What is the McKenzie Method®/MDT?

The McKenzie Method® or Mechanical Diagnosis and Therapy® (MDT) is an internationally researched and acclaimed system of assessment and management for spinal and extremity musculoskeletal disorders developed by New Zealand Physiotherapist Robin McKenzie. It has been widely used all over the world for more than 60 years. The clinician takes clues from the history and the effects of specific loading strategies on symptoms. During the history, the clinician begins to formulate a differential diagnosis.

First, clinicians check to see if it is a problem with a mechanical influence, a medical influence, or a biopsychosocial influence or a combination of the aforementioned.

Second, if mechanical, they check to see which of the classification syndromes does it fit into: derangement, dysfunction, posture or other.

The physical examination, which includes a series of loading strategies, confirms or refutes the postulated diagnosis.

Stated another way, MDT is a classification system. It seeks to differentiate between mechanical and non-mechanical sources of pain and functional limitation. Symptomatic and mechanical changes are assessed using repeated movements and sustained positions to lead to the classifications mentioned above.

Our McKenzie Method®/MDT Staff

Brian Peterson, PT, Cert MDT, has been with KCHC since the Summer of 2015. He is an alumni of Northwest Missouri State University, the Univesity of Iowa, and obtained his PT degree from Samuel Merritt College in Oakland, CA. He became certified in the McKenzie mechanical diagnosis and therapy system in 2004. Professional interests are orthopedics, BPPV and vestibular conditions, and the spine.

Brian and wife, Sandy, live in Fairfield, IA, with their dog, Peanut. He is a long standing Hawkeye wrestling fan, PEZ collector, disc golfer, and likes to catch big fish.

Jaime Martin, PTA, has been with the KCHC PT team since 2006 as a Physical Therapist Assistant. Jaime graduated from Indian Hills Community College, Physical Therapist Assistant Program with an A.A.S degree, in 2006. She serves on the Indian Hills Community College PTA Advisory Board. She has obtained additional training specializing in the McKenzie Method for treatment of back and neck pain. Her mission is to get her patients moving again so they can get back to living life.  Her areas of interests include back and neck pain, orthopedics, and post surgical.

Jaime lives in rural Jefferson County with her husband, Thad. They have two adult children. She enjoys being outdoors, walking with her dogs Boone and Rusty, and working on their farm.