McKenzie Method
Also known as Mechanical Diagnosis and Therapy, the McKenzie Method is a philosophy of active patient involvement and education for back, neck and extremity problems. The key distinction is its initial assessment component—a safe and reliable means to accurately reach a diagnosis and only then make the appropriate treatment plan. Rarely are expensive tests required, Certified MDT clinicians have a valid indicator to know right away whether—and how—the method will work for each patient.
Understanding the McKenzie Method: A Statement for Patients
What will the McKenzie Method do for you?
The McKenzie Method Educates, Encourages, and Empowers the patient to use self management skills to control and resolve current symptoms and to reduce the recurrence and severity of future attacks.
The McKenzie Philosophy supports the belief that in most instances spinal pain is mechanical in origin. The well trained McKenzie Practitioner, through the use of a comprehensive mechanical evaluation establishes the nature of the mechanical condition. The McKenzie Diagnosis enables your practitioner to develop an individualized self treatment program tailored to your lifestyle. It identifies whether your symptoms will respond to conservative treatment and establishes a likely time frame. The McKenzie Treatment approach educates you in the application of self treatment techniques to assist in resolution of your symptoms. The McKenzie Diagnosis and Treatment ensures that you benefit from maximum cost effectiveness. Above all it puts you in control of you Spinal Pain rather than it controlling your enjoyment of life.
Limitations of the McKenzie Method
No, not all your patients will be responders to the McKenzie Method. However, the benefit of the McKenzie Methods is that you can identify the non-responders early. The literature reports and it is my clinical experience that some 80% of patients with mechanical spinal pain will respond. Of those, 85% respond favorably in 10 to 14 days. Variables that commonly affect these outcomes are the practitioners level of McKenzie training and patient compliance. Where the McKenzie Method identifies patients whose symptoms do not respond, a referral to a spinal or orthopedic surgeon for further assessment would be the next appropriate step.
Non-responders may also fall into the group of other Spinal Syndromes such as Canal Stenosis, Spondylolisthesis: Nerve Root Entrapment. The McKenzie trained therapist with their knowledge of aggravating mechanical factors, removal of postural stresses, instruction in balancing mechanical forces, and improvement in general body conditioning can all be utilized as alternatives to the more specific exercise prescription.
An important role for the McKenzie Practitioner is to identify those patients who need the skills of other health professionals, and be prepared to refer the patient on. Thus avoiding long periods of inappropriate and expensive management.
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