Who The Heck Is Robin McKenzie And Why Is His Name Synonymous With Back Pain?
Posted: Friday, November 23, 2007
by Sandra McFaul
ATA...Physiotherapy that Empowers!
Robin McKenzie is a New Zealand Physiotherapistwho "stumbled upon" an amazing clinical phenomenon back in the 1950's which has totally revolutionised the way back pain is treated and managed around the world. He is now retired from clinical practice but he is still actively involved with the McKenzie Institute International , the organisation that is responsible for the training and education of therapists who undertake training in his method of assessment and treatment which bares his name. ie. McKenzie Method
After sorting out the appointment for his knee patient, Robin walked back into the treatment room and saw "Mr Smith" lying on his stomach with his back in an arched position as the end of the bed had been left in an elevated position. Robin was aghast because this position was "thought" to be the worst position possible for backs.
Keeping his cool; Robin kindly enquired as to how "Mr Smith" was feeling. Mr Smith exclaimed "I feel the best I have been in 3 weeks !" Surprisingly, all the pain in "Mr Smith's" thigh had gone and he only felt pain in the centre of his back.
Robin then asked "Mr Smith" to stand up from that position and to his surprise he remained better. The pain remained centralised to his low back with no thigh pain and he could move a lot better. Robin then requested that "Mr Smith" lay in this position at home and come back the next day for further treatment.
Why was this observation so amazing? Because back in the 1950's therapists thought that this position or the extension movement was "no good" for backs. After this event, Robin then got lots of his patients to lie in that arched position to see what happened to their pain. He even got some of them to do a push up type movement, focusing on getting the arms straight and letting the hips and pelvis sag or relax. What Robin noticed was some got better, others got worse. Some needed a lateral exercise or movement first before doing the extension type push up. In a few cases some patients required bending or flexion type exercises.
What this all means is that patients require an individualised assessment (McKenzie Mechanical Assessment) to determine the specific exercise that will help them.
Therapists trained in the McKenzie Method are often able to find just one exercise that can immediately reduce a patient's pain or centralises it to the middle of the spine as in the case of "Mr Smith." This occurence is associated with pain from a herniated disc. The patient then performs this exercise 10 times every few hours which provides immediate pain relief . It can be likened to taking "pain medication" but the great thing is that it avoids the side affects.
The phenomenon that "Mr Smith" experienced of pain moving to the centre of the spine as a result of lying in a certain position is called " CENTRALISATION ." It is associated with pain from a herniated disc and therapists use the "disc model" to explain what is happening from a anatomical perspective.
Th McKenzie Method or System is now supportedby numerous research studies that demonstrate if centralisation occurs, it is a good sign that the pain is going to resolve. It means "the exercise" performed is the correct one. Get further information at "Your Herniated Disc Guide."
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