The McKenzie method for (sub)acute non-specific low back pain
Matheus O Almeida1, Alessandra Narciso Garcia1, Luciola C Menezes Costa1
1Masters and Doctoral Programs in Physical Therapy, Universidade Cidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil.
The Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews
|April 5, 2023
Summary
The McKenzie method shows minimal effectiveness for treating acute low back pain. Evidence suggests it does not significantly reduce pain or disability in the short or intermediate term.
Area of Science:
- Orthopedics
- Physical Therapy
- Evidence-Based Medicine
Background:
- Non-specific low back pain (NSLBP) is common and requires individualized treatment.
- The McKenzie method is a tailored exercise program based on clinical assessment.
- Its effectiveness in (sub)acute NSLBP requires rigorous evaluation.
Approach:
- Systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials (RCTs).
- Searched major databases (CENTRAL, MEDLINE, Embase) up to August 2022.
- Included 5 RCTs (563 participants) comparing McKenzie method with minimal intervention, manual therapy, or other therapies.
Key Points:
- Low-certainty evidence suggests the McKenzie method may slightly reduce short-term pain but not disability.
- Evidence indicates no significant reduction in pain or disability compared to manual therapy or other interventions.
- Trials had a high risk of bias, and adverse events were not measured.
Conclusions:
- The McKenzie method demonstrated clinically insignificant treatment effects for pain and disability in (sub)acute NSLBP.
- Based on current low- to very low-certainty evidence, the McKenzie method is not considered an effective treatment for this condition.
