If you’ve been experiencing pain and stiffness that has interfered with the quality of your daily life, it may be time to consider the McKenzie Method. Doing so may help you avoid months of therapy, the need for expensive equipment, and painful surgeries.

What Is the McKenzie Method?

The McKenzie Method of MDT (Mechanical Diagnosis and Therapy) was developed by an expert physiotherapist named Robin McKenzie in the 1950’s. This exercise-based approach of assessment, diagnosis and treatment evaluates patients without the use of x-rays, MRIs, medications, needles, or surgery. Through the McKenzie Method of MDT, patients are empowered to manage their own symptoms without the dependency on medical intervention.

Who can Benefit From the McKenzie Method?

Anyone with musculoskeletal problems, including pain in the back, neck and extremities, or has issues associated with sciatica, sacroiliac joint pain, arthritis, degenerative disc disease, muscle spasms and numbness in hands or feet can benefit from the McKenzie Method of MDT.

What Are the Benefits of this Method?

  • It eliminates symptoms and restores full function.
  • It’s reliable, having been tested, researched and used for many years by certified clinicians.
  • It is cost and time effective. It’s possible to determine a diagnosis in as little as one to two sessions. The McKenzie Method of MDT eliminates the need for fancy equipment, long-term therapy sessions, medications and surgeries.
  • It leads to better outcomes than therapies that are based on spinal manipulation and exercise alone.
  • It encourages self-care and treatment. Patients become familiar with their own bodies and can spot and correct issues as they arise. This reduces the chances of recurrence and halts problems before they become severe.

How Does the McKenzie Method Work?

McKenzie uses four steps: assessment, classification, treatment and prevention. The goal is to identify the mechanical problem and develop a plan to correct the mechanics. The McKenzie assessment looks into different movements (like climbing stairs, for example), how the patient performs these movements, and how the body responds. Afterward, Dr. Reza can determine which movements should become part of the treatment plan and how often exercises should be performed.

What Can I Expect During my Visit?

Expect to give a detailed history of your symptoms and then to perform certain movements. Dr. Reza will be looking at what happens with repeated movement. Each syndrome is then addressed and classified. (MDT classifies each syndrome and subgroup.) Using this information, you’ll be prescribed exercises to incorporate, postures to avoid, and postures to adopt. In more serious cases, hands-on techniques are used until you can self-manage.  Treatment that you can perform multiple times a day at home will be more effective than treatment administered by Dr. Reza only a couple of times a week. The goal is to empower you to help yourself feel better sooner.

So if you’ve been in pain, but avoiding treatment because you’re dreading the expense, the time and commitment it will take, or surgical interventions that might be required, the McKenzie Method of MDT might be right for you.

Contact Dr. Reza today to schedule an appointment.