Abstract
M.Tech. (Chiropractic)
Purpose: The aim of the study was to compile a case series describing the medium- term effect of cervical manipulation on quantitative electroencephalogram (qEEG) readings over multiple chiropractic manipulations.
Method: A descriptive design was used to perform this study. One group, which consisted of 10 participants, contributed to this study to detect if a cervical manipulation may have an influence on brainwave activity over a period of time (and therefore qEEG readings). The study took place in the UJ Chiropractic Day Clinic on the Doornfontein Campus. The participants were manipulated once a week for three consecutive weeks. As qEEG readings are easily influenced by external stimuli, the participants were in a room with minimal stimulation. Each participant’s brainwaves were recorded with two-minutes eyes open and two-minutes eyes closed. They then received a cervical spine manipulation to restricted vertebrae followed with another two-minute eyes open and two-minute eyes closed intervals. Only the theta (slow waves) and beta (fast waves) values were converted into numerical values and were used to describe potential changes.
Results: The frontal lobe presented the most varied readings throughout the three visits and the parietal lobe revealed the most active changes. Findings of particular interest in this study were evident in older participants and a single participant with peripheral complications.
Conclusion: This study was done to describe the effect cervical manipulation has on qEEG (not a particular increase or decrease) in ten participants. It was shown that post-cervical manipulation over a medium - term theta and beta waves of all lobes demonstrated change. Further investigation is necessary in order to offer evidence on how and why a chiropractic manipulation may have an effect on qEEG as well as what the implications could mean.