Dissertation in partial compliance with the requirements for a Master's Degree in Technology: Chiropractic, submitted to the Faculty of Health at the Durban University of Technology, 2009. / Although kayaking is an Olympic sport and said to be one of the top ten growth sports in America, relatively little literature has been written on it by sports scientists and there is a paucity of available literature. Previous research has described the effects of spinal manipulation on muscles at distant sites to the joint being manipulated, and there have been trends which have shown a positive increase in strength and in muscle activity at these sites. There has, however, been a lack of literature to show that these positive trends would influence sporting performance in any way. 30 volunteer kayakers, who train and compete on a regular basis, were actively recruited and randomly allocated into one of three groups. Group 1 received manipulation on a fixated cervical segment, group 2 on a non-fixated cervical spine segment, and group 3 received placebo laser to the posterior cervical area. Subjects were then required to complete two 200m sprint tests on a kayak ergometer. Measurements were taken pre and post manipulation and included maximum watts recorded for the duration of the sprint test and time taken to complete 200m. Although no statistically significant results were found between the groups, trends revealed that in group 1, which received spinal manipulation on a fixated joint, there was an increase in the mean peak watts post manipulation, as compared to the placebo and non-fixated groups which showed a decrease in peak watts post manipulation. Group 1 also demonstrated a mean decrease in time taken to complete the second 200m sprint test. Group 2 and 3 again showed an increase in time taken to complete the second sprint test post manipulation. iv It is, therefore, concluded that manipulation of a fixated cervical joint in asymptomatic kayakers results in an increase in performance, although it must be noted that these were only trends and that there was no statistical significance in these results. This research has, furthermore, opened the door to future studies which may test the performance enhancing benefits of competitive sports such as kayaking. / M

Submitted in partial compliance with the requirements for the Masters’ Degree in Technology: Chiropractic, Durban University of Technology, Durban, South Africa, 2016. / Background: Kayaking performance can be improved either through reducing drag of the boat or increasing propulsion (Michael et al., 2009). In order to increase propulsion, biomechanical efficiency is required. The trunk muscles have been highlighted as having an important role in the paddler’s stroke. Due to their relationship with the thoracic spine, dysfunction of the movement of the thoracic vertebrae could negatively impact the ability of the trunk muscles to work effectively. Spinal manipulation is used to restore joint range of motion and this has been shown to have a positive effect on the surrounding muscles. Limited studies have investigated the effect of spinal manipulation on performance outcomes, specifically in paddlers. Objective: To determine the effect of lower thoracic spine manipulation, of T7 - T12 vertebrae, compared to sham laser, on the mean power (watts) of a paddler’s stroke, the time taken (seconds) to paddle a 200m distance and stroke rate (strokes/min). Method: This study was designed as a pre-test, post-test experiment, involving 30 asymptomatic, male paddlers from Durban. Participants were divided into an intervention group, receiving spinal manipulation to the lower thoracic spine between T7 - T12 or a control group receiving sham laser. Participants performed a 200m sprint on a kayak ergometer followed by a timed five minute break, during which, the interventions were administered. This was followed by a second 200m sprint on the kayak ergometer post-intervention. Outcome measures were average power (watts), time taken to paddle a 200m sprint on a kayak ergometer (seconds) and stroke rate (strokes per minute). Conclusion: Lower thoracic spine manipulation did not result in a significant change in average power, time taken to paddle 200m on a kayak ergometer or stroke rate. Future studies are necessary to investigate the trends observed. / M

Dissertation in partial compliance with the requirements for a Master's Degree in Technology: Chiropractic, submitted to the Faculty of Health at the Durban University of Technology, 2009. / Although kayaking is an Olympic sport and said to be one of the top ten growth sports in America, relatively little literature has been written on it by sports scientists and there is a paucity of available literature. Previous research has described the effects of spinal manipulation on muscles at distant sites to the joint being manipulated, and there have been trends which have shown a positive increase in strength and in muscle activity at these sites. There has, however, been a lack of literature to show that these positive trends would influence sporting performance in any way. 30 volunteer kayakers, who train and compete on a regular basis, were actively recruited and randomly allocated into one of three groups. Group 1 received manipulation on a fixated cervical segment, group 2 on a non-fixated cervical spine segment, and group 3 received placebo laser to the posterior cervical area. Subjects were then required to complete two 200m sprint tests on a kayak ergometer. Measurements were taken pre and post manipulation and included maximum watts recorded for the duration of the sprint test and time taken to complete 200m. Although no statistically significant results were found between the groups, trends revealed that in group 1, which received spinal manipulation on a fixated joint, there was an increase in the mean peak watts post manipulation, as compared to the placebo and non-fixated groups which showed a decrease in peak watts post manipulation. Group 1 also demonstrated a mean decrease in time taken to complete the second 200m sprint test. Group 2 and 3 again showed an increase in time taken to complete the second sprint test post manipulation. iv It is, therefore, concluded that manipulation of a fixated cervical joint in asymptomatic kayakers results in an increase in performance, although it must be noted that these were only trends and that there was no statistical significance in these results. This research has, furthermore, opened the door to future studies which may test the performance enhancing benefits of competitive sports such as kayaking.