The McKenzie method stands out from other methods of treating back pain. The McKenzie method focuses on eliminating the cause of pain, and not only on temporary pain relief. As a result, the therapy has lasting effects, which means that back pain rarely returns. Find out what the McKenzie Method is and whether it works.

The McKenzie methodis a method of treating, among others,back pain syndromes,which stands out from other forms of treatment of this type of ailments. Most of them focus only on the effects of spine diseases, i.e. relieving pain, without knowing the mechanisms of their development. The effects of this type of treatment are not permanent as pain returns sooner or later. Meanwhile, the McKenzie method is not only limited to the elimination of back pain. Its aim is also to find the cause of pain, eliminate it and prevent recurrence of ailments.

The McKenzie method - what is it?

1. Diagnosis

First, a detailed interview is conducted with the patient, based on a special diagnostic protocol developed by McKenzie, separate for each section of the spine and for the limbs. Movement tests are then performed. Each section of the spine is set in motion so that the patient can determine exactly where the pain is coming from. The exact picture of the disease allows the patient to be assigned to one of the three syndromes of spine disorders:

  • structural complexconcerns changes within the so-called disk. According to research conducted at the McKenzie Institute, in 90 percent of cases, the culprit of back problems is the intervertebral disc. If its structures are damaged, they shift with every movement or change of body position. This type of disorder is characterized by various symptoms (including pains radiating from the spine along the limbs, sensory disturbances, numbness and tingling);

  • dysfunctional syndromerefers to mechanical damage within the spine tissues, which may be caused, inter alia, by bending the torso abruptly or lifting a heavy object in a tilted position. These types of disorderscause inconsistent pain, local within damaged tissues;
  • postural syndromerelates to the loss of flexibility and proper mobility of the spine, which is contributed to by adopting incorrect body positions. This is especially true for people who are not physically active, work for many hours in a sitting position and feel undefined back pain (usually inconsistent, in the final range of overloading movement), most often in the thoracic spine;

    • 2. Selection of the appropriate treatment technique

    The next step is to select the appropriate treatment technique and teach the patient to perform it properly. In the event of a displacement of the disk, the McKenzie method allows to determine the direction of the displacement of damaged tissues. Thanks to this, the therapist can determine which movement to introduce the displaced, damaged disc tissue into place. He also teaches the patient these movements, thanks to which he will be able to deal with pain at home on his own, without anyone's help. In addition, the therapist also determines the direction of movement that exacerbates the pain, thanks to which he can recommend the patient to avoid doing it.

    In patients with mechanical damage within the spine tissues, movements opposite to those caused by the damage are performed, in accordance with the principle of reversing the mechanism of injury.

    In people with postural syndrome, exercises are performed that will gradually remove the existing limitations of mobility and facilitate the shaping of the correct posture and its maintenance.

    In addition, the therapist teaches the patient how to perform daily activities differently than before. For example, it shows how to put on socks or shoes when bending over causes sudden pain, how to sit, when staying in this position for a longer time also exacerbates the symptoms, how to get out of bed so as not to cause back pain, etc. This allows the patient to take care to avoid overloading in the future.

    3. Preventive actions

    It is also necessary to take preventive measures to prevent the re-development of pain. Therefore, after completing the treatment, you should systematically perform the exercises you learned earlier, but much less frequently (e.g. only in the morning and in the evening).

    The McKenzie method - who is its author?

    The method was developed in the 1960s by the New Zealand physiotherapist Robin McKenzie. Over the years, McKenzi has experimented with thousands of patients suffering from all kinds of backache. He concluded that patients with certain specific symptoms experience an immediate pga after making a series of specific movements. This thesis was constantis the starting point for the method he developed.

    Source: The McKenzie Institute Poland

    Important

    The McKenzie Method is an alternative therapy in addition to conventional treatment, so please consult your he althcare professional before starting it.

    Mckenzie's method - exercises for discopathy

    Dyskopathy is popularly called a disk loss. It is a disease of the intervertebral disc caused by sudden or chronic overload or age-related degenerative changes. As a result of a rupture of the fibrous ring, the pulp nucleus protrudes or falls out. The resulting herniated disc or herniation can put pressure on the spine or nerve roots. Exercise is one way to relieve the pain of discopathy. Our expert physiotherapist, Paweł Daroszewski, suggests the Mckenzie method.

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