Abstract
The aim of this study was to determine whether chiropractic spinal manipulative therapy has a quantifiable effect on the endurance times of the erector spinae and quadratus lumborum muscles in the initial presence of leg length inequality.
Thirty participants were recruited, all of which were between the ages of eighteen and forty-five. Participants needed to present with a leg length inequality. Exclusion criteria included pathology of the joints of the extremities. All the participants had chiropractic spinal manipulative therapy to restricted lumbar/sacroiliac joints.
Participants received treatment twice weekly for three consecutive weeks (i.e. six treatments). On the seventh visit, in the fourth week, no treatment was administered. Objective measurements and subjective leg length inequality checks were performed at visits one and four, prior to treatment, and at visit seven. Objective data was obtained from the Biering-Sørensen test and quadratus lumborum endurance time. Subjective checks determined side of leg length inequality (i.e. short leg) using supine leg check.
The group exhibited an increase in endurance times after administration of chiropractic spinal manipulative therapy. Improvement occurred in the latter part of the data collection indicating a need for long-term treatment. The subgroup, that exhibited a correction to leg length, displayed a greater improvement in quadratus lumborum endurance than that of the group overall.
This study has shown that chiropractic spinal manipulative therapy may be used as a form of treatment to increase muscle endurance times through reduction in muscle hypertonicity. It has also confirmed clinically that when there is a correction to leg length there is a greater improvement in trunk extensor endurance times.
M.Tech. (Chiropractic)