M.Tech. (Chiropractic) / Purpose: The effectiveness of cervical spine adjustments for improving spinal function and relieving pain has been well established. However, the mechanisms responsible for these changes after spinal adjustments are still being researched. Further scientific evidence regarding the neurological and physiological effects following spinal adjustments is warranted. Evidence suggesting that spinal dysfunction has an effect on central neural processing is growing. A number of palpation from the first to the sixth visit. The seventh visit consisted of gathering data only. Results: Clinical and statistical improvements in the entire group were shown over the course of the treatment with regards to cervical spine range of motion, touch pressure threshold and neck pain and disability. Conclusion: The results show that lower cervical spine adjustments do have an effect on touch pressure threshold, cervical spine range of motion and neck pain and disability in patients with chronic cervical facet syndrome. Touch pressure threshold returned to optimal function, cervical spine range of motion increased and neck pain and disability decreased in all participants over time. authors have suggested that spinal dysfunction may lead to altered sensory input to the central nervous system (Murphy and Taylor, 2008). Aim: The aim of this study was to determine the effect of C6, C7 and T1 spinal adjustment therapy on those individuals with posterior neck pain due to chronic cervical facet syndrome and its influence on touch pressure threshold, neck pain and disability as well as cervical spine range of motion. Method: This study consisted of a single group of thirty participants between the ages of eighteen and fourty-five. The potential participants were examined and accepted according to the inclusion and exclusion criteria. The only method of treatment administered to each participant was cervical spine adjustments delivered to restricted C6, C7 and Tl segments in the lower cervical spine. Subjective and objective findings followed. Procedure: Treatment consisted of seven visits. Subjective and objective data was taken at the first, fourth and seventh visit. Objective data consisted of cervical spine range of motion readings taken using a Cervical Range of Motion measuring instrument (CROM), and touch pressure threshold results obtained via the Semmes Weinstein monofilaments. Subjective data was taken in the form of a Vernon Mior Neck Pain and Disability Index. Cervical spine adjustments were applied to restricted segments in the lower cervical spine (C6, C7, Tl), identified through motion

M.Tech. / Purpose: The cervical facet joints have attracted relatively little attention as possible sources of neck pain and referred pain. Multiple authors have described the management of cervical facet joint pain but not the cause (Manchikanti et al., 2002). Method: This study consisted of one group of 100 participants. The participants were between the ages of 18 and 40 years. Potential participants were examined and accepted based on the inclusion and exclusion criteria. All the participants received a cervical spine adjustment. Objective and subjective readings were taken. Procedure: The participants were seen only once. The Visual Analogue Scale was completed by each participant before treatment. Algometer readings were taken over the most restricted cervical spine facet joint and cervical spine range of motion (CROM) machine readings were taken measuring the ranges of motion of the cervical spine. The participants received an adjustment to the most restricted cervical spine facet joint as determined by motion palpation. The CROM machine and algometer readings were taken again immediately after the adjustment and the algometer readings were taken again 10 minutes later. Results: In terms of subjective measurements based on the Visual Analogue Scale, all participants experienced clinically significant pain before starting the trial.In terms of objective measurements based on algometer readings, a clinically significant difference was found as the pressure pain threshold increases over a period of time. In terms of the CROM machine readings there was a clinical improvement from the pretreatment ranges of motion to the post-treatment ranges of motion. The algometer and CROM readings were statistically incomparable to begin with. Conclusion: The results proved that there was a statistical significant noted immediately after the adjustment and 10 minutes later, however, this does not mean much as thegroups were not comparable to begin with. A statistically significant difference was noted for all ranges of cervical spine motion (flexion, extension, right and left lateral flexion and rotation), thus showing that the cervical spine adjustment was successfully delivered to the restricted segments.

The current study uses the head and neck of giraffe (Giraffa camelopardalis) as a model for tracking the course of evolutionary change. Gould (2002) has argued that there are three main avenues of evolutionary change that result in the genesis of new morphologies. These are phylogenetic constraints, structural or allometric scaling laws of form, and specific unique adaptations. It is well known that the unique characteristic of the giraffe is its extremely long neck and yet, it only has seven cervical vertebrae. To study the neck the vertebral body lengths of different aged giraffes were measured to determine the contribution of the cervical vertebrae to the total vertebral column. The vertebrae of several extant ungulates as well as those of fossil giraffids were used as a comparison with the giraffe. CT scans were used on several giraffe skulls to study the extent of the frontal sinus in the giraffe in an attempt to explain why the giraffe evolved such a large frontal sinus. The vertebral columns and skulls of several ungulates, including the okapi (Okapia johnstoni) were also used to compare with the results obtained from the giraffe. Immunohistochemistry was used to study the medulla and spinal cord sections of the giraffe to determine if the location and size of the nuclei remained unchanged to the basic ungulate or mammalian plan in spite of the unusually long neck, or if this long neck led to changes in the nuclei found in those regions. The results of these stains were all compared to the published literature available. Although more studies need to be conducted on other ungulates to conclusively determine why giraffe have evolved a long neck, overall the results showed that the anatomy giraffe head and neck remained true to the basic mammalian plan, with very little changing in terms of it morphology. The giraffe brain and spinal cord also resembled that of a typical ungulate. This leads to the conclusion that constraints and allometric scaling laws of form play a greater role than previously thought in the evolution of extreme morphologies.

O objetivo neste estudo foi avaliar a possível relação entre os estágios de maturidade óssea avaliados em radiografias de mão e punho e das vértebras cervicais em telerradiografias em norma lateral, em indivíduos com idade média de 13 anos e 6 meses e desvio padrão de 2 anos e 3 meses (variando de 8 anos e 6 meses a 16 anos e 11 meses). A casuística foi composta por 209 conjuntos radiográficos (radiografias de mão e punho e telerradiografias em norma lateral) tomados na mesma data para cada indivíduo . Dois avaliadores, devidamente treinados e calibrados classificaram por estágios de maturidade óssea todas as radiografias, as de mão e punho segundo Helm et al, e a avaliação das vértebras cervicais nas telerradiografias em norma lateral, segundo O’Reilly e Yaniello (1988) e Baccetti, Franchi e McNamara (2002). Considerando a classificacão de Helm et al (1971) como padrão áureo, teste de correlação de Spearman foi aplicado para verificar relação com os dois métodos que avaliam as vértebras cervicais. Os resultados indicam que houve forte correlação entre os métodos de avaliação das vértebras cervicais e de mão e punho (Rs= 0,906 para O’Reilly e Yaniello(1988) e Helm et al. (1971) e Rs= 0,889 para Baccetti, Franchi e McNamara Jr (2002) e Helm et al. (1971), para todos p<0,001). A análise estatística descritiva indicou que houve maior número de ocorrências concordantes na identificação do início e do pico máximo do surto. Com base nesses resultados pode-se concluir que a avaliação da maturidade óssea pelas vértebras cervicais oferece confiabilidade para a identificação do início e pico do surto de crescimento puberal, mas não para a identificação dos estágios na fase descendente, portanto, continuar usando a radiografia de mão e punho ainda se faz imprescindível quando é necessária a identificação de algum potencial de crescimento restante . / The purpose of this study was to evaluate the possible relationship between the stages of skeletal maturation analyzed by means of hand-wrist radiography and cervical vertebrae in lateral cephalograms, from individuals with mean age of 13 years and 6 months, S.D. 2 years and 3 months (ranging from 8 years and 6 months to 16 years and 11 months). The sample was composed by 209 radiography sets (hand-wrist radiography and lateral cephalograms) taken in the same date for each individual. Two investigators, properly trained and calibrated, classified all the hand-wrist radiography relating them to the skeletal maturation according to Helm et al. The cervical vertebrae evaluation was performed in lateral cephalograms by means of the O'Reilly and Yaniello and Baccetti, Franchi and McNamara method. Considering the classification of Helm et al as “gold standard’, Spearman test correlation was applied to verify relationship with the two methods that evaluate the cervical vertebrae. The results indicated that there was strong correlation among the methods of evaluation of the cervical vertebrae and hand-wrist radiography (Rs =0,906 for O'Reilly and Yaniello and Helm et al and Rs = 0,889 for Baccetti et al and Helm et al, for all p <0,001). The descriptive statistical analysis indicated that there was larger number of concordant occurrences in the identification of the onset and maximum peak of the adolescent growth spurt. Based on these results, it can be concluded that the evaluation of the skeletal maturation by means of the cervical vertebrae method can offer reliability only for the identification of the onset and peak of adolescent growth spurt. Thus, is still indispensable to continue using the hand-wrist radiography when it is necessary the identification of some potential remaining growth.

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Thesis (PhD) - Swinburne University of Technology, Faculty of Engineering and Industrial Sciences, 2009. / A thesis submitted for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy, Faculty of Engineering and Industrial Sciences, Swinburne University of Technology, 2009. Typescript. "February 2009". Includes bibliographical references (p. 291-313)

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Washington, 2002. / Vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 120-128).

Thesis (M.CM)--Hong Kong Baptist University, 2006. / Dissertation submitted to the School of Chinese Medicine. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 31-38).

Thesis (M.CM)--Hong Kong Baptist University, 2006. / Dissertation submitted to the School of Chinese Medicine. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 29-31).

Thesis (M.Ost.)--Unitec New Zealand, 2008. / Coda (electronic version) title-page has 2009 date. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 38-47).