Abstract
M.Tech.
Purpose: Mechanical neck pain is the most common type of cervical spine pain
encountered. It is also referred to as simple or non-specific neck pain, and is common in all
groups of people. Often the exact cause of the pain is unknown. Neck pain, although felt in
the neck, can be caused by numerous spinal problems. Neck pain may arise due to
muscular tightness in both the neck and upper back, or due to entrapment of nerves of the
cervical vertebrae. Joint dysfunction in the cervical or upper thoracic spine may also cause
neck pain (Binder, 2007). The purpose of the study was to determine the effectiveness of
either chiropractic spinal manipulation or grade one mobilization of the cervical spine, with
regards to cervical spine range of motion, and local skin temperature. This will enable
chiropractors an additional aid of determining musculoskeletal dysfunction and an objective
tool used to show the patient the effectiveness of the respective treatment.
Method: One hundred participants meeting the inclusion and exclusion criteria were
systematically divided into two equal groups of fifty participants each. Each participant was
assessed and treated once. The participants were between the ages of eighteen to forty
years. Group one received spinal manipulative therapy to their cervical spine where as
group two received a grade one mobilization to their cervical spine.
Procedure: Each participant only received one treatment. Objective data was taken both
pre and post treatment. Objective data consisted of cervical range of motion readings
taken using a Cervical Range of Motion measuring instrument (CROM) as well as a
thermal imager to assess the local skin temperature. Depending on the participants group,
either cervical spine manipulative therapy or grade one mobilization was applied to the
cervical spine restrictions which were identified during motion palpation.
Results: With regards to cervical spine range of motion there was a clinically significant
difference in all motions in both groups after treatment, as well as a statistically significant
difference in all motions except flexion in the mobilization group. With regards to local skin
temperature the manipulation group decreased superficial skin temperature over the
cervical spine, where as the mobilization group increased the temperature over the
posterior cervical spine, although only the manipulation group showed a statistically
significant difference.