McKenzie method
The McKenzie method is a technique primarily used in physical therapy. It was developed in the late 1950s by New Zealand physiotherapist Robin McKenzie. In 1981 he launched the concept which he called "Mechanical Diagnosis and Therapy (MDT)" – a system encompassing assessment, diagnosis and treatment for the spine and extremities. MDT categorises patients' complaints not on an anatomical basis, but subgroups them by the clinical presentation of patients. McKenzie exercises involve spinal extension exercises, as opposed to Williams flexion exercises, which involve lumbar flexion exercises. Effectiveness There is only weak evidence for the effectiveness of the method's use for treating lower back pain. A 2019 systematic review found that there was evidence that it could reduce chronic lower back pain in the short term, and enhance function in the longer term, but that most studies of the treatment had methodological flaws, such as small sample sizes and a lack of blinding. Compared to other treatments, the McKenzie method is not better at treating acute pain and disability for people with lower back pain. It may be better than some other approaches for chronic lower back pain, but this evidence for this is insufficient to recommend the method. Exercises targeting