Abstract
M.Tech. (Chiropractic)
Purpose: The ankle, foot, tibia, fibula, pelvis and femur are all joints that form part of a
closed kinetic chain throughout gait. Biomechanical principles state any dysfunction may
result in an increased being placed on certain regions of the kinetic chain which result
increased strain being placed on different regions of the same chain. The sacroiliac joints
relieve stress resulting from ‘force–motion’ relationships between lower extremities and the
trunk which include gait. Increased tension placed on the sacroiliac joints may dysfunction
of which potentially maximises the amount strain being placed on the lower extremities as
a result changes take place along the chain which hinder a joints ability to function and
thus gait anomalies may occur. Abnormal gait patterns such as waddling gait and a
Trendelenburg sign which is found to be positive (inability of pelvic stabilisation in the
horizontal plane), are found to be associated with sacroiliac joint dysfunction. Chiropractic
manipulation may be utilised in the treatment of sacroiliac joint dysfunction. No research
has been conducted to establish the long term effect of chiropractic sacroiliac manipulation
on lower limb biomechanics and gait in people diagnosed with sacroiliac syndrome. The
aim of this study was to determine whether a sacroiliac joint manipulation had an effect on
gait by looking at gait parameters using the Zebris FDM analysis system.
Method: Thirty five participants between the ages of 18 and 45 years were recruited. The
participants were required to sign an informed consent form. A thorough history and
physical examination was performed to ensure that participants did not have any disease
or pathology that may have excluded them from the study. In order to be part of the
inclusion criteria, five participants had to be asymptomatic and thirty participants had to be
diagnosed with sacroiliac joint syndrome using specific diagnostic criteria. A measurement
using the Zebris FDM gait analysis system was obtained prior to manipulation on specific
visits in both symptomatic and asymptomatic participants (asymptomatic participants did
not receive manipulation) as well as completion of the Oswestry Pain and Disability
Questionnaire as well as the Numerical Pain Rating Scale which provided subjective data
in the study...