to correlate the clinical and radiographic diagnoses because the categories were too different for any statistical test to be performed. Spondylosis was the most common radiographic finding. The majority of the lumbar spine x-rays were requested at the first consultation. No suitable reason for obtaining the x-ray was provided in 14.6% of the x-rays requested and 20.7% were requested to examine for an unspecified pathology. Of the 74 patients in this study, 44 patients did not have a change in diagnosis, which means that 59.5% of the diagnoses stayed the same after x-ray examination. However, in 30 (40.5%) of cases the clinical diagnosis was changed following x-ray examination. This may indicate an overuse of x-rays at the CDC. Most patients were diagnosed with the non specific mechanical causes of low back pain. A wide range of treatment modalities were utilized both before and after x-rays were taken, including soft tissue therapies, electrotherapies and spinal manipulation. Following x-ray imaging there was a greater use of spinal manipulation ie. 62% versus only 39% of cases prior to imaging. Conclusion: Lumbar spine x-rays may be over utilised at the CDC but their findings were influential in the diagnosis and management in 30 (40.5%) of the patients. The majority of the clinical diagnoses were of the mechanical or non-specific causes of low back pain. / Durban University of Technology.