McKenzie Method
The McKenzie Method® of Mechanical Diagnosis and Therapy® (MDT) is a system of diagnosis and treatment of spinal and extremity musculoskeletal disorders that has been used worldwide for over 60 years.
Clinicians trained in the MDT system provide a comprehensive initial assessment to accurately classify the patient’s complaints and then develop the appropriate management plan. The
assessment will use repeated movements and careful questioning by the clinician.
How the symptoms and range of movement change with the repeated movements and positions allows
the clinician to categorize the condition into subgroups. The reliability of such MDT
classifications have been confirmed by several studies.
A key feature of the method is the emphasis on education, patient empowerment and self treatment. Using the information from the assessment and subsequent classification, the clinician will prescribe specific exercises and advice. On occasion, the clinician may need to
provide hands-on treatment until the patient is able to self-manage. Most patients can successfully treat themselves when provided with the necessary knowledge and tools.
