Abstract
Purpose: The purpose of this study was to establish the effect of ultrasound therapy and upper cervical manipulative therapy as well as the combination thereof on chronic sinusitis.
Method: Thirty participants who suffered from chronic sinusitis as indicated by the Sino-Nasal Outcome Test, participated in this study. Participants were randomly allocated into three equal groups. Group 1 received upper cervical manipulative therapy. Group 2 received ultrasound therapy on the frontal and maxillary sinuses and Group 3 received a combination of ultrasound therapy on the frontal and maxillary sinuses as well as upper cervical manipulative therapy. The study consisted of seven consultations over a three week period, with intervention on the first six consultations and subjective as well as objective data obtained occurred at the first, fourth and seventh consultations. The intervention period for Group 1 consisted of motion palpation of any restriction in the upper cervical spine. Diversified chiropractic techniques were used by the researcher to manipulate the restricted segment. Group 2 received ultrasound therapy on the frontal and maxillary sinuses and Group 3 received a combination of both cervical manipulative therapy as well as ultrasound therapy on the frontal and maxillary sinuses.
Results: The subjective data had a positive average improvement of 74.9 % for Group 1, 68.9 % for Group 2 and 73 % for Group 3. The objective data had a positive average improvement of 34 % for Group 1, 21.9 % for Group 2 and 29.1 % for Group 3.
Conclusion: This research thus proved that ultrasound therapy and upper cervical manipulative therapy as well as the combination thereof did benefit participants with chronic sinusitis. Participants had to receive all six treatments to experience a significant difference in their signs and symptoms.
This research further proved that no treatment protocol was more beneficial than another for the treatment of chronic sinusitis. Therefore, depending on practitioner’s preference of a treatment protocol, all individuals will still benefit from the three treatments tested.