FOR THE DOCTOR

Clinical researchers are largely agreed on the value of exercise in the rehabilitation of musculoskeletal problems. They are also discovering that to be effective, exercise needs to be highly individualized to both the particular patient and their condition. When this is done, movement becomes a very powerful tool in the rehabilitation of musculoskeletal problems.

Here is what else the research tells us:

• Up to 50% of chronic and 70% of acute low back pain are rapidly reversible using simple symptom specific exercises that the patient can do by themselves (Long 1995, Sufka 1998,Werneke 1999, Aina 2004).
   
• Many conditions previously thought to have an inflammatory pathology, such as tendonitis, are now known to have a degenerative or mechanical cause that is best treated by specific exercises (Jozsa and Kannus 1991, Khan 1999).
   
• An active treatment approach that involves empowering the patients to participate in their own recovery shows superior results to treatment where the patient adopts a dependent role (Lorig 1989, Lorish 1997).
   
• Passive modalities such as heat, TENS, and ultrasound have not been found effective in treating or preventing musculoskeletal problems (van der Windt 1999, Nordin and Campello 1999).

What Can a Certified McKenzie Clinic Do For You and Your Patient?

• Minimal waiting time: patients can be seen within days of referral. Prompt outcome assessment: it is usually possible to determine whether a patient will benefit from treatment within 2-3 visits.
• Low number of visits: because the system targets self-treatment, the average number of visits is 3-4.
• Validated injury prevention programme given to all patients (Udermann 2004, Larsen 2002.
• Follow-up report provided for each patient.

Questions?
For more information on the McKenzie approach click on
www.mckenziemdt.org