Lumbo-sacral facet tropism. An investigation into its relevance for osteopathy and its accuracy of palpation.
Item
- Title
- Lumbo-sacral facet tropism. An investigation into its relevance for osteopathy and its accuracy of palpation.
- Author(s)
- Van Goeye Bart
- Abstract
- The aim of this study was to establish the relevance of tropism for the osteopathic profession and to examine whether this condition could be palpated accurately or not. Tropism can be found between 21-37% of the population. It has been defined as an asymmetry between the orientation of both facet joints at one segment. At the L5-S1 level, where tropism occurs most often, one facet is orientated more sagittally and the other more coronally.Reviewing literature,the author searched for its significance specifically with regards to associated disc degeneration, facet degenerative changes and its clinical presentation. The relationship between these remains unclear. Specifically with regards to osteopathic technique, it was suggested in literature and as well by BSO tutors that tropism could be a causative factor for failing to release the L5-S1 segment in a rotational thrust.In addition, an experiment was set up to investigate whether tropism could be manually assessed or not. Two examiners (the author and one osteopath) palpated 48 subjects (24 with tropism; 24 control) once in a blind-fold condition using two tests. Using Chi-square no significant difference (p>0.05) in results could be found for both examiners and both tests, suggesting that tropism could not be palpated within this sample using the agreed tests. With further research its osteopathic significance can hopefully better be understood. With a more reliable manual method of assessing tropism, the practioner could also take this condition more into consideration, and possibly further incorporate it within their manipulative skills.
- Abstract
- presented at
- British School of Osteopathy
- Date Accepted
- 1999
- Date Submitted
- 11.8.2000 00:00:00
- Type
- undergraduate_project
- Language
- English
- Submitted by:
- 62
- Pub-Identifier
- 12276
- Inst-Identifier
- 780
- Keywords
- Disc Disorders,Lumbosacral Spine,Palpation,Tropism
- Recommended
- 0
- Item sets
- Thesis
Van Goeye Bart, “Lumbo-sacral facet tropism. An investigation into its relevance for osteopathy and its accuracy of palpation.”, Osteopathic Research Web, accessed May 14, 2024, https://www.osteopathicresearch.com/s/orw/item/2198