Home of McKenzie MDT in Washington, DC
Here in Washington, DC, we work extremely hard at whatever we are doing. We are surrounded by talented people, so when it comes to medicine, we also expect a high level of personalized care. This is why Rose therapists specialize in the McKenzie Method. This video provides a brief introduction to McKenzie MDT, a great way of treating chronic neck or back pain, and helping you to live a pain free life.
Rose is one of the few physical therapy clinics in Washington, DC which specialized in the McKenzie Method of Mechanical Diagnosis and Therapy (MDT). The McKenzie Method is one of the tenants of physical therapy and bits and pieces of it are taught in all physical therapy schools, but seeking post-graduate certification in MDT means that you are an expert, that you truly understand how to practice the art of diagnosis and therapy. The road to understanding McKenzie on this level is both arduous and expensive, which is why there are few therapists who have completed it. But here at Rose it is expected as part of our approach: it's our commitment to establishing a partnership between our therapists and our clients.
The McKenzie Method® of Mechanical Diagnosis and Therapy® (MDT) is an internationally acclaimed method of assessment and treatment for spinal and extremity pain developed by New Zealand Physiotherapist Robin McKenzie. It has been widely used all over the world for more than 30 years. MDT clinicians are trained to assess and diagnose all areas of the musculoskeletal system. That means that if a problem exists in or around the spine, joint or muscle, an MDT evaluation may be appropriate.
MDT is a philosophy of active client involvement and education that is trusted and used by clinicians and clients all over the world for back, neck and extremity problems. This approach continues to be one of the most researched physical therapy based methods available. A key feature is the initial assessment - a safe and reliable way to reach an accurate diagnosis and only then make the appropriate treatment plan. Expensive tests such as MRI’s are often unnecessary. Certified MDT clinicians are able to rapidly determine whether the method will be effective for each client.
In its truest sense, MDT is a comprehensive approach based on sound principles and fundamentals that, when fully understood and followed, is very successful. However, at Rose we combine McKenzie with other expertise to ensure that we address each client's needs in a pragmatic way in which we are partners with our clients in finding a path to wellness.
Step 1: Assessment
EvaluationMDT begins with the clinician taking a detailed history about your symptoms and how they behave. You will be asked to perform certain movements and rest in certain positions. The main difference to most other assessments is the use of repeated movements rather than a single movement. How your symptoms and range of movement changes with these repeated movements provides the clinician with information that they can use to categorize your problem.
Step 2, Classification:
Each syndrome is addressed according to its unique nature, with specific mechanical procedures, including repeated movements and sustained postures. MDT is a comprehensive classification system, and includes a smaller group of clients that cannot be classified into one of the three Syndromes, but are into the ‘Other’ Subgroup which includes serious pathologies, non-mechanical causes, true chronic pain etc.
Step 3, Treatment:
Using the information from the assessment, the clinician will prescribe specific exercises and advice regarding postures to adopt and postures to temporarily avoid. If your problem has a more difficult mechanical presentation, a qualified MDT clinician may need to add hands-on techniques until you can self-manage. The aim is to be as effective as possible in the least number of sessions. Treatment that you can perform five or six times a day is more likely to be effective in a shorter period of time than treatment administered by the clinician once or twice per week. The emphasis is on you, the client, being actively involved. This can minimize the number of visits to the clinic. Ultimately, most clients can successfully treat themselves when provided with the necessary knowledge and tools.
Step 4, Prevention:
By learning how to self-treat the current problem, you gain knowledge on how to minimize the risk of recurrence. You can also rapidly deal with symptoms if they recur, putting you in control of your treatment safely and effectively. Persisting problems are more likely to be prevented through self-maintenance than by passive care.
Give us a call or email appointments@rosept.com and let us know how we can help you, using McKenzie MDT or any of our services. And stay tuned to our blog and our social media for more information!