Abstract
M.Tech.
This research study was conducted as an unblinded controlled pilot study.
The aim of this research was to investigate the effects of Chiropractic
adjustive therapy on lower back pain in South African Police Service
(SAPS) operational mounted policemen in Gauteng.
The participants for this research where obtained from the Johannesburg,
East Rand, Vaal Rand and Pretoria SAPS Mounted units. Only male
participants were recruited and placed into one group where they received
Chiropractic adjustive therapy to the restricted Lumbar and Sacroiliac joints.
Thirty participants were treated 6 times over a 3-week period, which
translated to 2 treatments per week. A two day follow-up visit (visit 7) was
conducted to obtain only subjective and objective data, no treatment was
administered. An important part of this study was that the duties of the
participants continued as usual and were not stopped during this trial.
Subjective data was collected using the Oswestry Pain and Disability
Questionnaire. Objective data was collected using lumbar range of motion
(with a Digital Inclinometer) in flexion, extension, lateral flexion and
rotation. All data was collected during the 1st, 4th and 7th visits. Additional
data was collected by enquiring about the saddle type and stirrup length that
the participants used. The data collected was analysed using Maunchly and
Greenhouse Tests for parametric tests and the Friedman and Wilcoxon
Signed Rank Tests for the non-parametric tests.
The results of this study concluded that Chiropractic adjustive therapy was
effective in relieving or completely eliminating the lower back pain of the
participants as well as increasing there lumbar spine range of motion.