Classification by McKenzie mechanical syndromes: a survey of McKenzie-trained faculty

The purpose of this survey was to identify the percentage of patients with spine pain who can be classified by McKenzie-trained faculty as having one of either derangement, dysfunction, or postural syndromes.

McKenzie Institute International faculty members in 20 countries, who are highly trained and are experienced users of the classification system, recorded details on 15 consecutively discharged patients.

Responses were received from 57 therapists in 18 countries (89% of potential sample), and details were collected on 607 patients with spine pain. Eighty-three percent were classified in one of the mechanical syndromes; derangement was the most common syndrome. Therapists recorded a mechanical classification in a mean of 82% (SD, 15.1; range, 44%-100%) of their patients with spine pain.

For this study, the McKenzie mechanical syndromes were commonly diagnosed in a large consecutive group of patients at multiple sites by experienced therapists. This classification system may have valuable clinical use in managing patients with spine pain.