| Objective: The purpose of this study was to explore the ability of senior students within a chiropractic educational setting to apply a scholarly approach to identifying and describing myofascial trigger points and mechanical low back pain. Clinical features: 6 patients with a median age of 21 years consulted the RMIT University chiropractic teaching clinics with uncomplicated subacute mechanical low back pain and were treated with spinal manipulation and trigger point therapy. Intervention and Outcomes: All cases were assessed for change in the prevalence of trigger points by the Specified Myofascial Trigger Point Count (SMTPC). Low back pain and functional disability were evaluated using the Modified Oswestry Questionnaire, Quadruple Visual Analogue Scale (QVAS) and the Modified-Modified Schober’s Technique. Monitoring was completed prior to commencement of therapy and after 6 treatments provided on a weekly basis. Spinal manipulative therapy included high-velocity, low-amplitude chiropractic adjustments to areas of joint dysfunction and myofascial trigger point therapy in the form of static digital compression. For the majority of the cases there was improvement in pain and the level of disability, lumbar spine flexibility and reduction in the number of myofascial trigger points. Conclusion: It would appear from this case series that in the context of a chiropractic educational setting senior students are able to apply a scholarly approach to identifying and describing myofascial trigger points and mechanical low back pain. Supporting this statement are the principle findings of the observed changes in the outcome measures utilised and myofascial trigger points examined. This abstract is reproduced with the permission of the publisher. Full text (print only) available by subscription.
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