The McKenzie Method of Mechanical Diagnosis and Therapy (MDT) for Back and Neck Pain

Do you know of someone who had back, neck, or extremity pain and worked with a physical therapist who helped resolve their pain using the McKenzie Method? Did this leave you wondering what the McKenzie Method of Mechanical Diagnosis and Treatment entailed? The McKenzie Method, also known as Mechanical Diagnosis and Therapy (MDT), is an evidenced based assessment and treatment program for neck, back, and extremity pain. It is used world-wide by physical therapists and their patients. The approach involves a comprehensive and logical process to evaluate the patient’s problem. It begins with a thorough patient history and proceeds with testing of postures, sustained positions, and repeated movements to identify distinct patterns of pain and movement responses that are objective, reproducible, and reliable.

The McKenzie Method of Mechanical Diagnosis and Therapy - Three Steps to Success

If you, a friend, or a loved one has pain in your back, legs, neck, or arms, the McKenzie Method of Mechanical Diagnosis and Treatment is a treatment method that may lead you back to optimal health and function. It is a comprehensive treatment approach to the spine and extremities based on sound principles and fundamentals that when understood and followed are very successful.

I have been using the McKenzie Method for over 35 years and was fortunate to complete an internship following PT school in 1981 studying and working with patients under the mentorship of two legacy McKenzie faculty members. I also spent one week in New Zealand observing Robin McKenzie’s colleagues treat patients.

The McKenzie Method has three steps to success:

Introduction to the McKenzie Method of Mechanical Diagnosis and Therapy (MDT)

Without doubt, no one likes to be in pain. Every year, Americans and their insurance companies spend billions of dollars on back pain diagnosis and treatment, much more than on most other procedures for musculoskeletal pain. The McKenzie Method of Mechanical Diagnosis and Therapy (MDT) is one of the world’s most effective physical therapy approaches to help people with musculoskeletal disorders become pain-free. As an alternative to medical interventions such as MRIs, spinal injections, x-rays, and in some cases, surgery, MDT can save you money by potentially eliminating the need to pay high co-pays and co-insurances for unnecessary diagnostic testing and procedures.

Studies have proven MDT eliminates back, neck, and arm / leg pain in as little as three visits. Evidence also suggests MDT intervention helps patients skip surgery altogether. An excellent resource for those interested in this novel approach is the McKenzie Institute USA's website. Watch Danny’s story describing how he used the McKenzie Method to recover from acute neck and arm pain while avoiding surgery. View a short video describing the McKenzie Method and watch an interview with the late Robin McKenzie. If you’re wondering if you or someone you know is a candidate for this approach, view the section, “Patient Briefs: Is MDT for me?”