Quick links
- What is the McKenzie method?
- Is the McKenzie method appropriate for me?
- How does it work?
- FAQs
- Related blog articles
Are you keen to learn how to manage your problem better?
Are you finding yourself relying on hands-on treatment for maintenance?
Have you tried other treatment approaches without success?
If so, the McKenzie Method is the answer that you have been looking for.
There are only two Credentialled McKenzie Therapists in private practice in Adelaide listed on the McKenzie Institute of Australia website therapist locator, one of which are at Adelaide West Physio and Pilates.
Russell was invited to become a member of the McKenzie Institute of Australia committee in 2012.
What is the McKenzie method?
The McKenzie Method of Mechanical Diagnosis and Therapy (MDT) is a system of assessment and management of musculoskeletal problems.
It is comprehensive, safe, and the most researched system of assessment and treatment of musculoskeletal problems used by physiotherapists.
A link to the research behind the McKenzie Method can be found here.
McKenzie Method assessment allows us to identify:
- who is likely to respond to treatment and who is unlikely to respond
- who is likely to improve quickly and who is likely to be slower
- who is not suitable for physiotherapy treatment
- who could require further investigation
With the McKenzie method, the emphasis is on learning the skills to manage a problem independently.
With the correct exercise and advice to help a problem in the short term, it will be possible to also manage it or prevent it in the long term.
In some instances, hands on treatment is also required to help a problem to the point where it can be successfully self-managed. The McKenzie method helps to identify which problems need this extra ‘hands on’ help.
There are some useful products on our products page including the classic self help books ‘Treat Your Own Neck’ and ‘Treat Your Own Back’, and a selection of genuine McKenzie lumbar rolls.
Is the McKenzie method appropriate for me?
McKenzie therapists are trained to assess and diagnose all areas of the musculoskeletal system, not just the spine.
This includes:
- spine including the neck and back
- structures like bone, joint, ligament, tendon or muscle
- areas like the shoulder, elbow, hip and knee
- symptoms like pain, pins and needles and numbness
If you are interested in being involved in managing your problem, the McKenzie method is ideal for you.
How does the McKenzie method work?
There are three parts to the process: assessment, treatment and prevention.
1. Assessment
- It involves a detailed history about your symptoms and how they behave.
- You will be asked to perform certain movements and rest in certain positions to help reveal a pattern to the symptom behaviour.
- The main difference to regular physiotherapy assessment is the use of repeated movements rather than a single repetition.
How your symptoms and range of movement changes with these repeated movements provides your therapist with information that they can use to identify and categorise your problem.
2. Treatment
- According to the findings of the assessment, we will be able to prescribe specific exercises and advice regarding postures to use and others to avoid.
- We can provide advanced hands-on techniques until you can self-manage.
- The aim is to be as effective as possible in the least number of exercises sessions.
- Treatment that you can perform five or six times a day is more likely to be effective in a shorter period of time than treatment which is provided by the therapist once or twice per week.
- The emphasis is on you, the patient, being actively involved. This can minimise the number of visits to the clinic.
Ultimately, most patients can successfully treat themselves when provided with the necessary knowledge and tools.
3. Prevention
- By learning how to self-treat the current problem, you gain hands-on knowledge on how to minimise the risk of recurrence and to rapidly deal with symptoms if they come back.
- This puts you in control of your treatment safely and effectively.
- The likelihood of problems persisting are minimised through self-treatment and self-maintenance.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Mechanical Diagnosis and Therapy?
The McKenzie Method of Mechanical Diagnosis and Therapy (MDT) is a Method of assessment and treatment for spinal and limb pain developed by New Zealand Physiotherapist Robin McKenzie. It has been widely used all over the world for over 30 years. It is an approach that aims to provide the patient with the tools to help themselves both in the short and long term. MDT is well researched and provides an evidence-based framework for assessment and treatment.
Who was Robin McKenzie?
Robin McKenzie was a physiotherapist from New Zealand who devised this method of Mechanical Diagnosis and Therapy from observation and treating patients over many years. He was an internationally renowned physiotherapist and was the Founder and President of The McKenzie Institute International. The McKenzie Institute International is an international research and educational organisation that was formed to further the development of his philosophy. There are branches in over 30 countries around the world to meet the growing demand for knowledge by both clinicians and their patients. The McKenzie Institute of Australia can be found at www.mckenziemdt.org.au
Do all physiotherapists use this Method?
No. Many Australian physiotherapists have not had training in the method, which seems surprising given its effectiveness and evidence base. It is particularly widely used in the USA and Europe. Unfortunately, many who claim to “do McKenzie” have modified and diluted the Method to such an extent that it barely resembles the true Method. Without following the correct assessment and treatment process, the results are often disappointing. Both Russell and Kirsty have successfully passed the Credentialling Exam in Sydney, meaning that they have been assessed to have a level of skill and knowledge to provide the McKenzie method.
Does the McKenzie Method involve electrotherapy?
No.
Can it help even if I have had my problem for years?
Research has proven that this Method can effectively treat those patients whose pain has been present for months as well as years. A thorough assessment conducted over two to three sessions will allow the therapist to determine how much benefit you may gain from using the McKenzie Method.