Abstract
Abstract : OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to determine the long-term effect of chiropractic cervical spine manipulative therapy and instrument-assisted Functional and Kinetic Treatment and Rehabilitation (FAKTR) individually versus a combination therapy of chiropractic cervical spine manipulative therapy with FAKTR in the management of chronic mechanical cervical spine pain. STUDY DESIGN: This study was a randomised clinical study that consisted of 30 participants, all of whom had chronic mechanical neck pain. SETTING: University of Johannesburg, Chiropractic Day Clinic, Johannesburg, South Africa. SUBJECTS: The participants were divided into three equal groups of 10 participants each. Group 1 received chiropractic cervical spine manipulation to the restricted segments, group 2 received FAKTR on the cervical spine, and group 3 received a combination therapy of chiropractic cervical spine manipulation with FAKTR to the cervical spine. The treatment sessions consisted of six treatments over a three-week period. The seventh session was done to collect objective and subjective data. METHODS: Groups 1 and 3 received diversified chiropractic cervical spine manipulation in a supine position on the chiropractic bed. Groups 2 and 3 received instrument-assisted soft tissue mobilisation using the FAKTR tool as the treatment modality applied to the participant’s cervical spine. The patients were treated in an upright seated posture. The first three treatments were done statically. The last three were done dynamically, using movements that provoked the patient’s chronic neck pain. PROCEDURE: Subjective data collection was taken by means of a Numerical Pain Rating Scale and the Vernon-Mior Neck Disability Index. Objective data was collected using the cervical range of motion device. These ranges of motion included cervical flexion, extension, left and right rotation and left and right lateral flexion. Subjective and objective data collection occurred prior to the treatment on the first and fourth visits as well as on the seventh visit. v RESULTS: Statistical analysis was performed using non-parametric testing. For the intragroup analysis the Friedman and Wilcoxon Signed Rank test was performed and for intergroup analysis, the Kruskal-Wallis test was used. Statistical analysis showed a statistically significant difference for intragroup analysis, but no statistical significance for intergroup analysis was found. Therefore, no treatment protocol proved to be superior. CONCLUSION: The statistical results show that there was no superior treatment protocol for chronic mechanical neck pain. Spinal manipulation, FAKTR and a combination of the above-mentioned have shown a decrease in pain as well as disability. This study has provided the chiropractic profession with three alternative and effective treatment protocols for patients presenting with chronic mechanical neck pain.
M.Tech. (Chiropractic)