Re: Physical Therapy Programs

[Guest guest]

Maribeth Wescott wrote:

> I have a bad back too and can not do yoga nor

> any bending forward movements. The McKenzie

> Method is the kind of treatment that I use in physical

> therapy and not all pt's are trained or skilled

> in this practice. I was too flexible and any bending

> forward movment would alter the discs and the

> sciatic nerve would get pinched more and cause

> such pain down my hip and leg. I hope this helps.

> Maribeth Wescott

>

Matibeth,

This is ironic as according ro the principles of Mc Kenzie Method, it was

developed to centralize the problems in extremities to the back with the

assumption the back can handle it better and spine patients should not use it.

My physical therapist is trained in the Method of myofascial physical

therapy but does not believe it to the extent that you have to pay over ten

thousand dollars to go to the desert and do the exercises of the Master trainer,

Mr. .

You Tube is a great resource to research all these " methods " for those skilled

and unskilled. As with many professionals all may be trained but all may not be

skilled. I believe that with all methods, you are speaking of the good

compositions of Mc Kenzie's Method which this article discussed to include,

Myself, I stay away from strictly one way or another but I am interested in a

personalized program for my condition, an assessment that backs up that program

and does not make my condition worse but better. I also believe progress should

be monitored and re evaluated for sucess of goals made for the patient. Bennie

Internet Search on Mc Kenzie Method:

With the McKenzie approach, physical therapy and exercise used to extend the

spine can help " centralize " the patient’s pain by moving it away from the

extremities (leg or arm) to the back. Back pain is usually better tolerated than

leg pain or arm pain, and the theory of the approach is that centralizing the

pain allows the source of the pain to be treated rather than the symptoms.

A central tenet of the McKenzie Method is that self-healing and self-treatment

are important for the patient’s pain relief and rehabilitation. No passive

modalities—such as heat, cold, ultrasound, medicine or needles—are used in the

treatment.

The long-term goal of the McKenzie Method is to teach patients suffering from

neck pain and/or back pain how to treat themselves and manage their own pain for

life using exercise and other strategies. Other goals include:

• Reduce pain quickly

• Return to normal functioning in daily activities

• Minimize the risk of recurring pain (avoid painful postures and movements)

• Minimize the number of return visits to the spine specialist

The movement of pain from the extremities to the back will not occur with all

patients. The McKenzie Method is designed to help patients where the pain does

" centralize. " Also, for some patients, such as those with lumbar spinal stenosis

or facet joint osteoarthritis, extending the spine may actually increase their

pain.

And then :

The McKenzie Method for Neck and Back Problems

By: Vert Mooney, MD

•

Practitioners who use this approach emphasize that the McKenzie Method is a

specific approach to spinal problems, not only a set of exercises for back pain

or neck pain. While there are specific exercises a McKenzie trained practitioner

may use, the method also includes the overall philosophy and some special

procedures:

• Initial assessment procedures

• Treatment for back and neck problems (self-help and special procedures, if

indicated)

• Prevention strategies for back problems

IThe method itself centers on the classification of spinal disorders or

conditions based on symptoms and responses to specific initial assessment

procedures. Based on the classification, the patient is instructed on specific

exercises to gradually centralize or abolish the pain. The classifications

include

• Postural syndromes – back pain or neck pain caused by continued stress of

soft tissues while maintaining certain postures or positions.

• Derangement syndromes - back pain or neck pain caused by a change in position

of the vertebrae enclosing a disc due to repositioning of the fluid nucleus of

the disc; pain will change with repeated motion.

• Dysfunction syndromes - intermittent back pain and limited movement caused by

the presence of scar tissue in a shortened state; back pain occurs when these

tissues are stressed.

McKenzie Institute International for Back Pain and Neck Pain

An organization was formed in 1982 by physical therapists in New Zealand who

were using this approach to treat patients. The International headquarters is in

New Zealand. The organization has branches in 26 countries throughout the world.

Each branch provides courses to teach practitioners “The McKenzie Method of

Mechanical Diagnosis and Therapy.”

The founder, Robin McKenzie, has written a number of books on the self-help

approach to treatment of back and neck pain. Recently he has written a book on

the treatment of extremity problems.

If you decide to pursue this approach, most spine specialists will suggest that

you visit a physical therapist that is trained in this approach. The McKenzie

Institute International has a program of certification and a diploma program,

and has an online listing of credentialed and diploma practitioners around the

world.