The McKenzie Method for Treating Back Pain

John Thompson is a physiotherapist and lead instructor for the McKenzie institutes in Europe.

This episode is dedicated to the McKenzie method for treating and solving lower back pain.

The McKenzie Method® of Mechanical Diagnosis and Therapy® (MDT) - MDT is a philosophy of active patient involvement and education which is trusted and used by practitioners and patients all over the world for back, neck and extremity problems. This approach continues to be one of the most researched physical therapy-based methods available.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

• The system is a complete system of assessment diagnosis and treatment.
• It aims to treat anyone for spinal pain or extremity pain that can be improved through movement.
• It aims to move the patient to the end of their movement range and monitor how their symptoms behave.
• The McKenzie system aims to identify recognised patterns. The 3 patterns seen the most are derangement, dysfunction and postural.
• Postural – pain when in a particular position for an extended amount of time – this is about education to change the movement that is causing the pain.
• Dysfunction – tight or shortened tissue always related to back or neck with the pain only happening when the tissue is stretched. Stretching out therapy encourages the tissue to loosen.
• Derangement – variable in presentation with a loss in the range of movement that is not consistent. You can achieve a rapid change through exercise.
• The diagnosis and classification is based on the symptoms shown by the patients.
• The McKenzie method uses therapist techniques during both assessment and treatment and for those patients who can’t move themselves it is an essential component.

BEST MOMENTS

‘I felt I should be able to do more for my patients’

‘If you are a patient who has had episodic pain and finds pain in completing certain tasks and activities then you should consider the McKenzie method’

VALUABLE RESOURCES

The Back Pain Podcast
Free Sciatica guide: www.thebackpainpodcast.com

John Thomson The McKenzie Institute website

ABOUT THE HOSTS

Dave Elliot
Dave is the owner of Advanced Chiropractic, a chain of Chiropractic and massage therapy clinics in Essex, UK. Dave still sees patients during the week but has been working hard to talk to as many experts in the field of back pain as possible to help distil all the information and bring it to you in this awesome podcast. You can find Dave on any of the Advanced Chiropractic social media platforms, or you can contact him @ hello@thebackpainpodcast.com if you have any questions for him.
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Rob Beaven
Rob owns and runs a multidisciplinary clinic, The Dyer St Clinic in Cirencester Gloucestershire. His team of Chiropractors, Physiotherapists, Osteopaths, Doctors and podiatrists all collaborate on thousands of back pain patients every year. Alongside Dave, he has worked hard to bring to the table experts across all industries to give you the low down on back pain, with steps you can implement today to start feeling better.
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CONTACT METHOD

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