What to expect at a McKenzie Clinic
Assessment
Problems suitable for assessment:
· Low back pain with or without leg pain or numbness.
· Neck pain with or without arm pain or numbness.
· Headaches
· Pain arising from the muscles or joints of the arms or
legs.
Note: Patients with long standing symptoms and those who have not
benefited from other approaches may respond to the McKenzie system.
You will receive a thorough examination which is designed to determine
the underlying cause of your pain. Examination concentrates on how
specific movements and positions affect your pain. This gives the
clinician important information about what is causing the pain and
what you need to do to reduce and abolish it. It is usually possible
to predict the course and outcome of treatment in one to two assessment
sessions.
If, following the assessment, it appears that this approach is
not suitable for you, your doctor will receive a written report
outlining examination findings and suggestions for future management.
Treatment
At the assessment session you will be given specific guidance about
what to do to start recovery. This may include:
- instruction in posture in standing, sitting or lying
- simple exercises which you will do throughout the day.
Typically, you may require 3 to 5 follow up treatment sessions.
In these visits, the clinician will check how you are performing
the exercises and show you any necessary modifications. He may also
change or adapt specific exercises as you progress, always being
guided by your response to the treatment.
The Importance of Exercise and Activity
In the McKenzie system, you are doing the work of making yourself
better; the physiotherapist is your teacher and guide. You are empowered
to bring about your own recovery. Current literature in the field
of musculo-skeletal problems suggests that patients recover faster
when they are actively involved in their own treatment, rather than
lying passively while something is being done to them. When you
are taught what causes and reduces pain, you also have the tools
you need to prevent future recurrences.
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