Thesis (MHSc--Health Science) -- Auckland University of Technology, 2005. / Also held in print (xvi, 130 leaves, ill., 30 cm.) in Akoranga Theses Collection. (T 613.718 DOM)

Thesis (M.A.)--Ball State University, 2009. / Title from PDF t.p. (viewed on July 12, 2010). Research paper (M.A.), 3 hrs. Includes bibliographical references (p. 31-35).

Thesis (M.S.)--Brock University, 2009. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 76-81).

Thesis (M.Phys.Ed.)--Memorial University of Newfoundland, 2003. / Restricted until October 2004. Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (M.S.)--Humboldt State University, 2007. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 21-24). Also available via Humboldt Digital Scholar.

A dissertation submitted in partial compliance with the requirements for the Master's Diploma in Technikon: Chiropractic, Technikon Natal, 1998. / Mechanical low back pain is a common clinical entity which needs professional treatment (Margo 1994). Due to the nature of mechanical low back pain, recurrence of pain is a common entity that can cripple a patient and the ~tate financially. It is for'this reason that the professionals need to establish a cost effective method of treatment that helps maintain the pain free state and prevent recurrences / M

Dissertation submitted to the Department of Chiropractic in partial compliance with the requirements for the Master’s Degree in Technology: Chiropractic, 2006. / Myofascial pain syndrome (MPS) is defined as the sensory, motor and autonomic symptoms caused by myofascial trigger points (MFTPs), or hyperirritable spots within skeletal muscles that are associated with palpable nodules in a taut band. The fact that MFTPs have been described in the literature for acupuncturists, anaesthesiologists, chronic pain managers, dentists, family practitioners, gynaecologists, neurologists, nurses, orthopaedic surgeons, paediatricians, physical therapists, physiologists, rheumatologists and veterinarians is evidence of the syndrome’s clinical importance. As a result of a large amount of research, a large number of different treatments have been shown to be clinically effective in the treatment of MFTP. These treatments include amongst others: - Ischaemic compression. - Myofascial manipulation. - Spray and stretch. - Ultrasound. - Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation. - Dry needling. As can be seen from the above, it is important to be able to treat MPS effectively because it is such a common disorder. According to Schneider an effective treatment is needed for MPS, despite the array of treatments available to a clinician. Han and Harrison agree that more studies are required to determine the efficacy of these treatments. The aim of this study is to evaluate the relative effectiveness of Myofascial Trigger point Manipulation (MFTPM) as compared to Proprioceptive Neuromuscular Facilitative (PNF) stretching in the treatment of active Myofascial Trigger Points (MFTPs) in the trapezius muscle (TP 1 and/or TP 2) in terms of subjective and objective clinical findings. The study required a total of 60 patients, which following acceptance were then randomly divided into two groups of 30, with an equal number of male patients in Group one (MFTPM) and two (PNF), and female patients in Group one and Group two. Each patient had four consultations (three treatments and one follow up visit) in a two week period. Subjective and Objective Data was recorded at each consultation prior to the treatment. Subjective measurements (Numerical Pain Rating Scale and Short Form McGill Pain Questionnaire) were taken prior to the treatment at all four visits. Objective measurements (Cervical Range of Motion Meter and Algometer) were also taken prior to the treatment at all four visits, except for Algometer readings which were taken at the initial consultation and the fourth treatment only. SPSS version 11.5 was used for analysis of data (SPSS Inc, Chicago, Ill, USA). Baseline comparisons were done between treatment groups using Pearson’s chi square tests or Fisher’s exact tests as appropriate for categorical variables, and student’s t-tests for quantitative normally distributed variables. Treatment effect was assessed with repeated measures ANOVA. A significant time by group interaction indicated a significant differential treatment effect. A p value <0.05 designated statistical significance. The direction of the treatment effect was assessed with profile plots. Evaluation of data collected from both groups showed a significant improvement in terms of objective and subjective clinical findings to a value of p=< 0.001. There was no statistical difference between the two groups in terms of objective and subjective clinical findings, although a trend was shown when looking at the objective findings that suggest that MFTPM was more effective than PNF stretching. The sample population was drawn from a very homogenous group of people (i.e. SARS call centre), in order to achieve greatest emphasis on clinical outcomes. This process however limits the clinical applicability of the results and thus will not always be applicable to all patients within the population. It is therefore the researcher’s conclusion that there is no statistical difference between MFTPM and PNF stretching in terms of objective and subjective clinical findings. Both treatment modalities have been shown to be equally effective in the treatment of subacute active TPs in the upper tarpezius. There is a definite trend when looking at the objective data that may support the hypothesis that MFTPM is as effective as, if not more effective than PNF stretching. It is of the opinion of the author that a larger sample size is needed to make it clinically significant.

Dissertation submitted to the Faculty of Health in partial compliance with the requirements for the Master's Degree in Technology: Chiropractic, Technikon Natal, 2001. / The purpose of this study was to test the Effectiveness of Proprioceptive Neuromuscular Facilitative Stretching combined with administration of Diclofenac compared to Proprioceptive Neuromuscular Facilitative Stretching and placebo medication for the treatment of Cervical Facet Syndrome in a clinical experimental setting. Neck pain is a common disorder, which can often be attributed to mechanical dysfunction of the cervical spine. The patient with facet syndrome may complain of sudden onset of unilateral neck pain, often with referred pain. Muscle spasm is usually present causing restricted movement. Pain increases with movement and is relieved by rest. The pain is aggravated by hyperextension and relieved by flexion and often follows a sclerotomal rather than a dermatomal pattern. Forty subjects with mechanical neck pain were screened for facet syndrome and randomly divided into two groups of twenty. Each patient received Proprioceptive Neuromuscular Facilitative (PNF) stretching of the Posterior Cervical and Trapezius musculature. In conjunction with this, half the patients received Cataflam D while the other half received placebo medication. The patients were treated five times over a period of two weeks. Both groups were evaluated in terms of subjective and objective clinical findings by making use of questionnaires (Numerical Pain Rating Scale 101, Short Form McGill Pain Questionnaire and the CMCC) and algometer and goniometer measurements respectively. The data was collected at the initial, middle and final treatments for each patient. / M

A dissertation submitted in partial compliance with the requirements for a Master's Degree in Technology: Chiropractic, Technikon Natal, 1999. / The purpose of this study is to determine the relative effectiveness of (Contract-Relax- Agonist-Contract) CRAC stretching, a component of Proprioceptive Neuromuscular facilitated (PNF) stretching, as opposed to static stretching in the treatment of active myofascial trigger points of the shoulder girdle and neck muscles. This was a randomised clinical trial consisting of two groups. Group A received static stretching as their treatment protocol and Group B received PNF (CRAC) as their treatment protocol. Each group consisted of fifteen people between the ages of 18 and 55 who were randomly allocated to their respective groups. It is hypothesised that PNF (CRAC) stretching would be relatively more effective than Static stretching in the treatment of active myofascial trigger points of the shoulder girdle and neck muscles. Subjects diagnosed with active myofascial trigger points in the Trapezius, Infraspinatus and Rhomboid muscles were included in the study. The treatment regime consisted of a course of five treatments spread over a period of two weeks and then a one - month follow up consultation. Subjective and objective measurements were taken at the first, fifth and follow up consultations. Subjective data consisted of the Short Form McGill Pain Questionnaire, the CMCC Neck Disability Index and the Numerical Pain Rating Scale -101. The objective data was collected by means of algometer and goniometer measurements. This data was used to perform statistical analysis using the non-parametric Wilcoxin signed-rank test and the Mann Whitney unpaired test to compare intra-group and intergroup data respectively, at a 95% confidence level. This study suggests that both static and PNF (CRAC) stretching are effective in the treatment of active myofascial trigger points. However there is no clinical statistical difference between these two treatments. Further studies with a larger sample size are needed to clearly evaluate the use of stretching in the treatment of active myofascial trigger points. / M

A movimentação escapular é de grande importância para o funcionamento adequado do ombro. Indivíduos com disfunção no ombro apresentam uma diminuição da rotação superior e da inclinação posterior e um aumento da rotação interna da escápula durante a elevação do braço. Vários fatores estão envolvidos na alteração da cinemática escapular. Um deles é o encurtamento do músculo peitoral menor, sendo que indivíduos com comprimento de repouso reduzido desse músculo apresentaram diminuição da inclinação posterior e aumento da rotação interna da escápula durante o movimento do braço. Tal alteração cinemática é similar à apresentada por sujeitos com disfunção do ombro e pode ser um fator de risco para o desenvolvimento de sintomas. Portanto, o objetivo desse estudo foi avaliar a influência de um programa de alongamento da musculatura do aspecto anterior do ombro na cinemática escapular. O sistema eletromagnético de aquisição de dados foi utilizado para avaliar a cinemática escapular pré e pós um programa de alongamento da musculatura do aspecto anterior do ombro. Esse programa foi composto por três repetições de três exercícios de 30 segundos e teve duração de quatro semanas. O modelo linear de efeitos mistos foi utilizado para análise estatística das comparações entre as avaliações pré e pós-programa de alongamento. Não houve diferença estatisticamente significativa entre as avaliações antes e após a intervenção do estudo. Tal resultado sugere que o alongamento sozinho não é capaz de alterar a movimentação escapular, mas pode ser que contribua para o aumento da inclinação posterior se associado com outras intervenções. / The adequate scapular motion is very important to the shoulders function. Subjects with shoulder dysfunction present decreased scapular upward rotation and posterior tilt and increased scapular internal rotation during arm elevation. Many mechanisms are involved in scapular kinematics alteration. One of them is the pectoralis minor muscle shortening. Healthy subjects with relative short pectoralis minor resting length presented decreased upward rotation and increased internal rotation when compared with individuals with relative long resting length of this muscle. Hence, the purpose of this study was to evaluate the influence of the anterior shoulder aspect musculature stretching on scapular kinematics. The electromagnetic tracking device was utilized for kinematics analysis before and after a stretching program of the anterior shoulder aspect musculature. This program was composed by three repetition of three 30 seconds exercises and lasted for four weeks. The linear mixed effects model was used for statistical analysis of the comparison between pre and post stretching program evaluations. There was not a statistically significant difference between the pre and post intervention evaluations, Such outcome suggest that stretching alone cannot alter the scapular motion, but may contribute to the increase in posterior tilt if associates with others interventions.