University Orthopaedic Associates is proud to announce that physical therapist Lindsey Balint is certified in the McKenzie Method^® of Mechanical Diagnosis and Therapy^® (MDT). Lindsey’s certification will allow her—and UOA—to better serve our patients through both cutting edge and proven recovery techniques.

The McKenzie Method of MDT is a way to assess, address and prevent spine conditions, posture problems and joint pain. The McKenzie Method has four steps.

• Step 1: Assessment: The assessment phase starts with a medical history and physical exam of the patient that consists of repetitive movements. Repetitive movements help the physical therapist identify and classify your condition.
• Step 2: Classification: MDT puts every musculoskeletal condition into one of three classifications of mechanical pain. Mechanical pain is any type of back pain caused by placing abnormal stress and strain on muscles of the spine. Mechanical pain results from bad habits such as poor posture and seating and incorrect bending and lifting motions. McKenzie Method-certified therapists use these classifications to inform treatment.
  • Postural Syndrome: Pain typically in the joint capsule or ligaments due to prolonged end range positioning of normal tissue.
  • Derangement Syndrome: Pain caused by a mechanical obstruction to movement within the joint such as a protruding disc.
  • Dysfunction Syndrome: Pain that appears immediately when shortened spinal tissues are stretched. This is often a result of trauma, inflammation or degenerative processes.
• Step 3: Treatment: The McKenzie Method is not simply a series of exercises, but a way for physical therapists to solve problems with their clients. Depending on which classification your condition is in, your therapist will run you through certain exercises and have you avoid some postures.
• Step 4: Prevention: At this step, your therapist will give you the tools you need to help yourself, stay healthy and prevent your condition from getting worse.

In many cases, the goal of McKenzie Method-based physical therapy is to move pain from the arms and legs into the torso and back. This is called centralization.

Another important philosophy of the McKenzie Method is that of patient participation and empowerment. Patients will receive the tools they need to manage their pain between sessions. patients take a 100 percent active role in their treatment.

With her certification, Lindsey is able to identify sources of mechanical pain and come up with a plan to treat them in the most appropriate ways. As a McKenzie Method-certified practitioner, Lindsey uses exercises, movements and postural corrections both to eliminate sources of acute and chronic pain and give her patients the knowledge and ability to prevent such pain in the future.

If you are experiencing acute or chronic pain, request an appointment at UOA. We can diagnose your problem and develop a treatment plan that’s right for you. If you’re interested in the McKenzie Method, ask for Lindsey.