The effect of a chiropractic adjustment with resistance training protocol, compared to a chiropractic adjustment or resistance training protocol alone, on neck strength in cervical facet syndrome

M.Tech. (Chiropractic)Aim: The aim of this study was to determine if a chiropractic adjustment had an effect on muscle strength. The study then aimed to compare the effects a resistance training protocol, to a chiropractic adjustment, to a combination of these two treatments on the neck strength of individuals with cervical facet syndrome. Method: This study consisted of three groups of 10 participants each. The participants were grouped by stratified sampling to balance the groups in terms of age and gender. The participants ranged in age from 22 to 28 years. There were 18 male and 12 female participants. Participants were examined and accepted into the trail according to inclusion and exclusion criteria. Treatment was allocated according to groupings. Group 1 received a resistance training protocol, group 2 received chiropractic adjustment only and group 3 received a combination of both treatments. Procedure: Treatment consisted of 6 treatment sessions and a 7th follow up session, over a three week period. Participants in group 1 and 3 were instructed to perform the demonstrated resistance training protocol 3 times a week for 3 weeks. Participants in group 2 and 3 received chiropractic adjustments to hypomobile cervical spine segments, twice a week for three weeks. Cervical range of motion (CROM) was mesured using a CROM device and strength readings were measured using a hand held isometric dynamometer. Measurements were recorded on the 1st, 4th and 7th visits. All participants were required to fill in a Vernon-Mior Neck Disability Index (NDI) on the 1st and 7th visits. The data collected was analysed by a statistician. Results: Analysis of the Vernon-Mior NDI intra-group results showed that all three groups were effective in reducing cervical pain and disability. There was no statistical difference in improvement between the groups. CROM results indicated that all three groups successfully increased cervical range of motion. The combination group had the greatestimprovement, followed by the adjustment group and lastly the resistance training group. The combination group showed statistical improvements in all ranges of motion at visit 4 while this was only achieved by the resistance training group at visit 7. In the adjustment group statistical changes in flexion, extension and lateral flexion were only noted at visit 7, however in rotation, statistical improvements were noted at visit 4. Isometric dynamometer analysis showed that all 3 groups did show a statistically significant increase in cervical muscle strength. The combination group provided the greatest gains, followed by the adjustment group. The smallest gains were seen in the resistance training group. Statistical changes in the resistance training group were only measured at visit 7, while in the combination and adjustment group, these changes were noted by visit 4. Conclusion: Chiropractic adjustment was effective in increasing neck strength. Of the 3 groups, the combination treatment proved to be the most effective method of improving neck strength in individuals with cervical facet syndrome. Of the two individual treatments, chiropractic adjustment was more effective in terms of both strength gains and time taken to achieve these results, than the resistance training protocol