A dissertation proposal presented in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the Master's Degree in Technology: Chiropractic, Technikon Natal, 2002. / Lateral epicondylitis is a relatively common disorder affecting approximately one third of the nearly thirty-two million tennis players worldwide. It usually presents as a chronic disorder that follows a remitting relapsing course, and as such represents a challenge to manage. At present the scientific literature does not favour any particular treatment modality and as such well designed placebo studies are required to assess the efficacy of the various modalities of treatment, with a long term view of establishing an effective treatment protocol to manage lateral epicondylitis. The purpose of this study was to determine the efficacy of dry needling the posterior distal muscles of the upper extremity as a treatment for lateral epicondylitis. Sixty patients were included in the study. They all under went a case history, physical examination and an elbow regional examination. They were then randomly allocated into the experimental or control groups. The thirty patients in the experimental group received dry needling while the thirty included in the control group received placebo or 'sham' needling. All participants in the study received three treatments over a nine-day period with subjective and objective measurements being taken before the 1st. 2nd, and 3rd treatments, with a 4th being taken after the third treatment. Examination of the statistical data revealed that a significant improvement in the experimental group versus the control group in terms of both subjective / M

Dissertation submitted in partial compliance with the requirements for the Master's Degree in Technology: Chiropractic, Durban Institute of Technology, 2005. / Myofascial pain syndrome is defined as the sensory, motor and autonomic symptoms caused by myofascial trigger points (MFTPs), or hyperirritable spots within skeletal muscles that are associated with palpable nodules in a taut band (Travell, Simons and Simons, 1999 1:5). Treatments for this syndrome include, but are not limited to is haemic compression, heat pack therapy, active range of motion, spray and stretch, tens therapy, interferential current therapy and myofascial release technique (Hou et al. 2002). Despite this array of treatments available to a clinician, authors agree that more studies are required to determine the efficacy of these treatments (Han and Harrison, 1997:98). Thus an effective treatment is needed for myofascial pain syndrome as according to Schneider (1995); myofascial pain syndrome has become one of the most predominant soft tissue syndromes seen in the clinical practice today. The purpose of this study is to determine the relative effectiveness of myofascial manipulation versus the ischaemic compression in the treatment of myofascial trigger points of the upper trapezius muscle in terms of objective and subjective clinical findings. / M

Thesis (M.Tech.: Chiropractic)-Dept. of Chiropractic, Durban Institute of Technology, 2003 / The purpose of this study was to determine the effectiveness of a home programme of ischaemic compression in the treatment of Myofascial Pain Syndrome.

Thesis (M.Tech.:Chiropractic)-Dept. of Chiropractic, Durban Institute of Technology, 2005 x, 91, [26] leaves : ill. ; 30 cm / If learners are to make a responsible and accountable choice at school of a field of study and occupation, it is imperative that they receive intensive guidance in this regard at school. Appropriate guidance on educational and occupational matters, and orientation of learners with respect to their individual potentials, will enable learners to choose fields of study at school that will correspond to wider occupational fields and that will serve as a meaningful introduction for a reasonable future choice of an occupation. Thus it was the purpose of this study to determine the current knowledge and perceptions of school guidance counsellors (SGC) with respect to the chiropractic profession in South Africa. This study has thus established a knowledge base to facilitate greater understanding and co-operation between school guidance counsellors (SGC) and chiropractors regarding the referral of learners, who may be interested in a profession in the alternative health care industry, to join the chiropractic field as a learner with the intent to become a practitioner.

Thesis (M.Tech-: Chiropractic)-Dept. of Chiropractic, Durban Institute of Technology, 2005 x, 57 leaves, Annexures 1-10 / To determine if serum cortisol levels are increased following Spinal Manipulation Therapy (SMT) to the low back region and to determine the effect of a short rest interval on the cortisol levels

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, 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, 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.

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.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Missouri-Columbia, 2002. / Typescript. Vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 282-312). Also available on the Internet.