Abstract
M.Tech. (Chiropractic)
During gait the force transferred through the body is dived between the two lower limbs, according to Kaplan, Barak & Spiel (2012) this force should to be constant and equal with each gait cycle in an asymptomatic individual. In the presence of spinal dysfunction there is an alteration of sensory motor integration as a result of impaired proprioception (Taylor & Murphy, 2007), this altered proprioception may then produce a negative effect on the fore distribution during gait, resulting in abnormal biomechanics and an altered gait pattern. Chiropractic adjustments have been shown to restore normal biomechanics to the spine and in so doing improve proprioception. The purpose of this study was to determine the effects of cervical and lumbar chiropractic adjustments on the force distribution through the lower limbs during gait.
Method: Thirty participants between the ages of 18 and 45 were invited to participate in the study. The details of the study were fully explained to each participant, after which an informed consent form was signed, followed by a full physical examination to determine if the potential participant was eligible for inclusion in the study, and did not have any of the following exclusion criteria. Individuals suffering from any form of mechanical back pain, hip, knee and ankle pathologies, females, and individuals were manipulation was contra-indicated were excluded from the study. A full lumbar or cervical spine examination was then performed in order to test for joint dysfunction. The participants then underwent gait testing after which they then received either a cervical or lumbar spine adjustment to the dysfunctioning joint.
Procedure: The participants received a total of seven chiropractic adjustments with the objective data being recorded on the first, fourth and seventh consultations. The objective data was captured with the Zebris FDM gait analysis system. The system consisted of a 3 meter long sensory platform that is built into the floor, the pressure platform was made up of multiple force sensors arranged in a matrix of columns and rows and was capable of measuring the exact force through each lower limb during gait. The recorded sensory information was transferred to the WinFDM program which then interpreted all the data.