McKenzie Treatment (MDT)

Understand Your Pain. Learn How to Manage Your Movement.

Sometimes the way you move can influence how your symptoms feel.

The McKenzie Method, also known as Mechanical Diagnosis and Therapy (MDT), is a movement-based approach commonly used for back, neck, and certain extremity problems. It places an emphasis on careful assessment, repeated movements, education, and active participation in your recovery.

Start With the Assessment

Before choosing exercises or treatment techniques, your physical therapist looks closely at how your symptoms respond to different movements and positions. You may be asked to:

• Perform specific repeated movements
• Change positions or postures
• Describe how your symptoms change
• Identify movements that increase or decrease your discomfort

These responses help your therapist understand your movement pattern and determine an appropriate directional preference for treatment.

Problems That Benefit From a McKenzie Approach

• Back pain or stiffness: Especially symptoms affected by sitting, bending, standing, or repeated movement.
• Neck pain or stiffness: When certain positions or movements influence your symptoms.
• Radiating symptoms (Sciatica / Radiculopathy): Such as pain, numbness, or tingling extending into an arm or leg.
• Movement limitations: Difficulty with bending, sitting, standing, or other everyday activities.

Your Role Matters

McKenzie treatment is designed to make you an active participant - not simply someone receiving treatment.

Depending on your evaluation, you will learn specific movements or exercises to perform independently. You will also learn how to modify certain positions or daily activities that affect your symptoms. The goal is to give you practical self-treatment strategies you can use during therapy and in your everyday life.

Less Reliance on Guesswork. More Understanding of Your Movement.

A major part of McKenzie treatment is learning how your symptoms behave and what you can do to manage them. With the right guidance, you can become more confident recognizing movements and positions that support your recovery.