Abstract
M. Tech.
Purpose: To determine whether there was any improvement in
proprioception by influencing the proprioceptive receptors through either
manual manipulation of the Sacroiliac joint or subjecting the participants
to whole body vibration by means of Powerplate training. A combination of
the two was also used.
Methods: This study included 45 participants divided into 3 groups of
equal size. All participants were symptomatic with regard to Sacroiliac
Joint pain and\or restriction and fell within the different activity categories
according to the Internat ional Physical Activity Questionnaire.
Participants in Group 1 were subjected to Sacroiliac Joint adjustment and
Powerplate training, Group 2’s participants were subjected only to Sacroiliac Joint adjustment, and participants in Group 3 were only asked to
perform training sessions on the Powerplate. The study design consisted
of six consultations with intervention applied at each consultation and
objective readings taken at the beginning, after the 3rd intervention and
after the last intervention. Objective data was obtained by the Biodex
Stability System. The initial effect of the intervention was represented by
the initial Biodex Stability System reading compared to the second
reading, and the short term effect was represented by the initial reading
compared to the Biodex Stability System reading at the end of the six
consultations.
Results: Objective results from comparing intergroup Biodex Overall
Stability Index readings showed that Group 3, the group that received only
Powerplate training, had the most significant ef fect (p=0.016). This was
followed by Group 1 (Powerplate and Chiropractic Spinal Adjustive
therapy) with p=0.098. During intragroup comparison, it was found that
the initial treatment , from the first Biodex reading to the second, had the
biggest effect (p=0.005).
iv
Conclusion: Although the group that only received Powerplate training
showed a significant effect especially with initial treatment, some effect
was also seen at the group that received both Powerplate training and
Chiropractic Spinal Adjustive therapy and the group that only received
Chiropractic Spinal Adjustive therapy. Although there was an initial
worsening of balance between sessions 1 and 2 in the Powerplate group,
the overall effect showed an improvement in balance in this Group.