M.Tech. / It has been reported that the sympathetic nerve fibres coursing with the vertebral arteries may potentially be irritated by cervical pathology such as cervical dysfunction causing vasoconstriction of the vertebro-basilar arterial system leading to an ischaemic state in particular areas in the brain (Wingfield and Gorman, 2000). This arterial insufficiency to the brain has been shown to effect higher level complex brain functions (Terrett, 1995). The purpose of this research was to determine whether atlanto-occipital joint as well as atlanto-axial joint adjustments had an immediate effect on mental rotation ability in individuals with asymptomatic cervical facet joint dysfunction. Sixty male and female asymptomatic patients took part in this study. These patients were recruited by means of word of mouth and through the use of advertisements placed in the University of Johannesburg Chiropractic Day Clinic, Doornfontein Campus. Inclusion criteria required for patients to participate in the study included the patients (both male or female) be between the ages of 18 and 30 years, they presented with an asymptomatic cervical facet joint dysfunction at the atlantooccipital and or atlanto-axial joints, not have had either Chiropractic or any other form of treatment to the cervical spine for at least six days prior to involvement in the study, had normal or corrected to normal vision and no contraindications to cervical adjustments. vi Objective data was collected by means of a mental rotation reaction time test installed on a laptop computer which measured the patients mental rotation reaction time ability in both accuracy and time to complete each test. The objective results demonstrated that there was no statistically significant increase in mental rotation ability following the Chiropractic adjustments. In conclusion, it was shown that Chiropractic adjustments performed on patients presenting with asymptomatic cervical facet joint dysfunction at the atlantooccipital and/or the atlanto-axial joint complexes brought about no improvement in mental rotation ability.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:netd.ac.za/oai:union.ndltd.org:uj/uj:6612 |
| Date | 16 November 2009 |
| Creators | Finberg, Craig Jason |
| Source Sets | South African National ETD Portal |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Thesis |
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