Objective: As part of a randomised clinical trial to determine the efficacy of chiropractic therapy on premenstrual syndrome (PMS), subjects were evaluated for initial underlying spinal dysfunction.
Subjects: Fifty-four subjects with diagnosed PMS (using a Moos PMS questionnaire plus daily symptom monitoring) and 30 subjects with no diagnosable PMS were recruited by newspaper advertising and referrals.
Design: All subjects underwent a full history and physical and chiropractic examination carried out by 1 of 2 fully qualified and registered chiropractors, each with a minimum of 10 years experience. The results of the assessment for the PMS group were compared with those of the non-PMS group.
Setting: RMIT teaching clinics.
Data Analysis: The data collected were entered into a spread sheet and contigency tables were created. The data were analysed by use of chi-squared tests, with the statistical significance being set at P < .05.
Results: The PMS group had a higher percentage of positive responses for each of 12 measured spinal dysfunction indexes except for range of motion of the low back. The indexes where the increase was statistically significant (P < .05) were cervical, thoracic, and low back tenderness, low back orthopedic testing, low back muscle weakness, and the neck disability index. An average of 5.4 of the 12 indexes were positive for the PMS group compared with 3.0 for the non-PMS group. Conclusions: A relatively high incidence of spinal dysfunction exists in PMS sufferers compared with a comparable group of non-PMS sufferers. This is suggestive that spinal dysfunction could be a causative factor in PMS and that chiropractic manipulative therapy may offer an alternative therapeutic approach for PMS sufferers.
Grant Value: $32,566
Chief Investigator: Dr Max Walsh – RMIT
Status: Complete
Publications:
- Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics, Volume 22, Issue 4, May 1999, pages 216 – 220
Walsh MJ, Polus BI(1999) The incidence of spinal dysfunction in a sample of premenstrual syndrome sufferers. - Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics, Volume 22, Issue 9, November 1999, pages 582 – 585
Walsh MJ, Polus BI (1999) A randomised placebo controlled clinical trial on the efficacy of chiropractic therapy on premenstrual syndrome. - Chiropractic Journal of Australia, Volume 24, 4, December 1994, Pages 122-126
Walsh MJ, Chandrara JS, Polus BI, The efficacy of chiropractic theory on premenstrual syndrome: A case study - Chiropractic Journal of Australia, Volume 23, 2, June 1993, Pages 48-53
Walsh MJ, Premenstrual Syndrome: A clinical update for the chiropractor
Posters:
- Chiropractors Association of Australia National Conference, September 1998. Melbourne, Australia
Walsh MJ (1998) A randomised placebo controlled cross-over clinical trial on the efficacy of chiropractic manipulative therapy on premenstrual syndrome.
- International Conference on Spinal Manipulation, July 1998. Vancouver, Canada.
Walsh MJ, Polus BI. (1998) A randomised placebo controlled cross-over clinical trial on the efficacy of chiropractic manipulative therapy on premenstrual syndrome. - International Conference on Spinal Manipulation, October 1996. Bournemouth, United Kingdom.
Walsh MJ. (1996) The incidence of spinal dysfunction in a sample of premenstrual syndrome sufferers.
Presentations:
- Californian Chiropractic Foundation’s 7th Annual Conference on Research and Education, June 1992. Palm Springs, California, USA.
Walsh MJ. The efficacy of chiropractic treatment on premenstrual syndrome.