McKenzie Therapy

If back pain is disrupting your daily life, McKenzie therapy may provide the lasting relief you’ve been hoping for. Here at Bounty Physio, our certified physiotherapists use this evidence-based treatment system to evaluate and treat a wide range of back conditions.

Developed by pioneering New Zealand physiotherapist Robin McKenzie, McKenzie therapy focuses on self-care through specific exercises and movements. It empowers patients to take an active role in managing and preventing back pain episodes.

McKenzie therapy is based on the principle that how you position and move your spine can either improve or exacerbate your symptoms. Certain positions or motions can relieve back pain by unloading and repositioning damaged structures.

The main goals are to:

• Identify precise movements and positions that reduce your symptoms. These are called “directional preference” exercises.
• Teach you personalised exercises and strategies based on your directional preference to continue relieving your pain.
• Help you make modifications to maintain good spine positioning throughout all your daily activities.

With consistent practice, these targeted exercises and postures re-align the structures of your spine to alleviate pain triggers. You gain control over your symptoms while also learning preventative strategies.

McKenzie therapy is highly effective for:

• Herniated or bulging discs
• Sciatica
• Facet joint dysfunction
• Muscular back pain
• Spinal stenosis
• Spondylolisthesis
• Degenerative disc disease
• Post-surgical back pain

It can relieve pain arising from damaged, bulging, or compressed discs, irritated nerves, tight muscles, or strained structures. It helps people identify exactly which movements aggravate versus centralise and lessen their unique pain.

Advantages of McKenzie therapy include:

• Lasting pain relief – Identifying and consistently performing your directional preference exercises provides ongoing benefits.
• Improved function – Back pain often severely limits activity. McKenzie therapy restores your ability to function normally.
• Patient empowerment – You gain control over your back pain using self-care strategies you can perform anytime.
• Individualised treatment – Your program is tailored to your unique pain patterns and responses.
• Preventative – McKenzie teaches you how to avoid future pain episodes by maintaining proper spine positioning during daily activities.
• Drug-free – No medications required, just targeted exercises and postural correction.
• Cost-effective – Hands-on therapy sessions are complemented by invaluable education for self-treatment.

For chronic back pain sufferers, McKenzie therapy provides tools to better manage flare-ups for improved quality of life.

Your physiotherapist conducts a thorough assessment to identify your directional preference exercises, including:

• Motion testing – You’ll perform different movements and positions while noting the effects on your pain.
• Physical exam – Musculoskeletal tests identify involved structures.
• Questioning – Your therapist learns how your symptoms change with certain activities.
• Education – You’ll learn McKenzie principles of posture and body mechanics.

Based on the assessment findings, your therapist will design a program of repeated motions and exercises that alleviate your symptoms. They will supervise and progress your program across ongoing sessions while teaching you to continue it independently at home.

For uncomplicated acute back pain, 1 to 3 sessions to teach directional preference exercises may suffice. Recurrent or chronic back problems often need 6 to 10 visits. Your physiotherapist can advise how many appointments are recommended based on your specific back condition.

Consistently performing your home exercise program is key for maintaining gains between visits. Your therapist may also incorporate other pain-relieving modalities into your treatment plan.

Our McKenzie credentialed physiotherapists have specialised expertise using this proven back pain system. Benefits include:

• Advanced certification – Our therapists complete extensive post-graduate McKenzie training for certification.
• Back pain specialisation – We utilise McKenzie therapy regularly and continuously expand our skills.
• Proven protocols – Our assessments and treatment plans adhere to gold standard McKenzie methodology.
• Latest techniques – We integrate the most current McKenzie principles into customised therapy.
• Progressive exercise – Our exercise progressions strengthen and stabilise the spine.
• Patient education – We thoroughly teach you McKenzie principles for self-managing your back pain.

If back pain is interfering with your quality of life, consider McKenzie therapy for lasting relief.

Contact us today to book your assessment and start learning how to truly master your back pain.