woman performing spinal extension using mckenzie method

 

You don’t necessarily need cracking, needles, surgery, or an invasive technique to get you out of pain. Sometimes, all you need is a specific set of strategic, gentle, repetitive movements, like the McKenzie Method. 

If you are in pain and need help but are afraid to go to the chiropractor because you don’t want to get “cracked,” this method may be a good solution. It ties into the “comprehensive” part of our name; we offer a lot more than just traditional chiropractic services. 

Here’s a closer look at the McKenzie Method and how it can help.

 

What is the McKenzie Method?

The McKenzie Method is a type of physical therapy with two parts: a test and a treatment. 

As a diagnosis, we look at your symptoms and try to understand why and how they are traveling into your extremities away from the spine. After a normal exam, where we can hone in on what we suspect is the source of the pain, the McKenzie diagnostic therapy can provide even more pinpointed information. 

The treatment, both professionally and at-home, is based on those test results. 

As a self-healing technique, the McKenzie Method aims to centralize the pain via specific, repetitive movements. It’s frequently used to help people with acute disc herniations, as a way to get them out of pain without adjusting, decompression, or dry needling. The spine is the center of it all, and when you have a sensation radiating into your arms or legs with a disc herniation, there’s likely pressure on or around a nerve in your spine. If we can do movements that take the pressure off that nerve (so, not just looking at the pain in the extremity, but the root of the issue), we can reduce that pain.

When we reduce the discomfort, it opens up the possibility for other treatments too, such as decompression and dry needling in the future. Because sometimes first, you have to reduce the pain past the point of not even wanting to be touched. 

 

Is the McKenzie Method Effective?

The McKenzie Method is incredibly effective and it works quickly. Within five minutes, the pain is often gone or dramatically improved. Within three visits, if you do your at-home exercises, there should be at least 50% improvement in your symptoms.  

At Comprehensive Chiropractic, we mix the McKenzie principles with our other training and knowledge, too. 

One big reason it’s so effective? Because we do a thorough diagnosis and tell you the proper things to do based on the results. 

 

Does the McKenzie Method Work for Everyone?

The McKenzie Method works as a diagnostic tool for all spinal complaints. Once a diagnosis is reached the appropriate treatment will be advised. In the case of a disc injury the initial treatment is Mckenzie at home exercises. The exam will also help determine non-disc injuries which would lead to a different treatment approach. 

 

The Bottom Line On The McKenzie Method

The effectiveness of the McKenzie Method is a good reminder of how important it is to get a diagnosis by an expert. In fact, your first visit is the most important part of the healing process. This is not a walk-in-and-get-a-quick-crack, surface-level experience. We want to figure out what’s the root cause and treat it appropriately. A back crack without a proper diagnosis can actually lead to more problems. 

We make sure to provide treatment alongside education about your condition to help manage your current injury and to prevent future injuries. Give us a call at (720) 458-0487 or message us here with any further questions about our different options.