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How to
Contact Us
Address: The McKenzie Institute USA
600 E. Genesee St., Suite 124
Syracuse, NY 13202-2132
Phone:
315-471-7612
800-635-8380
Fax:
315-471-7636
Internet:
http://www.mckenziemdt.org
Board of
Directors
2001 McKenzie Institute
International Conference
Ted Dreisinger MS, Ph.D. Chairman
Preventive Care,
Jefferson City, MO
Credentialed & Diplomaed
Alert!
Watch your mail for our survey seeking your critical feedback
on better serving your needs as well as the development of
the Certification Renewal process currently in development!
Dan Kelley PT, Dip.MDT Vice Chairman
St. Louis P. T. & Sports Medicine
St. Louis, MO
MEMBERSHIP-Join today!
Maryann Winters CPA Treasurer, Partner, Baasch,
Winters & Breen, P.C. Syracuse, NY
Patrick Pedro Attorney Secretary
Partner, Bond, Schoeneck & King,
LLP, Syracuse, NY
Robert Colley MS
Syracuse University Continuing Education, Syracuse, NY
Ron Donelson MD, Dip.MDT
Hanover, NH
Elaine Gilman PT, Dip.MDT
St. Petersburg, FL
Dana Greene PT, Dip.MDT
Summit Physical Therapy
Syracuse, NY
Carol Harnett MS
The Hartford Insurance Co.
Simsbury, CT
Steven L. Heffner DC
Laurel Health System
Wellsboro, PA
Stacey A. Lyon
Executive Director
McKenzie Institute USA
Aug 17-19, 2001
The Westin Hotel
Take advantage of BIG savings with
the U.S./ Canadian exchange rate!
The conference program is nearly complete with a
clinical smorgasbord of timely topics and talent.
And...for information about the host city of Ottawa
visit their web site at www.tourottawa.org.
Mark your calendars now and watch
for more details in our next issue!
Registration brochures will mail in early 2001.
Stay up on the latest in research and get
discounts on course tuition, products,
US conferences, marketing assistance to
certified McKenzie clinicians and more -only $125 a year
($145 outside the US and $65 student rate.)
Publication deadlines for submissions:
Journal
Vol. 9, #1
Vol. 9, #2
Vol. 9, #3
Vol. 9, #4
Copy
1/15/01
4/1/01
7/1/01
10/1/01
Mailing
2/15/01
5/1/01
8/1/01
11/1/01
Spineline
Vol. 5, #1
Vol. 5, #2
Vol. 5, #3
Vol. 5, #4
Copy
12/15/00
3/15/01
6/15/01
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Mailing
1/15/01
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10/15/01
Volume 4; Number 4 • Fall 2000
line
The Newsletter of the McKenzie Institute USA
A Word From
Administration
It is not always easy to understand change, or
typical growing pains within organizations.
Arnold Bennett once said, “Any change, even a
change for the better, is always accompanied by
drawbacks and discomforts.” This is perhaps my best explanation for
transitions that have occurred within the Institute, and certainly those
that have precipitated a well-respected colleague moving on.
As of December 31, 2000, another such transition will be occurring. The
International Diploma Program currently running in Coon Rapids, MN
will cease at that venue. Due to unsuccessful negotiations with Novacare
to renew the contract to house the program, the MII Board of Trustees
with recommendation from the International Advisory Council regrettably
determined that the program could not remain operational without a
contract in place.
The good news is the Diploma Program will not cease to exist. Details will
be forthcoming in due course from The McKenzie Institute International
(MII) on a new location for the residential program. In addition, MII had
already been considering additional options of alternative deliveries of
the Diploma Program with a goal to help facilitate educating as many who
are interested in attaining the Diploma as possible.
With the favorable results from a survey of Diplomates and Credentialed
clinicians worldwide last year, the MII Board of Trustees in consultation
with the Advisory Council and Director of Education, are in the active
development of a Clinical Mentoring program. It will be designed as shorter segments over a longer period of time incorporating distance education
models and several locations worldwide are being considered to run
the new structure. Currently negotiations are well underway for a venue
in San Diego to commence the mentoring diploma program in 2001.
The drawback with the transition, but certainly prudent for personal
reasons, is David Poulter’s decision to remain in Minnesota. Thus, he is
no longer assuming the position as Diploma Tutor. Rather than thinking
we are losing someone special, because we certainly are, let us appreciate
what an enormous gift of time and knowledge that David Poulter has
bestowed the Institute in his near decade of service with us.
On behalf of the US Board, faculty and branch, I know that I speak for
many students who have had the extraordinary opportunity to work with
such a brilliant individual -- words of gratitude and praise are limitless,
and to David, our very best wishes for every success in the next phase of
his journey.
With the holiday season approaching, it is always a time to appreciate
the abundance of gifts that surround us. Thanks to all of you who
remain steadfast in your work with the Institute and support of the
McKenzie Method.
I wish you Peace and Joy,
Stacey A. Lyon
Executive Director
You never stop learning.
Now available from McKenzie Institute, USA: The McKenzie Method - Clinical Assistant:
The Lumbar Spine. This interactive CD-ROM offers everything you need to become, or to continue
as, an effective McKenzie therapist! It’s an invaluable tool in learning and perfecting your skills in
the McKenzie Approach.
Some highlights of The Clinical Assistant include:
• Explanation of McKenzie concepts
• Description of evaluative techniques
• Definition of McKenzie diagnosis syndromes
• Treatment techniques with descriptions, uses and
video demonstrations
• Guided diagnostic tool
• Patient-specific treatment progressions
• Virtual patients
This powerful computer-based clinical assistant includes three separate sections that you will find
extremely beneficial in learning and using the McKenzie Approach to Examining and Treating patients
with Low Back Pain. They are:
1. Approach to Evaluation and Treatment. This section provides general background information,
describes mechanisms that cause low back pain, defines Postural, Dysfunction, and Derangement
syndromes, and provides a review of the examination and treatment procedures that have been
described and perfected by Robin McKenzie. This section can be used in conjunction with The
Lumbar Spine text as a reference tool.
2. Assisted Diagnosis and Trouble-Shooting. This diagnostic and treatment assistant will guide you
to an appropriate mechanical diagnosis for your patient and subsequently lead you through a treatment progression. The Treatment/Progression of Forces is a step-by-step treatment and re-assessment
process that is designed to assist in simple treatment progressions.
3. Patient Simulator. Improve your diagnostic skills with the patient simulator, which allows you to
examine a “computer patient” and generate a diagnosis with or without help from the computer. You
will review such things as the patient’s work and leisure activities, history of back pain, and range of
motion. You are then given the opportunity to test your knowledge based on the patient’s responses.
If needed, you may “Ask Robin” how to interpret responses to further enhance your learning.
If you have completed at least Part A of the McKenzie Method of Mechanical Diagnosis and Therapy,
you won’t want to pass up this great opportunity! This fully interactive CD-ROM is available to you
now for only $69.00. Plus, if you’re a member of the MIUSA, you’ll receive an additional 10% discount.
Call the MIUSA to order or for more information.
“Greatness is not in where we stand, but in what
direction we are moving. We must sail sometimes
with the wind and sometimes against it - but sail we
must and not drift, nor lie at anchor.”
-- Oliver Wendell Holmes
Clinical Corner
By David Poulter
PT, BSc., MCSP, Dip.MDT
CHANGE
“Nothing endures but change.”
-Heraclitus
In the last Clinical Corner, I alluded to the ever changing face
of the health system, and the need to embrace our changing
role in patient care. In my experience, people fear change.
Change is something that should be embraced not feared.
I would like to recommend a delightful little book on change
called, Who Moved My Cheese! The essence of the book is
about embracing change. The basic messages from this book
can be applied to your clinical work, and may even help you
understand the principles of mechanical diagnosis and therapy
more clearly.
Understanding the underlying principles, which define mechanical
diagnosis and therapy, will allow you and your patients to adapt to
changes. Understanding the principles is understanding WHY you
do something, not WHAT you do.
Quality Assessment Effects
McKenzie Outcome Tool
Over the past three years, MIUSA has developed, in concert with Drs. Ron Donelson and
Ted Dreisinger, a clinical outcome tool with the acronym METHODS (McKenzie Evaluation,
Therapeutic, & Outcomes Data System).
This was the result of two converging needs within the conservative spine community.
At large, there are increasing pressures by third party payers for practices to justify
the clinical efficacy of their work. On a more McKenzie specific level, clinicians have been
requesting a way to streamline their practices and to find a way to provide the payers
objective data with which to discriminate the McKenzie Method from other physical
therapy approaches. This same data, in aggregate from many clinical practices, is of great
value in presenting outcomes of McKenzie care to the research and guidelines
communities as well.
The METHODS system involved patients/clinicians filling out paperwork (on bubble sheet
forms), and faxing it to MIUSA for data entry in an MS Access-driven database. The data
would then generate individual patient and clinic summary reports to serve the clinical
needs of the patient and clinician.
Things change often (WHATS), principles rarely change (WHYS).
“Real empowerment comes from having both the principles
and the practices understood and applied at all levels
of the organisation. Practices are the ‘what to do’s,’ specific
applications that fit specific circumstances. Principles are
the ‘why to do’s,’ the elements upon which applications or
practices are built. Without understanding the principles of
a given task, people become incapacitated when the situation
changes and different practices are required to be successful.
When training people, we often teach skills and practices, the
specific ‘how to’ of a given task. But when we teach practices
without principles, we tend to make people dependent on
us or others for further instruction and direction.”
This extract from Stephen Covey’s book Principle Centered
Leadership is as applicable to mechanical diagnosis and self
treatment as it is to the business world.
One of the key principles of mechanical diagnosis and therapy
is the self treatment concept. I would encourage you all to
reflect on what you consider “self treatment” to mean. I coined
the phrase whilst teaching, “Give them power, that’s how it is
meant to be.” For me, this is the essence of self treatment -empowerment.
One of the biggest changes that I encourage you to try to make
is your educational role and style with your patients. Do your
patients understand the principles, or do they only understand
the ‘what to do’s’? For example, do they know what to do to
effect their condition, or do they know why they do the things
and how to adapt them?
Learning to effectively empower your patients can be one of the
biggest changes you may face as a clinician. Don’t fear change -embrace it.
1
2
Who Moved My Cheese. An amazing way to deal with change in your work and life. Spencer Johnson
MD, 1999.
Principle Centered Leadership. Stephen Covey, Simon and Schuster, New York, 1990.
This will be my last contribution to Clinical Corner. I am
experiencing some changes in my own life and will be moving
on to find new “Cheese.” I hope that my comments and
advice over the past few years have in some small way helped
your patients. After all, that’s the most important principle.
Best wishes, David Poulter
A series of iterations to a beta version were made over time, and the response from
clinicians has been somewhat disappointing, but has centered around the concern that
the system simply has “too much paper…”
Web technology has been moving toward the forefront of data acquisition systems on
a more global level – and the Institute has not missed this growth. Indeed, the current
METHODS tool was designed with the deliberate thought in mind that it would be a
‘bridge’ tool until the technology arrived to allow it to be done electronically. However,
this technology has moved much faster than anticipated at the inception of this project.
As a result, in consultation with The McKenzie Institute International, the MIUSA
Executive Committee has decided to suspend the METHODS project. We can all
appreciate the need to have an economically delivered solution that is user-friendly
within the clinic using the best technology available.
For those of you who have helped and provided us with invaluable input, we say a
heartfelt Thank you.
None of this process has, or will go to waste. Your past efforts remain valuable as we
progress toward an even better product. We simply don’t want you to invest in a system
that may be replaced in a few short months. The MIUSA is still committed to providing
clinicians with a viable objective outcomes program.
We appreciate both your patience and support in this endeavor.
“All things change, yet nothing is extinguished … there is
nothing in the whole world which is permanent. Everything
flows onwards, and all things are brought into being with a
changing nature. The ages themselves glide by in constant
movement … for still waters will never reach the sea.”
-- Ovid, Roman Poet
Holiday
Gift Ideas
McKenzie Certified Therapists
Great Gift Ideas! For your staff or co-workers...
even friends and family. McKenzie Method
polo shirts! New lighter weight, but still that
quality 100% cotton ($25.00 plus s/h).
Industry is talking about the OSHA Ergonomic Standard. Who are they talking to? Future
Industrial Technologies’ (F.I.T.) nationwide and a Canadian team of over 1,000 physical
therapists and chiropractors who are also certified BACKSAFE™ and SITTINGSAFE™
Injury Prevention Consultants.
AND with those cooler nights,
try our long sleeved
McKenzie Method
denim shirt on for
size ($30.00 plus s/h)!
Certification in the McKenzie Method can help. Andrea Katz, PT, Cert.MDT (Richmond,
VA) concurs. “Therapists who utilize the McKenzie Method are always talking about”
if only we could get people to sit right, lift correctly, etc. we wouldn’t see so many
severely debilitating injuries coming into our clinics. “Becoming an injury prevention
consultant for industry seemed like a great opportunity to use my knowledge as a therapist
in another avenue directly related to my field. The BACKSAFE/SITTINGSAFE injury
prevention philosophy is a perfect match with the McKenzie philosophy.”
Can Benefit from OSHA Standard
Also, our McKenzie Method 3-ring Binders (1 1/2")
are available for ($10.00 plus s/h). Perfect for
cataloging your member Journals or
issues of Spineline!
Call to order now!
“Real education should educate us out of self
into something far finer; into a selflessness
which links us with all humanity.”
- Lady Nancy Astor
Changes in store
for 2001
Courses Audit (retake) Fees will increase to 50% of tuition
Part A=$282.50 Part B=$217.50
Part C=$247.50 Part D=$299.50
Exams Retake Fees will increase to
Whole=$250 Written=$200
Performance=$50
Web Site A whole new facelift! Easier navigation, worldwide
branch information, and our new features
will eventually include Abstract Database for
members, online registration, and much more!
Overview Program - now available on Powerpoint
“I have a really good understanding of the spine and what causes back injuries,” said
Andrea. “Being both McKenzie certified and also a certified BACKSAFE™ and
SITTINGSAFE™ Injury Prevention Consultant gives you confidence because you know
that you know your stuff and that translates to
credibility with both my patients and the
Work-related musculoskeletal
employees at companies we train. My patients
benefit from my newfound training in biome- disorders ( WMSDs) are a $9
chanics and ergonomics. I knew these areas
billion problem for industry
were important, but I didn’t have all the
-- Dennis Downing
answers. Now I know what to tell them in the
President of F.I.T.
prevention area.”
When asked if she sees the trend continuing, Andrea added, “I think with the direction
things are going with OSHA, and the growing cost of treating back injuries, it will
expand. Large companies are starting to search for alternatives to managing the injury after it
happens. Dupont has the best safety program in the country and they are utilizing BACKSAFE.
My patients tell me the injury prevention training I give them really works, that it’s effective
and helps them a lot. This makes me feel I can be even more effective as a therapist.”
According to Dennis Downing, President of F.I.T., “Work-related musculoskeletal disorders
(WMSDs) are a $9 billion problem for industry that is being targeted by OSHA and is
forcing companies to look for solutions. The question out there right now is, which solution
is going to get real results in preventing injuries to employees and protect their quality of
life, save companies money and be in compliance with the new ergonomics standard.”
Is there something that the physical therapy community and McKenzie certified practitioners
can do to help? “Emphatically YES!” says Downing. “Certified McKenzie therapists already
have the base of knowledge that facilitates making them the best injury prevention consultants
around when armed with the right program that can get consistent, sustainable results.”
Future Industrial Technologies, Inc. (F.I.T.) and BACKSAFE/SITTINGSAFE, based in
Santa Barbara, California, has been delivering injury prevention training since 1992 in
47 states in the U.S. and in Canada. For more information, call 1-800-775-2225.
“The ultimate measure of a man is not where
he stands in moments of comfort, but where he
stands at times of challenge and controversy.”
- Martin Luther King, Jr.