Do you know how to care for your back?

 

“Oh, my aching back!” – How many times have you found yourself saying that or heard someone you know say that to you?  According to the National Institutes of Health, back pain is the second most common neurological disorder in the United States, only headache is more common.  Behind the common cold it is second most common condition seen by primary care physicians. Although there is not one solution to back pain, BREAKTHRU has found that The McKenzie Method has proven to be a highly effective in our ongoing battle to help you lead a healthier, more pain free life.

 

The McKenzie Method, also known as Mechanical Diagnosis and Therapy, was developed in the 1960’s by Robin McKenzie, a physical therapist in New Zealand.  It has since become an international organization with branches in 26 countries providing research and courses to physical therapists.  One of the main distinctions of the McKenzie Method is the initial assessment which has been proven to be a safe and reliable method to reach an accurate diagnosis and then to make the appropriate treatment plan.

 

Research has shown that this initial assessment procedure to be as reliable as costly diagnostic imaging (i.e. X-rays, MRIs) to determine the source of the problem and identify the patients who will best respond to therapy. 

 

This method of assessment and treatment was founded on the premise that mechanical forces are not accepted properly by certain tissues, such as intervertebral discs, paraspinal musculature, spinal joint articulations and neural tissue, leading to tissue damage and subsequent injury. If normal function is not restored, tissue healing will not occur and the problem will persist causing the all too frequent chronic low back pain.  The McKenzie Method is not simply a set of exercises; it is a defined algorithm that serves to classify the spinal problem so that it can be adequately treated. In its truest sense, “McKenzie is a comprehensive approach to the spine based on sound principles and fundamentals that when understood and followed accordingly are very successful” (The McKenzie Institute, 2009)

 

McKenzie treatment is focused on getting you, the patient, involved by changing postural awareness throughout the day and performing specific individualized exercises at home, thus your visits to a PT clinic are decreased. Ultimately, most patients can successfully treat themselves when provided with the necessary knowledge and tools.  If your back pain is more severe a trained McKenzie therapist at BREAKTHRU will provide advanced hands-on techniques until you can work on these techniques yourself.

 

A great way to think of low back care is the analogy of the common cold since it happens almost as frequently.  To prevent and treat a cold we wash our hands, take vitamins and get plenty of rest.  Similarly with back pain, we do posture correction during the day (such as having the correct computer set up at work) and do specific spine exercises to prevent and to minimize the risk and to treat recurrence of back pain. Once a person is educated in the McKenzie Method in how to treat their own back, the likelihood of back problems persisting can more likely be prevented through self-maintenance.

Before you rake the leaves, shovel your driveway or go for a long car ride, talk with a physical therapist about how the McKenzie Method of treating low back pain can help you in prevention and treatment of your spine.   If the pain is already there come see a physical therapist and get educated in how to care for your back and not only treat this new episode of pain but how to prevent reoccurring episodes.

 

Jodi Goldman

Physical Therapist/ Owner