Abstract
M.Tech. (Chiropractic)
This study was undertaken to evaluate the effectiveness of chiropractic treatment of
chronic lower back pain in conjunction with the use of the Cory knee cushion during
sleep as compared with chiropractic treatment alone. The cushion is used in an
attempt to improve sleeping posture. It was proposed that both treatment protocols
would be effective, but that the combined therapy would show better results.
An unblinded, controlled pilot study was conducted. Patients responding to
advertisements were recruited from the general population. Thirty patients who
conformed to the specified criteria and delimitations were accepted into the study and
placed randomly in one of two possible treatment groups. One group received
chiropractic adjustments in conjunction with the use of the Cory knee cushion during
sleep, the other received chiropractic adjustments alone. Comparisons were
performed by means of objective (lumbar spine range of motion) and subjective
(Oswestry Pain and Disability Questionnaire, MCGiIl Pain Questionnaire and Visual
Analogue Scale) assessments over the eight-week treatment period, with comparisons
made at treatments one, four, seven, nine and ten.
The results were recorded and the data was statistically analysed using two-sample ttests,
paired t-tests, sign rank tests and Mann-Whitney tests. The results indicated
that there was a generalised improvement in both of the treatment groups in terms of
lumbar spine range of motion and pain relief. While group one attained a better range
for rotation after the month break, this was an isolated improvement. Under the
circumstances of the research, neither group showed considerably superior results
over the other, as there was no statistically significant difference between the groups.
Thus, the full benefit of sleeping with a cushion between the knees in an attempt to
improve sleeping posture will need additional investigation in order to be of-use as an
adjunct to chiropractic treatment.