Submitted in partial compliance with the requirements for the Masters’ Degree in Technology: Chiropractic, Durban University of Technology, 2013. / Background: Motor learning theories indicate that training improves motor performance by reducing variability and increasing task control. Elastic tubing and tyre resistance training methods may allow for the development of control over the dynamics of spinal manipulation. This study thus aimed to determine whether training with elastic tubing and tyre resistance, in conjunction with the standard manipulative training at the Durban University of Technology, resulted in the development of control of the dynamics of manipulation compared to training with the standard training alone. Methods: A quantitative, prospective, experimental cohort design was used. Fifty-three participants were randomly allocated into tyre or elastic tubing resistance training intervention groups, or the control group. All groups continued with the standard manipulative training at the Durban University of Technology. The dynamics of manipulation were measured with the Dynadjust pre-, mid- and post-training. The SPSS was utilised to compute the parametric and non-parametric analyses. Results: The results showed no statistically significant differences over time for any of the measured dynamics of manipulation. None of the groups (excluding the control group for S-I manipulation) developed control of the relationships between the dynamics. Overall, there was no difference between the groups with regards to development of control of the dynamics. Conclusion: The results suggest that the additional training methods, should be carefully considered when employed over a short term. Study limitations include the sample size and the effect of outliers, therefore any firm conclusions drawn from this study are required to be interpreted with caution.

Darbo tikslas: Įvertinti asmenų, patyrusių C4-C7 nugaros smegenų kaklinės dalies pažeidimą, savarankiškumo bei vežimėlio valdymo įgūdžių kaitą ir juos įtakojančius veiksnius velyvuoju reabilitacijos laikotarpiu. Metodika. Tyrime dalyvavo asmenys, patyrę kaklinės dalies nugaros smegenų pažeidimą, vėlyvuoju reabilitacijos laikotarpiu Valakupių reabilitacijos centre dalyvavę šiame centre organizuojamoje Savarankiškumo įgūdžių ugdymo programoje. Testuojant siekiama įvertinti Savarankiškumo įgūdžių ugdymo programos efektyvumą šiems asmenims. Pagal nugaros smegenų pažeidimus, asmenys suskirstyti į patyrusius: C5 ir aukštesnio segmento pažeidimus, С6 segmento pažeidimus, С7 segmento pažeidimus. Tiriamieji vertinti programos pradžioje ir pabaigoje vertinant jų funkcinį nepriklausomumą Funkcinio nepriklausomumo testu (FNT), taip pat vežimėlio valdymo įgūdžius Vežimėlio valdymo testu. Rezultatai. Programos metu asmenims, patyrusiems kaklinės dalies nugaros smegenų pažeidimą, efektyviai pagerėjo tiek funkcinio savarankiškumo, tiek vežimėlio valdymo įgūdžiai (p<0,05). Funkcinio nepriklausomumo rezultatai prieš ir po programos labai priklausė nuo pažeidimo lygio, pažeidimo gylis šiame tyrime lemiamos įtakos neturėjo. Įvertinus funkcinę būklę nustatyta, kad mažiausia problema šiems asmenims buvo pavalgymas (4,98±1,0), didžiausi sunkumai iškildavo susidūrus su laiptais (1,38±0,49), kitose srityse tiriamieji apsitarnaudavo esant vidutinei ar minimaliai pagalbai. Pagal Vežimėlio valdymo... [toliau žr. visą tekstą] / Thesis subject: Effectiveness of Self-support skills development program in Valakupiai Reabilitation Center for persons with cervical part spinal cord injury. Thesis aim: To evaluate self-support wheelchair manipulation skills development for persons with cervical part spinal cord injury during late rehabilitation stage. Thesis methods: The participants of the study were patients with cervical part spinal cord injury, that participated in Self-support skills development program in Valakupiai Reabilitation Center. The examination was performed in order to evaluate the effectiveness of this program for participants. According to spinal cord injuries, participants were grouped into groups of injured spinal cord cervical segments: C5 or higher, C6 and C7 segments. Participants were assessed using Functional Independence Measure (FIM) to assess their independecy and Wheelchair manipulation test to assess wheelchair manipulation skills in the beginning and in the end of the program. Outcomes: Functional independence and wheelchair manipulation skills statistically significantly improved for participants (p<0,05). Functional independence results were dependent on injured segment, the level of the injury did not influence the results very much. Functional independence results showed, that the least problematic domain for participants was eating (4,98±1,0), the most problematic domain was climbing staircase (1,38±0,49). The hardest task in wheelchair manipulation was safe falling out... [to full text]

In this thesis three circuits are presented that demonstrate the creation and manipulation of various phases over a large bandwidth. Many systems demand the interoperability of various circuit blocks over a large frequency range in order to minimize costs. In addition, the use of low resistivity silicon facilitates a further reduction in costs. The circuits presented in this thesis demonstrate both these key concepts by using the conventional CMOS process in addition to operating over large bandwidths which is ideal for inclusion in any number of standard wireless systems. A new novel balun is proposed that achieves wideband performance through the use of an external compensating capacitor to counter the effects of parasitic capacitances that reduce its effective bandwidth. An input stage common gate amplifier is then used to improve the return loss and provide additional gain. The fabricated active balun using the proposed circuit shows that the device performs with a 7.5 GHz bandwidth. In addition an excellent 16 dB return loss, -5.8 dBm compression point and 12 mW power consumption are also reported. Following this, an inductorless quadrature oscillator is proposed using an artificial resonator composed of conventional OTA circuits in order to increase the tuning range. The measured tuning range was found to be 100 MHz. This circuit demonstrates the ability to use a synthetic resonator circuit as a method of achieving wide tuning. The measured phase noise of -97.7 dBc/Hz is on par with other inductorless oscillators found in literature. Finally a wideband feedback quadrature generator is presented. Existing circuits do not provide a wide frequency of operation and in addition are highly susceptible to variances in component values used. The result is that the fabricated system will not operate at its intended operating frequency. In order to mitigate this problem a RC-CR network was used in conjunction with two variable gain amplifiers that uses a feedback network to actively compensate the amplitude imbalance over a large frequency range. This new design first is of its kind and the resulting circuit is measured to have over a 4 GHz bandwidth while maintaining a +/- 1 dB amplitude balance. / Thesis (Master, Electrical & Computer Engineering) -- Queen's University, 2008-03-28 16:06:33.014

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Thesis (M.Tech.: Chiropractic) -Dept. of Chiropractic, Durban Institute of Technology, 2005 xiii, 117 leaves of pages : ill. / The purpose of this pre-post crossover clinical trial was to investigate the relative effectiveness of the combination of stretching followed by strengthening, versus the combination of strengthening followed by stretching, of the gluteus medius and iliotibial band (ITB), in the rehabilitation of chronic Iliotibial Band Syndrome (ITBS) in long distance runners. The results were based upon subjective and objective clinical findings, as well as effect on running performance.

Thesis (M.Tech.: Chiropractic)-Dept. of Chiropractic, Durban Institute of Technology, 2003 1 v. (various pagings) / Mechanical low back pain is one of the most common clinical disorders that most people seek help for (Painting et al. 1998:110). Epidemiological studies indicate a lifetime prevalence of low back pain ranging from 60 to 80% with an annual incidence of approximately 30% (Mosheni-Bandepi et al., 1998). The Sacroiliac (S.I.) joint is a significant source of pain in patients with chronic low back pain and it therefore warrants further study (Schwarzer et al. 1995:31). S.I. syndrome is defined as pain over the S.I. joint in the region of the posterior superior iliac spine, which may be accompanied by referred pain over the buttock, greater trochanter, groin, posterior thigh, knee, and occasionally to the postero-lateral calf, ankle and foot (Kirkaldy-Willis, 1992:123). Research indicates that there seems to be a correlation between low back pain, more specifically S.I. pain and hip rotation (Ellison et al. 1990, Cibulka et al. 1999, Fairbank et al. 1984). Cibulka et al. (1998) found that patients with lower back pain who were classified as having signs suggestive of S.I. regional pain had significantly more external rotation than internal rotation on the posterior innominate side i.e. side of S.I. dysfunction (approximately a 20 difference). Manipulation is recognised as an effective means of treating mechanical low back pain, with respect to both Lumbar Facet Joint Syndrome and S.I. Joint Syndrome (Assendelft et al. 1992 and Koes et al. 1996). Kirkaldy- Willis (1992:123) states that manipulation is the most certain way of relieving the symptoms of S.I. syndrome. This investigation aimed to determine the effect of a sacroiliac joint manipulation on hip rotation ranges of motion (active and passive motion) in patients with chronic sacroiliac syndrome in terms of objective measures.

Thesis (M.Tech.: Chiropractic) -Dept. of Chiropractic, Durban Institute of Technology, 2002 1 v. (various pagings) / In recent years, sacroiliac syndrome has been widely accepted by many different health professions as one of the major contributors to mechanical low back pain. Manipulation to effect the relief of the condition has thus far proven to be one of the most effective methods. However, comparatively little research has been done on the different forms of physical therapy that can be used in conjunction with a manipulation so as to maximise its effect. This study focussed on the use of ischaemic compression (a well-accepted technique for the treatment of myofascial trigger points) of the gluteus medius muscle.

Thesis (M.Tech.: Chiropractic)--Durban University of Technology, 2009 / Objective: The efficacy of manipulation as compared to placebo in the treatment of two groups of weight trainers with Acromioclavicular (AC) Joint Dysfunction. Methods: Twenty patients (n=20), using randomised sampling were allocated to two intervention groups. Patients in each group received four treatments each over a two-week period and assessed at initial, one week, two weeks and one month follow ups. Objective measures included Algometer and Inclinometer readings. Numerical Pain Rating Scales (NRS), Shoulder Rating Questionnaire (SRQ) and the Shoulder Pain and Disability Index (SPADI) measured subjective outcomes. Results: Manipulation demonstrated significant improvement in objective findings. Subjective outcomes did not show significant difference between the manipulation and placebo groups. Conclusion: Manipulation, when compared to placebo, can be considered as an effective treatment intervention for the treatment of AC joint dysfunction with particular reference to objective outcomes. Although, caution needs to be utilised in accepting this outcome due to limitations in sample size, subjective measure sensitivity and specificity as well as the stringency of the inclusion and exclusion criteria.

Submitted in partial compliance with the requirements for the Masters Degree in Technology: Chiropractic at the Durban University of Technology, 2009. / Aim: The aim of the study was to assess the effect of a single versus multiple cervical spine manipulations, over a two week period, on peak torque of the rotator cuff muscles utilizing the Cybex Orthotron II Isokinetic Rehabilitation System. This study was a pre and post experimental investigation. Method: Forty asymptomatic (in terms of neck and shoulder pain) male chiropractic students were stratified into two equal groups of twenty subjects to ensure that each group consisted of an equal number of subjects from each year of study. All subjects underwent a familiarisation session on the Cybex Orthotron II Isokinetic Rehabilitation System. Group One received a single manipulation. Rotator cuff peak torque was measured pre-manipulation, immediately post manipulation and at a two-week follow up. Group Two received four manipulations over a two week period. Rotator cuff peak torque was measured pre and immediately post the first manipulation. A third rotator cuff peak torque measurement was taken two weeks after the first manipulation. Results: There was no statistically significant effect of a single or multiple manipulations on rotator cuff peak torque (abduction, adduction, internal rotation and external rotation). Inter-group analysis revealed a trend of an effect for abduction as the single manipulation increased at the two-week follow up and the multiple manipulation group decreased; however, this was not statistically significant. Conclusion: No statistically significant results were found possibly due to small sample size and the fact that objective measurements were only taken at the beginning and the end of the research processes and not at regular intervals throughout the study.Further studies are needed to determine the effects of multiple manipulations on peripheral muscle activity, including the treatment of symptomatic patients with rotator cuff pathology. It is also recommended that EMG readings be done in conjunction with peak torque measures to determine muscle activity.