Date of Award

2007

Document Type

Scholarly Project

Degree Name

Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT)

Department

Physical Therapy

First Advisor

Beverly Johnson

Keywords

Low Back Pain -- therapy

Abstract

Objective: The objective of this case study is to describe the use of the McKenzie Method (MM) with a patient with low back pain (LBP) with radicular symptoms.

History: The patient is a 26 year-old, male with complaints of low back pain with radicular symptoms down his right lower extremity to his ankle. The patient presented with decreased range of motion to lumbar spine, a flexed and left laterally shifted posture, decreased strength of right lower extremity, and peripheralizing symptoms of pain.

Description: The treatment for this patient involved repeated flexion and extension movements, stretching, posture education, instruction in body mechanics, and strengthening exercises for lumbar paraspinals, abdominals, and bilateral lower extremities.

Outcomes: Following intervention, the patient was able to achieve full lumbar range of motion, abolished symptoms of pain, increased lower extremity strength, and improved level of function.

Discussion: This case varied from traditional protocol of the MM due to the inability to correct the lateral shift initially. The combination of first flexion biased exercise and later extension biased exercises were utilized. Use of the MM requires consistency with the repeated movements. The MM proved to be an effective and quick treatment for LBP with radicular symptoms.

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