When it comes to physical therapy, there are many different methods/systems of assessment and treatment of patients. Naturally, each method has its unique advantages and disadvantages, so it’s valuable to be familiar with multiple different thought processes.
Some of the more recognizable clinical reasoning models designed for thinking through complex musculoskeletal conditions include:
At Elite PT, we are trained on and heavily influenced by three of these methods: the McKenzie, the Maitland, and Neurodynamic Solutions.
The McKenzie System is based around repeated movements. Its process consists of the patient moving in one or multiple ways and the therapist determining how the patient's symptoms respond to those movements. As a result, the patient can be provided with one or two very effective movements as exercises along with a specific functional diagnosis and treatment plan.
The Maitland System is similar to the McKenzie System but has a more hands on approach and more specific assessment process. It teaches therapists to relate multiple findings—including those gleaned from manual therapy assessment of joints and other tissues—to arrive at as specific a condition and treatment plan as possible.
Neurodynamic Solutions is based upon the clinical experience and post graduate research of Michael Shacklock. It’s designed to help therapists determine first if there is an issue with the nerve(s), and then if so, help provide a functional diagnosis based on the condition’s intolerances and develop a systemic approach to treat the condition in the hopes of helping the nerve(s) recover so the patient might return to their previous levels of function.
Our team at Elite PT was lucky enough to train with Michael Shacklock himself and is the only clinic in the east coast who has multiple therapists as credentialed practitioners—meaning each practitioner has undergone rigorous testing, both written and practical.