McKenzie Neck
and Back Pain Approach
The McKenzie
method is a scientifically-proven system used to treat a variety
of neck and back problems. It has become one of the
foundations in spine care around the world. It enables most
patients to recover from pain and disability, restore function,
and learn personal skills for managing future problems. Our
facility has McKenzie certified therapists on staff.
What is
the McKenzie approach? How is it different and how will it help
my patient?
Definition:
In the McKenzie approach to mechanical spinal disorders,
physical therapy evaluation and treatment are based on a
thorough history and movement testing:
- A series
of test movements and positions is applied in a controlled
movement testing.
- Symptom
behavior is observed before, during and after repeated
movement testing.
- The
movements/positions which reduce the number of symptoms
are used as treatment and as the home exercise program. This includes education in
the correct posture and body
mechanics.
- If no
movements or positions can be found to reduce, centralize, or
abolish the symptoms, then other treatment options will be
investigated prior to referring back to the physician for
further recommendations.
How is it
different?
- Mechanical
therapy is superior to traditional therapy, i.e., hot packs,
ultrasound, and electric stimulation, because it is a dynamic treatment
approach which empowers the patient to treat himself, as
opposed to
providing passive modalities.
- It
educates the patient about what causes his
pain, which activities he's currently involved in which contributes to
the pain, how to treat himself, and how to prevent further
occurrences.
- It is cost
effective in that fewer treatments are necessary, using less costly modalities.
- It
provides an evaluation tool to determine if the patient's
symptoms will benefit from mechanical treatment therapy or
if they should be referred for further testing.
Why use
Mechanical Therapy?
- Low back
pain tends to be self-limiting:
- 42% of
patients are better in one week
- 86% of
patients are better in one month
- 92% of
patients are better in two months
- While low
back pain is self-limiting, it is also episodic, with
recurrences becoming progressively more severe.
- Treatment
must be provided while the patient is symptomatic and can
learn which movements reduce and which movements produce
symptoms.
- Goals of
Mechanical Therapy:
- Reduce
pain and deformity
-
Maintain the reduction with education and posture
-
Recover function
-
Prevent future episodes
"Centralization of pain was found to occur commonly in patients
with low back pain and leg pain when mechanically evaluated in
the manner described by McKenzie. Those patients whose
pain centralized had a high incidence of good or excellent
treatment outcomes, whereas those whose pain did not centralize
had much worse outcomes."
Donelson R. Silva
G, Murphy K
"Centralization phenomenon. Its usefulness in evaluating
and treating referred pain" Spine 15(3) 211-213. 1990.
Visit
www.McKenzieMDT.org
for more information.
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