The McKenzie method for neck and lower back pain includes exercises tailored to the patient’s condition that will gradually centralize or remove pain. With the McKenzie approach a licensed physical therapist will perform an initial assessment and then tailor treatment and prevention strategies specific to each patient. These techniques are best learned with the help of a physical therapist trained in the method but once proper technique is learned, the patient is able to perform these exercises in the convenience of their home.
The goal of the McKenzie approach for neck and lower back pain is to centralize the pain by moving it from the extremities to the back. Since typically back pain is better tolerated than pain in the extremities the theory is that the therapist can then treat the source of the pain rather than just the symptoms. Other goals include:
Help patients learn to manage their own pain
Expedited reduction in pain
Return to daily activities
Help minimize future pain
Conditions treated with McKenzie approach include:
Ankle pain
Back pain
Degenerative disc disease
Knee pain
Muscle spasms
Neck pain
Sciatica
SI joint pain
Shoulder pain
Is the McKenzie approach for neck and lower back pain safe?
When performed by a licensed physical therapist the McKenzie Method is a safe and effective form of physical therapy.
The McKenzie method is offered in many of our clinics!
We provide quality, comprehensive treatment for patients who are injured or suffering from any type of movement or function disorder.
As a key member of today's dynamic health care team, we prescribe a goal-oriented program of evaluation, treatment, and prevention for our patient's specific needs.
Conditions we treat include but are not limited to:
At Greater Therapy Centers we utilize several types of therapy techniques aimed at helping patients recover from pain. Manual therapy also referred to as manipulative therapy is a hands-on technique to relieve pain and improve range of motion in muscles and joints. Instead of utilizing a machine or device our physical therapists use their hands to apply pressure to particular muscles. This method is used to help decrease pain caused by muscle spasm or joint dysfunction.
Manual therapy helps to restore motion to joints that have been otherwise limited in mobility due to pain. Manipulation, massage and mobilization are three common forms of manual therapy. With manipulation therapy a licensed physical therapist uses their hands or a small tool to manipulate your muscles and soft tissue to help alleviate pain. Massage therapy is similar to manipulation however it involves working the knots and kinks out of your soft tissues. For mobilization a physical therapist works on loosening up the joint causing pain. This is done by moving the joint slowly while increasing the distance of movement directly into the barrier of a joint.
Manual Therapy is used to treat these conditions:
Headaches
Low back pain
Neck pain
Joint pain
Sports related injuries
Is manual therapy safe?
Yes. Manual therapy performed by licensed physical therapists is a safe and effective treatment options for people suffering from pain associated with injuries to the muscles, joint and soft tissue.
At Greater Therapy Centers our licensed physical therapists use stretching and soft tissue mobilization (STM) to help restore function to injured muscles and tissue. STM uses stretching and deep pressure to break up fibrous muscle tissue, also called myofascial adhesions, relax muscle tension and move fluids trapped in the tissues. With this technique our certified physical therapists will determine the area causing the greatest discomfort and work to restore the tissue to its normal texture. This can be done with a variety of tools.
Types of soft tissue mobilization include:
Strain – Counterstrain
ASTYM – Graston Technique
Manual Lymphatic Drainage (MLD)
Manual traction
Trigger Point Therapy / Myofascial Release
Cross friction
The benefits of soft tissue mobilization include:
Reduction in pain
Regeneration of soft tissue
Increased mobility
Improve function
Faster recovery
What conditions can be treated with soft tissue mobilization?
Ankle sprains
Carpal tunnel syndrome
Chronic back pain
Chronic neck pain
Hip pain
Knee pain
Muscle sprains and strains
Plantar fasciitis
Scar Tissue
Shoulder pain
Shin splints
Tendinitis
Post-surgical scarring
Epicondylitis
De Quervain’s tenosynovitis
Is stretching and soft tissue mobilization safe?
When performed by a licensed physical therapist soft tissue mobilization is a safe and effective form of physical therapy.
Our sports enhancement program is designed to help you recover from an injury, prevent injury, which simultaneously enhancing your ability to compete. It emphasizes individualized strength and flexibility training, plyometric (intense activity designed to produce fast, powerful muscle movements) and neuromuscular (the relationship between nerves and muscles) coordination activities, and education on safe techniques to promote an unrestricted return to sport, as well as improved athletic performance to aid the prevention of future injury.
Even if you have not had success with other treatments, this program is for you. We address the root cause rather than merely treating symptoms. This results in a more long-lasting result which is highly effective in preventing recurrent problems.
Benefits of Our Sports Enhancement Program:
Safe, unrestricted return to sport after injury.
Improved athletic performance.
Avoid lingering effects of an injury.
Reduce the risk of re-injury.
Start seeing immediate results.
Faster recovery period.
Learn how to avoid future problems.
Increased flexibility & movement.
Increased strength.
Gain power, coordination, and speed.
How long before benefits are realized?
Depending on the severity of your current condition, results can be noticed in as little as 3 visits. Some severe cases may take longer.
Be Wary Of…
Over-aggressive programs that do not take into account your individual mechanics and medical history.
Falls and fear of falling in our senior population are recognized public health crises.
According to the CDC, falls are the leading cause of injury-related deaths in older adults by a wide margin. Each year, more than two million seniors experience a fall severe enough to necessitate emergency medical treatment. This number along with the associated personal and societal costs of falling is expected to rise as our population ages. Despite these grim statistics, many falls are preventable with professional interventions that address the causes of falling in older adults.
Our expert clinicians are trained in evidence-based interventions that are proven by controlled clinical trials to effectively reduce the number of falls in older adults.
There are other factors that also contribute to falls. Neurological conditions such as Parkinson's Disease, stroke, multiple sclerosis, brain injury, vestibular disorders, and neuropathy also increase fall risk. Our therapy team is well equipped to address the problems of falling and the fear of falling in individuals living with these conditions.
