McKenzie Method®: Physical Therapy
The McKenzie Method Physical Therapy is a skilled technique performed by McKenzie certified physical therapist with specialized training. Available at select locations.
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McKenzie Physical Therapy Addresses Pain in Your Back, Neck, and Extremities
The McKenzie Method® PT is a reliable assessment process intended for all musculoskeletal problems, including pain in the back, neck and extremities (i.e., shoulder, knee, ankle etc.), as well as issues associated with sciatica, sacroiliac joint pain, arthritis, degenerative disc disease, muscle spasms and intermittent numbness in hands or feet.
For more information on the McKenzie Method® PT, please visit www.mckenzieinstituteusa.org
What is the McKenzie Method?
McKenzie Method PT is often referred to as MDT which stands for McKenzie Method of Mechanical Diagnosis and Therapy. McKenzie Method PT was developed in the 1960s by Robin McKenzie, a New Zealand physiotherapist. McKenzie observed that when patients extended their spine during treatment, it helped centralize their pain by moving it away from their arms and legs and directing it to their back. He believed that because people can more readily tolerate back pain than leg or arm pain, he could more easily treat the pain’s source rather than its symptoms. This in turn allowed patients to return to their normal daily activities much more quickly.
Of course, there is much more to McKenzie Method PT than spine stretching. McKenzie Method Physical Therapy is a program that consists of assessment, treatment, and prevention strategies taught to a patient by a McKenzie certified physical therapist. Passive methods of treatment, such as heat, cold, ultrasound, medication, or needles, are never used in the course of MDT.
What is the Goal of McKenzie Physical Therapy?
The primary goal of the McKenzie PT is to teach patients with neck and back pain to use exercise and other strategies to treat and manage their pain long term. Additionally, McKenzie Method PT is utilized to quickly decrease pain, minimize recurring pain and return a patient to normal functioning in their daily activities. Finally, a McKenzie certified physical therapist aims to assist a patient in learning strategies to avoid future reinjury.
What is a McKenzie Certified Physical Therapist?
In order to qualify as a McKenzie certified physical therapist, a PT must successfully complete five training courses encompassing more than 100 hours of teaching, followed by a credentialing exam. Utilizing McKenzie Method PT, a physical therapist is able to teach a patient how to understand their pain and find movements they can practice independently at home to speed up their healing process. Studies indicate that McKenzie Method Physical Therapy is superior to more generic methods of treating musculoskeletal problems.