Abstract
M.Tech.
Purpose: The cervical facet joints have attracted relatively little attention as possible
sources of neck pain and referred pain. Multiple authors have described the management
of cervical facet joint pain but not the cause (Manchikanti et al., 2002).
Method: This study consisted of one group of 100 participants. The participants were
between the ages of 18 and 40 years. Potential participants were examined and accepted
based on the inclusion and exclusion criteria. All the participants received a cervical spine
adjustment. Objective and subjective readings were taken.
Procedure: The participants were seen only once. The Visual Analogue Scale was
completed by each participant before treatment. Algometer readings were taken over
the most restricted cervical spine facet joint and cervical spine range of motion (CROM)
machine readings were taken measuring the ranges of motion of the cervical spine. The
participants received an adjustment to the most restricted cervical spine facet joint as
determined by motion palpation. The CROM machine and algometer readings were taken
again immediately after the adjustment and the algometer readings were taken again 10
minutes later.
Results: In terms of subjective measurements based on the Visual Analogue Scale, all
participants experienced clinically significant pain before starting the trial.In terms of objective measurements based on algometer readings, a clinically significant
difference was found as the pressure pain threshold increases over a period of time. In
terms of the CROM machine readings there was a clinical improvement from the pretreatment
ranges of motion to the post-treatment ranges of motion. The algometer and
CROM readings were statistically incomparable to begin with.
Conclusion: The results proved that there was a statistical significant noted immediately
after the adjustment and 10 minutes later, however, this does not mean much as thegroups
were not comparable to begin with. A statistically significant difference was noted for
all ranges of cervical spine motion (flexion, extension, right and left lateral flexion and
rotation), thus showing that the cervical spine adjustment was successfully delivered to the
restricted segments.