McKenzieMethode

McKenzieMethod is a system of spinal assessment and treatment developed by New Zealand physiotherapist Robin McKenzie. It is widely used in physiotherapy and is often referred to as Mechanical Diagnosis and Therapy (MDT). The core principle of the McKenzieMethod is to identify and classify spinal pain into specific subgroups based on the patient's response to repeated movements and sustained postures. This classification system allows the therapist to determine whether the patient's pain is likely to respond to mechanical loading.

The assessment process involves a detailed history and a series of directional preference exercises. These exercises involve repeating specific movements, such as flexion, extension, or lateral bending, in a controlled manner. The therapist observes how the patient's pain changes in intensity and location during and after these movements. A key concept is the "directional preference," where one direction of movement consistently reduces or centralizes the patient's pain, while other directions may worsen it or cause peripheralization.

Once a directional preference is identified, the McKenzieMethod treatment focuses on empowering the patient to self-manage their condition. Patients are taught specific exercises to perform regularly at home and are educated on how to avoid postures and activities that aggravate their pain. The goal is to achieve rapid pain reduction, restore function, and prevent recurrence. While initially developed for low back pain, the McKenzieMethod has been adapted for neck pain and, to a lesser extent, other joints.