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MECHANICAL DIAGNOSIS & THERAPY
McKenzie Intl. Courses

The McKenzie Institute International is a Charitable Trust registered in New Zealand.  The Institute’s objective is the worldwide promotion of the assessment, treatment, education and empowerment of patients with musculoskeletal disorders. This philosophy and treatment, developed by Robin Anthony McKenzie, is known worldwide as the McKenzie Method® of Mechanical Diagnosis and Therapy® or MDT. 

As a continuous a collaboration with McKenzie institute international, that has started in 2007 PRIMEPHYSIO Introducing the Mechanical diagnosis and therapy once again in the Middle East.

WHAT IS THE MCKENZIE METHOD?

The McKenzie Method® of 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.

Clinicians trained in the MDT system are able to assess and classify all complaints  of the musculoskeletal system. That means that if a problem is coming from the spine, extremity joints, muscles or tendons, then a MDT evaluation is appropriate. An MDT clinician will be able to identify if MDT is indicated, what management strategy is best, and outline a predicted recovery pathway.

A key feature of the method is the initial assessment - a safe and reliable format to reach an accurate classification and only then develop the appropriate management plan, taking into account all the various factors that can influence the patient’s experience of pain. Expensive tests such as MRI’s are often unnecessary.

MDT is a comprehensive assessment and management approach based on sound and logical principles that focuses on the patient and their potential to self-manage and recover their previous level of function.

Watch world known researchers speak about the McKenzie Method. More videos are available at McKenzie Institute USA

ROBIN MCKENZIE

Robin Anthony McKenzie was born in Auckland in 1931. He was educated at Wairarapa College, spent his student years at Otago University, and graduated from the New Zealand School of Physiotherapy in Dunedin in 1952. In 1953, he started a private practice in Wellington, and it was here that he developed a special interest in treating spinal disorders.

Robin McKenzie created The McKenzie Institute International in 1982 and led its growth into a worldwide educational organisation. Physiotherapists, doctors, chiropractors and other allied health professionals in 40 different countries have been educated in the McKenzie Method and the expansion of The McKenzie Institute’s Education Programme continues to grow.

Robin McKenzie story is an inspiration for the physiotherapists worldwide.Watch this short video to know the man behind this world class method and education. 

Kuwait

Part A ( lumber spine)

19 - 22 October, 2023 

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Istanbul - Turkey

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Stay tuned for the upcoming Intake

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Cairo - Egypt

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Stay tuned for the upcoming Intake

Dubai - UAE

Stay tuned for the upcoming intake

Tutor:

Hans van Helvoirt

Senior MDT Tutor

Hans van Helvoirt is physical therapist who studied till 1986 at the international academy ‘Thim van der Laan’ in Utrecht. After that he gained his manual therapy license ‘Maitland Concept’ in 1990 and finished the diploma program in Mechanical Diagnosis and Therapy (MDT) McKenzie in 1992 in Wellington New Zealand. Besides courses in physical therapy (Butler, Mulligan, Elvey, Comerfort, O’ Sullivan). He did his Masters in Arts in Psychology at the University Benelux in Antwerp and several coaching courses as provocative coaching, inspiring coaching en motivational interviewing. Since 1993 Hans has taught MDT/ McKenzie in the Benelux, Denmark, Hungary and Slovenia and spoke at conferences worldwide about MDT and the place of MDT in the biopsychosocial model. Within the McKenzie Institute International, Hans has position in the promotion committee, public health committee, outcome measurement committee. Hans works as a consultant in Rugpoli Brabant, Tilburg, the Netherlands, the Centre for Manual Medicine and Pain Management. Together with VU university Amsterdam, he does research about the interaction between MDT and Anesthesiology.

Free Webinar by Dr. Hans

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PART A: THE LUMBAR SPINE

COURSE AIMS

Following attentive participation in, and completion of, this course will provide participants with the introductory knowledge, basic skills and abilities to begin to:

  1. Describe and discuss the basic principles of MDT and how it fits within the context of the biopsychosocial back pain experience.

  2. Appropriately apply the McKenzie Method of MDT to patients with lumbar spine problems.

  3. Distinguish between the MDT syndromes (Derangement, Dysfunction, Postural) and OTHER subgroups and provide appropriate management regimens for each of the MDT syndromes.

  4. Identify when the application of external forces is required for the resolution of symptoms using MDT’s concept of ‘Progression of Forces’.

  5. . Recognise how to assist patients to design and apply the therapeutic processes to achieve management goals, taking into account any personal or environmental barriers to recovery.

  6. Describe and discuss the basic principles of MDT and how it fits within the context of the biopsychosocial back pain experience.

  7. Appropriately apply the McKenzie Method of MDT to patients with lumbar spine problems.

  8. Distinguish between the MDT syndromes (Derangement, Dysfunction, Postural) and OTHER subgroups and provide appropriate management regimens for each of the MDT syndromes.

  9. Identify when the application of external forces is required for the resolution of symptoms using MDT’s concept of  ‘Progression of Forces’.

  10. Recognise how to assist patients to design and apply the therapeutic processes to achieve management goals, taking into account any personal or environmental barriers to recovery.

Course overview and topics to be covered:

This Three-day course introduces the theoretical aspects and concepts of the McKenzie Method in Mechanical Diagnosis and Therapy (MDT), as it is applied to the musculoskeletal system. The focus of this course, which is the first in the
McKenzie course series, is the assessment, classification and management of patients with complaints of low back, related referred pain and functional limitations.

In certain countries, one day of the course is completed as an online distance learning component. This online component is

completed prior to attending the three days at a teaching venue with an instructor. In countries that don't utilise the
online distance learning component the full four-day course is completed onsite with an instructor.

The principles of MDT and how they apply in the context of the biopsychosocial framework of managing patients with musculoskeletal pain and functional limitations will be a key focus. The participants will explore and extensively
practice the MDT assessment, classification and management process s through lectures, workshops, discussions, and patient demonstrations.

The classifications of Derangement, Dysfunction and Postural syndromes are described in detail and appropriate management plans are discussed, with emphasis on the use of patient self-treatment procedures and education.

Indications for the use of clinician procedures will also be discussed and the procedures demonstrated and practiced. Subgroups not fulfilling the criteria of the McKenzie syndromes are introduced and the basis for their differential diagnosis is outlined.

Follow-up patient demonstrations will illustrate the reassessment process and allow participants to get a realistic feel and understanding of the impact of the MDT system on differing patient presentations over 2-3 treatment sessions.

The course will include an illustrated manual and complete reference list. Participants will also have access to videos of all procedures, the full reference list on the MII website and a voluntary self -assessment post-course quiz (English Only).

PART B: THE CERVICAL SPINE

COURSE AIMS

Following attentive participation in, and completion of, this course will provide participants with the introductory knowledge, basic skills and abilities to begin to: