The effect of the cervical spine adjustment on quadriceps muscle strength

M.Tech. (Chiropractic)The aim of this research study was to determine whether the adjustment of the cervical spine, specifically the atlanto-occipital joint, resulted in an increase in quadriceps muscle strength. Patients were recruited in response to advertisements placed in and around Technikon Witwatersrand (TWR), Doornfontein Campus. One hundred patients were included in the research (N=l00). The patients were then randomly divided into a treatment/adjustment group and a control group. Each group consisted of fifty patients. Both groups were then further divided into athletes without pain, athletes with pain, nonathletes without pain and non-athletes with pain. A full cervical spine regional examination was performed on each patient to isolate atlanto-occipital joint dysfunction and to rule out any contra-indications to treatment. The quadriceps muscle strength was measured three times at one-minute intervals in both groups. The treatment/adjustment group was then treated with a single chiropractic adjustment, specifically the superior condyle technique, to the atlanto-occipital joint and the control group rested for one-minute. Three quadriceps muscle strength readings were taken again in both groups. Each patient was treated once. The results from the two groups were then statistically analysed. It was hypothesised that the treatment group would benefit with regard to an increase in quadriceps muscle strength and that the control group would remain unchanged. The objective data was gathered using an isometric force-plate dynamometer and this was used to measure bilateral quadriceps muscle strength in kilograms. The objective data was analysed using Sign Test, Mann-Whitney U Test, One Sample t-Test and Independent Samples t-Test. The results of the study showed that the treatment group benefited with regard to quadriceps muscle strength, while the control group responded negatively and a decrease in quadriceps muscle strength was noted. The group with the greatest increase in quadriceps muscle strength was the non-athletic group with pai