The specific aims were to a) increase knowledge and understanding of women's experiences of post-menopause and b) to identify common elements and themes women experience in this particular life phase. Data were collected via open-ended semi-structured interviews between 40 and 70 minutes, with post-menopausal women. Twelve women, aged between 52 and 71 years of age, living in the Melbourne metropolitan area, volunteered to participate in this study. Audio recordings of the interviews were transcribed, and transcripts were analysed and interpreted, looking for any emerging patterns, differences, similarities, and common understandings that occurred in each woman's experience in post-menopause. Four common themes emerged: 1) Expectations of post-menopause, 2) Reality of post-menopause 3) Expectations and reality of ageing and 4) Overall, feeling better with greater freedom. This minor thesis was written by a post-graduate student as part of the requirements of the Master of Health Science (Osteopathy) program.

Patient rehabilitation advice (PRA) is commonly used amongst a variety of health care practitioners to aid and enhance the recovery of their patients. Research has demonstrated a positive relationship between the level of adherence to PRA recovery from a variety of musculoskeletal conditions, and has shown non-compliance to home-based exercise programs reduces the probability of successful outcome for therapeutic intervention. No previous research has focused on compliance to prescription and methods of prescription used in the osteopathic medicine setting. As exercise has shown to augment treatment efficacy and speed of recovery, it is important that osteopaths are informed of the current likely adherence rate to PRA and all factors that may cause non-compliance to their exercise prescription. The overall compliance rate to PRA at VUOMC is comparable with previous studies, with the use of diagrams being the least utilised but most effective method of prescription in the VUOMC setting. This study provides a basis for understanding exercise prescription implications that are important both to osteopaths and osteopathic patients in enhancing treatment results in terms of speed and efficacy, as well as potentially reducing treatment costs to both patients and third party payers. This minor thesis was written by a post-graduate student as part of the requirements of the Master of Health Science (Osteopathy) program.

This study investigated the effects of rapid articulation on multiple levels of the costovertebral joints, using a rapid rib raising technique. The research was conducted as a randomised, cross-over, blinded, placebo controlled study. Thirty asymptomatic participants attended three sessions over a three week period. Measures of sympathetic output included blood pressure, heart rate, respiratory rate and pain pressure threshold and were recorded at the end of each rest and intervention period. There was a significant increase in respiration rate after rapid articulation when compared to placebo and control groups. No other measures showed significant change. A rapid rib raising technique, when specifically targeting the sympathetic nervous supply of the lungs, creates an increase in respiration rate, and does not have a significant effect on heart rate, blood pressure or pain pressure threshold. This minor thesis was written by a post-graduate student as part of the requirements of the Master of Health Science (Osteopathy) program.

There is little research available on the effects of peripheral joint manipulation. Only a few studies have examined the effect of manipulation on ankle range of motion, with conflicting results. This study aimed to determine whether a single high-velocity, low amplitude (HVLA) thrust manipulation to the talocrural joint altered ankle range of motion in subjects with a history of lateral ligament sprain. Male and female volunteers with a history of lateral ligament sprain were randomly assigned into either an experimental group or a control group. Those in the experimental group received a single HVLA thrust to the talo-crural joint, whilst those in the control group received no treatment intervention. Pre-test and post-test measurements of passive dorisflexion range of motion were taken. No significant changes in dorisflexion range of motion were detected between manipulated ankles and those of control subjects using dependent and independent t-tests. Ankles that cavitated displayed a greater mean DFR and large effect size compared to those that did not gap and cavitate, but analysis with ANOVA revealed these differences to be not significant. HVLA manipulation of the ankle did not increase dorisflexion range of motion in subjects with a history of lateral ligament sprain. This minor thesis was written by a post-graduate student as part of the requirements of the Master of Health Science (Osteopathy) program.

The aim of this study was to investigate the influence of osteopathic palpatory examination on sympathetic nervous system function. Fourteen participants (6 male and 8 female volunteers, age range 20-23 years) completed this study. An osteopathic screening examination of the thoracic spine, involving the assessment of the active, passive, active resisted and accessory ranges of motion and palpation of adjacent soft tissues. The placebo condition involved the examiner standing behind the seated participant. The examiner placed their hands on the participant's thoracic spine for a period of 5 minutes. The control condition involved examiner standing behind the seated participant with no physical contact between them. This was maintained for a period of 5 minutes. Examination condition produced a statistically significant 6.8% decrease in skin conductance. Control and placebo conditions did not produce a significant change in skin conductance. Systolic and diastolic blood pressure and heart rate did not change significantly following the examination, control or placebo conditions. Osteopathic palpatory examination of the thoracic spine influences sympathetic nervous system function, significantly reducing electrical skin conductance. This minor thesis was written by a post-graduate student as part of the requirements of the Master of Health Science (Osteopathy) program.

Mobilisation is a commonly used technique by osteopaths however there is little evidence to support its efficacy in the treatment of the thoracic spine. This study examined the effect of a single mobilisation (seated extension articulation) intervention in an asymptomatic population. Volunteers were randomly allocated into either a treatment group or a control group (sham laser acupuncture) and pre-intervention pain pressure threshold (PPT) measurements were taken using a pressure electronic algometer on a single thoracic segment. The treatment group received a single application of mobilisation (thirty seconds) and post intervention PPT measurements recorded. Mobilisation applied to the thoracic spine produced a statistically significant increase in PPT while the control group demonstrated no change in PPT. This study supports previous studies that have reported hypoalgesic affects following mobilisation on the cervical and lumbar spine. This minor thesis was written by a post-graduate student as part of the requirements of the Master of Health Science (Osteopathy) program.

Historically, osteopathic diagnosis used concepts such as the osteopathic structural lesion (OSL), or somatic dysfunction. However, these osteopathic concepts are poorly understood by other health professionals. As a result, there has been pressure on the profession to adopt a more "orthodox" style of diagnosis. Unfortunately, osteopaths often deal with dysfunctional, rather than pathological states. In addition, recent research has called into question the validity and reliability of many of the tests commonly used in osteopathic diagnosis. This study investigated how clinicians and teaching staff at Victoria University (VU) currently write diagnoses. Results indicated that most subjects had moved away from traditional osteopathic diagnostic models, and felt it important to identify "tissues causing symptoms", despite the lack of reliability of tests aiming to achieve this. There appeared to be no relationship between years of experience and any change in the way subjects write diagnoses. It was also noted that subjects' opinions differed in many cases from what is actually taught in the course. This raises the question of whether the model taught at VU for writing diagnoses needs to be revised to reflect current research and actual clinical practice. This minor thesis was written by a post-graduate student as part of the requirements of the Master of Health Science (Osteopathy) program.

The efficacy of osteopathic treatments used in acute low back pain (LBP) is largely unknown. The study examined the number of student osteopathic treatments for uncomplicated acute LBP, as well as the specific osteopathic techniques, and combinations of treatments most commonly used. One hundred and ninety nine patient files from the Victoria University (VU) student clinic were examined. The most popular combinations of techniques used were soft tissue (ST) and High Velocity Low Amplitude thrust (HVLA) 10.77%. The most commonly used individual technique was ST, incorporated in 75.4% of all treatments performed. This study illustrated the average number of treatments as well as treatment techniques and the combinations of techniques student osteopaths used in treating acute LBP at the VU student clinic. This minor thesis was written by a post-graduate student as part of the requirements of the Master of Health Science (Osteopathy) program.

This study investigated the effect of lymphatic pump administration on lung function, forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV) and forced vital capacity (FVC) outcomes, in 15 subjects with asthma and 15 subjects without asthma. All 30 subjects performed spirometry testing, followed by the single application of a lymphatic pump technique to the upper chest. Spirometry measurements were again taken immediately after this technique, and then ten and twenty minutes thereafter. No significant changes in FEV or FVC were observed when comparing pre and post treatment measures between asthmatic and non-asthmatic subjects. The application of the lymphatic pump technique was not shown to be beneficial in improving short term lung functions in people with or without asthma. This minor thesis was written by a post-graduate student as part of the requirements of the Master of Health Science (Osteopathy) program.

Previous studies have identified certain factors that influence student's academic performance at university level. These factors have included such things as previous tertiary education, marital status, emotional support, financial support, part time employment, and ENTER or high school leaving results. This study invited all third year students enrolled in the B.Sc (Clinical Sciences) Osteopathy degree at Victoria University in 2003, to participate in a follow up study to previous research that investigated first year students and the factors that influence academic performance. State Trait Anxiety Inventory, Beck Depression Inventory, Life Orientation test, Cope scales, external work hours and job satisfaction were used to determine factors that may affect academic performance and were compared against average exam grades. This study also investigated other possible indicators of stress factors including: hours of part time work, job satisfaction, emotional and financial support and any previous education undertaken which may also influence academic performance. The results of this study showed that ENTER scores, job saticfaction (especially in females), part time work hours and denial of coping provided the strongest correlations with academic performance. High levels of anxiety, depression and the use of non-functional coping mechanisms were not demonstrated to have any correlation with academic performance in this cohort. . Similar results were originally identified in first year students of the same program of study. It is important that universities identify these factors as possible indicators of stress that may adversely affect academic performance. This minor thesis was written by a post-graduate student as part of the requirements of the Master of Health Science (Osteopathy) program.