Dissertation submitted in partial compliance with the requirements for the Master's Degree in Technology: Chiropractic at Technikon Natal, 2000. / Sacroiliac joint syndrome represents a common cause of lower back pain (Cassidy and Burton 1992:3). However, much controversy exists regarding the most reliable method used to diagnose and determine sacroiliac joint dysfunction (Wiles and Faye 1992). / M

M.Tech. / The primary focus of this study was to compare different treatment protocols namely Chiropractic Adjustive Therapy of the Sacroiliac Joint, lschaemic Compression of Trigger Points within the Piriformis muscle and Chiropractic Adjustive Therapy of the Sacroiliac Joint combined with lschaemic Compression of Piriformis Trigger Points in the treatment of a dysfunctional Piriformis muscle, to see which of the chosen treatment protocols would be the superior choice in treating the dysfunctional muscle. It was hypothesised that all the chosen treatment protocols would be effective in treating a dysfunctional Piriformis muscle, while it was hoped that the Chiropractic Manipulative Therapy of the Sacroiliac Joint would be the superior choice in treating a dysfunctional Piriformis muscle. Participants were recruited via posters and flyers in and around the University of Johannesburg Campuses. Forty five participants were recruited and randomly divided into three groups (Groupl received Chiropractic Manipulation of the Sacroiliac joint, Group 2 received Chiropractic Manipulation of the Sacroiliac joint combined with lschemic compression of the Piriformis muscle and Group 3 received only lschemic compression of the Piriformis muscle) by drawing a number from a box marked one, two and three for the different treatment protocols. The participants were given a consent and information leaflet which they had to sign and any questions they had were answered to the best of the researcher's ability. All the participants received five treatments and Algometer measurements were taken before and after every treatment and Numerical Pain Rating Scale forms were completed by the participant before treatment one and after treatment five. The results showed a significant decrease in pain perceived by the participants in all the different groups on the Numerical Pain Rating Scale and on the Algometer measurements. When looking at the Numerical Pain Rating Scale Scores the group that received ischaemic compression (Group 2) had the most improvement and when comparing the Algometer Measurements between the groups, the group that received only the Chiropractic Adjustive Therapy of the Sacro-iliac Joints (Group 1) had the best improvement.

M.Tech. (Chiropractic) / To compare the effectiveness of biomechanical pelvic blocking to segmental drop piece adjustments in the treatment of sacroiliac joint dysfunction. Method: Thirty participants were randomly divided in two equal groups. Group A (n = 15) received biomechanical pelvic blocking and Group B (n = 15) received segmental drop piece adjustments. The trial consisted of seven treatment visits over a period of three weeks, of which the first six were treatment sessions, with the final seventh session serving the purpose of obtaining final post-treatment data. Data was obtained only at the first, fourth, and seventh visits. Subjective data was obtained by having each participant complete a numerical pain rating scale and the oswestry low back pain and disability questionnaire. Objective data consisted of pain pressure threshold over the posterior superior iliac spine by using a pressure algometer. Results: The subjective results showed that there was a decrease in the numerical pain rating scale (NPRS) reading scores over the treatment visits for both groups. Group A had a statistically significant decrease (p = 0.000) in the NPRS reading scores between visit 1 and 4, and a statistically significant decrease (p = 0.000) between visit 4 and 7. Group B showed that there was a statistically significant decrease (p = 0.001) from visit 1 to 4, and a statistically significant decrease (p = 0.002) between visit 4 and 7. According to the Mann-Whitney test both groups showed a statistically significant decrease in their NPRS readings over the treatment period (p = 009), however Group A had a greater decrease in pain than Group B when looking at the mean score values. This indicates that both biomechanical pelvic blocking and segmental drop piece adjustments delivered to the dysfunctional sacroiliac joints are effective in decreasing pain. Over time, statistical analysis showed that there was a decrease in oswestry pain and disability for both groups A and B when looking at the Friedmann and Wilcoxon-signed rank test. Group A showed a statistically significant decrease (p = 0.012) from visit 1 to 4, and a statistically significant decrease (p = 0.002) for visit 4 to 7. Group B also showed that from visit 1 to 4, there was a statistically significant decrease (p = 0.001), and from visit 4 to 7 there was a statistically...

published_or_final_version / abstract / Dentistry / Master / Master of Dental Surgery

A dissertation presented to the Faculty of Health Sciences at the Durban University of Technology in partial compliance with the requirements for the Master’s Degree in Technology: Chiropractic, 2009 / Introduction: The aetiology of Temporomandibular Joint Dysfunction (TMJD) is not fully understood and the treatment of TMJD is controversial. Most treatment plans are based on postulated aetiology. Treatment plans currently range from pharmacological to surgical and occasionally physical therapy is also used for any myofascial component. Myofacial Trigger Points (MFTP’s) in the head and neck region have similar pain referral patterns as TMJD and there is overlap in aetiology and epidemiology. If correlation can be proved to exist between the severities of TMJD and MFTP’s then the treatment of MFTP’s can potentially decrease the severity of TMJD and then the more radical treatments can be avoided. Objectives: To determine whether TMJD was present and establish severity. To locate any MFTP’s in the Sternocleidomastiod (SCM), Temporalis, Masseter, Posterior Cervical (PC), Lateral and Medial Pterygoid muscles and determine their severity. Methods: A random sample of 25 participants were evaluated. A p value <0.05 was considered as statistically significant. Quantitative variables were summarized using median, inter-quartile range and range due to skewness of distribution, while categorical variables were described using frequency distributions and bar charts. Spearman’s nonparametric correlation analysis, and curve estimation were used to determine the existence of a relationship between TMJ severity and MFTP severity. A scatterplot was used to graphically assess the relationship. Conclusion: The results suggested that the participants were actually chronic neck pain suffers that developed TMJD over the long term as a result of chronic neck pain changing the kinematic biomechanics or as a result of a completely different and independent event as suggested by Foreman and Croft (1995).

Dissertation submitted in partial compliance with the requirements for the Master’s Degree in Technology: Chiropractic, Durban University of Technology, 2013. / The lifetime incidence of low back pain is between 48% to 79% in South Africa. Globally, chronic Sacroiliac Joint Syndrome occurs in 13% to 63% of the world’s population. Therefore, chronic Sacroiliac Joint Syndrome is a significant health problem that has the potential to have a major impact on quality of life. Chronic Sacroiliac Joint Syndrome is described as an alteration in normal motion or mechanics. The Sacroiliac Joint fibrous capsule contributes to proprioceptive and nociceptive output, which may be exacerbated when the joint is in a dysfunctional state. Chronic Sacroiliac Joint Syndrome may be effectively treated by spinal manipulative therapy. Spinal manipulative therapy is professed to have four therapeutic effects – mechanical correction, pain reducing effects, circulatory increase and neurobiologic effects. Similarly, Kinesio Tex® Tape therapy is professed to have comparable therapeutic effects – circulatory increase, pain reduction and stimulation of proprioceptive systems. Spinal manipulative therapy and Kinesio Tex® Tape therapy may, therefore, have similar therapeutic effects which, if used in adjunction, may produce enhanced therapeutic effects and accelerated results regarding reduction of symptoms in patients with chronic Sacroiliac Joint Syndrome. This investigation aimed to determine whether Kinesio ® Taping methods would have any relative effect on the Sacroiliac Joint, and whether it would be appropriate to use as an adjunct to spinal manipulative therapy in the treatment of chronic Sacroiliac Joint Syndrome. The study was a prospective stratified clinical trial with three intervention groups, twenty participants in each (n = 60). All participants were 18-50 years of age and suffering from chronic Sacroiliac Joint Syndrome. Subjective measurements included the Numerical Rating Scale and Oswestry Low Back Pain Disability Index. Objective measurements included the Algometer Scores. Numerical Rating Scale and Algometer measurements were taken before and immediately after treatment at the first consultation and at the second consultation. Oswestry Low Back Pain Disability Index measurements were taken at the first and second consultation. Group One underwent spinal manipulative therapy alone, Group Two underwent Kinesio Tex® Tape therapy alone and Group Three underwent both spinal manipulative therapy and Kinesio Tex® Tape therapy in combination. Comparisons were made using the Unpaired and Paired t-tests. The results for the Inter-group analyses suggested that most comparisons were statistically insignificant (p ≥ 0.05) which indicated that all treatment groups appeared to improve to a similar degree. The results for the Intra-group analyses suggested that most comparisons were statistically significant (p < 0.05) which indicated that Kinesio Tex® Tape therapy was effective as an adjunct to spinal manipulative therapy, however not statistically more or less effective that spinal manipulative therapy or Kinesio Tex® Tape therapy alone. In conclusion, it was found that some differences did occur, however these differences were not sufficient enough to conclude that one treatment was more effective than the other. Further research with a larger sample size, more frequent treatments and follow-ups, a more homogenous stratification of age, ethnic group, gender, side of diagnosis and categorizing participant occupation is needed in order for the power of the study to be amplified and, therefore, any results would carry more weight.

Orientador: João Guilherme Padilha Filho / Coorientador: Luis Gustavo Gosuen Gonçalves Dias / Banca: Elóis dos Santos Portugal / Banca: Paola Castro Moraes / Banca: Gustavo Garkalns de Souza Oliveira / Banca: Fabrício Singaretti de Oliveira / Resumo: O presente estudo teve como objetivo avaliar, clínica e radiograficamente a utilização de cunha de osso alógeno córtico-esponjoso liofilizada e esterilizada em raio gama, obtida de banco de ossos, implantada como espaçador na TTA modificada em 16 joelhos de 15 cães com diagnóstico clínico de doença do ligamento cruzado cranial. Os pacientes foram submetidos a radiografias e avaliação da locomoção previamente ao procedimento cirúrgico. No pós-operatório, as avaliações foram realizadas imediatamente após a cirurgia e aos 30, 60, 90 e 120 dias. A ferida cirúrgica foi avaliada quanto a sinais de infecção e rejeição do implante ósseo. Locomoção foi graduada em escores 0-5, sendo 0: paciente clinicamente saudável e 5: impotência funcional do membro. As interfaces corpo da tíbiaimplanteósseo-crista tibial foram avaliadas radiograficamente em escores de 0-3 cada interface, sendo 0: nenhum contato entre implante e osso adjacente e 3 ponte óssea em toda extensão da interface. Os pacientes apresentaram boa recuperação clínica e radiográfica. A utilização dos espaçadores ósseos para TTAm oriundos de banco de ossos apresentou praticidade e comodidade em termos de armazenamento e transporte dos ossos. O espaçador ósseo liofilizado permitiu execução rápida e satisfatória da TTAm, apresentando resistência à perfuração e fixação com parafusos em 87,5 % dos casos (14, n=16) e tempo cirúrgico médio de 45,9 minutos. Não se observou reações imunogênicas com consequências clínicas em 93,7% dos cas... (Resumo completo, clicar acesso eletrônico abaixo) / Abstract: This study proposed to use wedge of lyophilized corticocancellous bone and sterilized by gamma ray, obtained from bone bank, as a spacer device in TTA modified in 16 knees of 15 dogs with cranial cruciate ligament disease. Animals were submitted to radiographic and gait assessments preoperatively,early postoperatively and following 30, 60, 90 and 120 days. The surgical wound was evaluated for signs of infection and rejection of the bone implant. Locomotion was graded 0-5, with 0: clinically healthy patient and 5: limb functional impotence. As tibial-tibial-implant-tibial crest interfaces were evaluated radiographically in scores of 0-3 each interface, being 0: no contact between implant and adjacent bone and 3 bone bridge throughout the interface. All animals exhibited good clinical outcome.. The use of bone grafts from bone bank was practical and convenient in terms of grafts storage and transportation. Freeze-dried bone graft allowed rapid and satisfactory execution of modified TTA, presenting resistance to drilling and screw fixation in 87.5% of cases (14, n = 16) and mean time of procedures 45.9 minutes. Immunogenic responses with clinical consequences wasn't observed in 93.7% of cases. One patient (n = 16) presented infection of surgical focus, with remission of signs after antibiotic therapy. It was possible to verify functional recovery of the limb in all patients, being observed at 120 days, more clinically healthy patients in comparison with those claudication (p≤0.05). In all patients, we found the incorporation of the graft to the tibia. Bone union occurred gradually, with the bone union stages observed in radiographs at 60, 90 and 120 days significantly higher (p <0.05) than those observed at 30 days and immediately after surgery. Based on the data of this research it was possible to conclude that the lyophilized bo... (Complete abstract click electronic access below) / Doutor

published_or_final_version / Dental Surgery / Master / Master of Dental Surgery

A dissertation presented to the Faculty of Health Sciences at the Durban University of Technology in partial compliance with the requirements for the Master’s Degree in Technology: Chiropractic, 2009 / Introduction: The aetiology of Temporomandibular Joint Dysfunction (TMJD) is not fully understood and the treatment of TMJD is controversial. Most treatment plans are based on postulated aetiology. Treatment plans currently range from pharmacological to surgical and occasionally physical therapy is also used for any myofascial component. Myofacial Trigger Points (MFTP’s) in the head and neck region have similar pain referral patterns as TMJD and there is overlap in aetiology and epidemiology. If correlation can be proved to exist between the severities of TMJD and MFTP’s then the treatment of MFTP’s can potentially decrease the severity of TMJD and then the more radical treatments can be avoided. Objectives: To determine whether TMJD was present and establish severity. To locate any MFTP’s in the Sternocleidomastiod (SCM), Temporalis, Masseter, Posterior Cervical (PC), Lateral and Medial Pterygoid muscles and determine their severity. Methods: A random sample of 25 participants were evaluated. A p value <0.05 was considered as statistically significant. Quantitative variables were summarized using median, inter-quartile range and range due to skewness of distribution, while categorical variables were described using frequency distributions and bar charts. Spearman’s nonparametric correlation analysis, and curve estimation were used to determine the existence of a relationship between TMJ severity and MFTP severity. A scatterplot was used to graphically assess the relationship. Conclusion: The results suggested that the participants were actually chronic neck pain suffers that developed TMJD over the long term as a result of chronic neck pain changing the kinematic biomechanics or as a result of a completely different and independent event as suggested by Foreman and Croft (1995).

No description available.