M.Tech.

A dissertation presented in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the Master's Degree in Technology: Chiropractic, Technikon Natal, 1997. / The purpose of this study was to determine the effectiveness of the spinous push versus the transverse process contact rotary type adjustments in the treatment of sub-acute and chronic mechanical upper thoracic and neck pain. It was hypothesized that both adjustments, over a maximum of nine treatments with two treatments per week and a further four week follow-up period, would be effective in terms of improving the patients' cervical ranges of motion, vertebral pressure pain threshold levels and their perceptions of pain and disability. The study design was a randomized, un-blinded, un-controlled comparative group study with a sample population consisting of thirty consecutive patients (Ave. age 35.4 years; M:F 16: 14) suffering from joint dysfunction of the cervical or upper thoracic spine. Each group received one adjustment two times a week for a maximum of nine treatments. Soft tissue therapy was employed in each treatment as a pre-adjustment procedure. The objective data collected was goniometrically assessed cervical range of motion and algometrically assessed vertebral pressure pain thresholds. The subjective data was collected by means of the CMCC Neck Disability, the Short Form McGill Pain and the Numerical Pain Rating Scale-l0 1 Questionnaires. / M

M.Tech.

Mini-dissertation in partial compliance with the requirements for the Masters Degree in Technology: Chiropractic, Durban Institute of Technology, 2005. / According to the recent literature the application of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDS) is the mainstay and first line of conventional treatment for many types of pain, including that of spinal origin (DiPalma and DiGregorio 1994; Dabbs and Lauretti 1995; Koes et al. 1997). NSAID therapy has inherent side effects (Goodman and Simon 1994), however, given the risks involved, they are still of value as an adjunct to spinal manipulation (Crawford 1988), which has been shown to have less side effects and be more effective than conventional NSAIDS (Dabbs and Lauretti 1995; Giles and Müller 1999). A homeopathic alternative to NSAIDS is Traumeel S, it fulfils all the criteria for a locally acting therapeutic medication, with promotion of the natural healing process, and minimum side effects (Zell et al. 1989). A study by Hepburn (2000) compared the relative efficacy of Traumeel S against NSAIDS in the treatment of cervical facet syndrome. Hepburn concluded that there was statistically no difference between the two therapies. It could therefore be inferred that Traumeel S may be a valid alternative to NSAID therapy in the treatment of cervical facet syndrome. This study tested this hypothesis by comparing the effectiveness of spinal manipulation with the concurrent administration of oral Traumeel S against spinal manipulation alone in order to assess the potential benefit of combining Traumeel S with manipulation. / M

M.Tech.

M.Tech. / The primary aim of this investigation was to evaluate the possible effectiveness of a cervical support pillow in combination with cervical spine manipulation versus cervical spine manipulation alone, in the management of cervicogenic headache. The secondary aim of this study was to compare the efficacy of a cervical support pillow (Top Pillow) to the efficacy of the cervical support pillow used by Ross (2002) in the management of cervicogenic headache. During this study, thirty participants were recruited. The participants were divided into three groups of ten each. The three groups received the following treatments over a 3 week period: • Group one only received chiropractic cervical adjustments • Group two received a cervical support pillow and chiropractic cervical adjustments • Group three received only a cervical support pillow. After the treatment was concluded the recorded data was submitted to the staff at STATKON where the data was analysed using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences. The results of the clinical trial revealed that the group that received chiropractic manipulation and the cervical support pillow showed the most significant changes of all three the groups in all planes of cervical range of motion, with all the results being statistically significant. The group that only received chiropractic manipulation also exhibited a significant increase in all planes of cervical range of motion, with only extension not being statistically significant. The group that only received a cervical support pillow, revealed a statistically significant increase in almost all planes of cervical range of motion except for flexion where no increase was noted the increases were, however, still markedly less than those of the former two groups that received chiropractic adjustments to specific restricted motion segments. With regard to perceived pain measured on the Numerical Pain Rating Scale, the two groups that received chiropractic adjustments improved to a much greater degree than the group that only received a cervical support pillow. With regard to Vernon-Mior Neck Pain and Disability Index all three groups had a statistically significant decrease in the perception of disability although the adjustment groups once again showed a much greater decrease in disability than the pillow only group. The already proven benefits that patients with cervicogenic headache receive from chiropractic spinal manipulation, can be successfully supplemented by the use of a cervical support pillow and the top pillow performed better than the pillow used by Ross et al. (2002) in the treatment of cervicogenic headache.

M.Tech.

Thesis (M.S.)--Rutgers University, 2009. / "Graduate Program in Biomedical Engineering." Includes bibliographical references (p. 31-32).

Thesis (MHSc--Health Science) -- Auckland University of Technology, 2004. / Also held in print (199 leaves, col. ill., 30 cm.) in Akoranga Theses Collection. (T 615.82 SIM)

M.Tech.