Chiropractic manipulative therapy and stripping massage of the sternocleidomastoid for the treatment of chronic mechanical neck pain and its effect on head repositioning accuracy

M.Tech. (Chiropractic)The aim of this study was to compare the effects of chiropractic manipulative therapy with and without stripping massage of the sternocleidomastoid, with regards to pain, disability, cervical range of motion and head repositioning accuracy in the treatment of chronic mechanical neck pain. The aim was determined by using the Vernon-Mior Neck Pain and Disability Index, Numerical Pain Rating Scale and the Cervical Range of Motion measuring instrument (CROM).The study consisted of thirty participants that had an equal male to female distribution. An age range was set and individuals had to be between eighteen and fourty. Participants were chosen according to inclusion and exclusion criteria that were set before the study commenced. Treatment received by the participants was dependent on which group they were allocated to. Group One received just chiropractic manipulative therapy to three restricted segments of the cervical spine. Group Two also received chiropractic manipulative therapy to three restricted cervical segments and had stripping massage of both sternocleidomastoid muscles.Treatment consisted of six treatments sessions and with the seventh visit only readings were taken. Treatments were carried out twice weekly so that the treatment time period fell over a three week study period. Participants were asked to complete the subjective data before the first, fourth and seventh visit. Subjective data was gathered by using the following: Numerical Pain Rating Scale and a Vernon-Mior Neck and Pain Disability Index Questionnaire. The objective data that was recorded by the researcher consisted of the cervical range of motion that was gathered by using the Cervical Range of Motion (CROM) machine and the head repositioning accuracy. Participants then received either chiropractic manipulative therapy to the restricted cervical spinal segments or a combination of stripping massage to the sternocleidomastoid muscles as well as chiropractic manipulative therapy, depending on their groupallocation. All data gathered by the researcher and then analysed by a statistician at the University of Johannesburg..