McKenzie Method

The McKenzie Method, also known as MDT (Mechanical Diagnosis and Therapy), is an approach to assessing and treating pain in the spine and the limbs. At our clinic in the Côte-des-Neiges neighbourhood, we use it to understand what is actually causing your pain before we choose a treatment.

What sets this method apart is that it is built on your response to movement rather than on a recipe applied to everyone. We watch how your pain behaves, then we adjust.

Prendre rendez-vous →

Spécialiste en soins de santé
15+
Années d'expérience
5000+
Patients traités
98%
Taux de satisfaction
2
Cliniques à Montréal

The mechanical assessment: finding your directional preference

The first visit is devoted almost entirely to the assessment. We have you repeat certain movements, first in one direction and then in the other, and we note what happens to your pain during and after each set.

  1. Pain that moves up from the leg toward the low back is a good sign, and that is what we call centralization
  2. Pain that travels down into the buttock or the thigh tells us to change direction
  3. The direction that improves your symptoms becomes your directional preference

That directional preference is the heart of the method. Once we have found it, your exercise program almost writes itself.

The pain we treat with this method

Mechanical therapy gives very good results with pain that changes according to posture and movement. That is often the case with patients who come to see us after several weeks of persistent low back pain.

  1. Acute or chronic low back pain, with or without radiating symptoms
  2. Disc herniation and sciatica
  3. Neck pain and stiffness tied to desk work
  4. Mid-back pain between the shoulder blades
  5. Certain shoulder, hip or knee pain of mechanical origin

If your assessment shows that the source of the problem is not mechanical, we tell you plainly and we point you toward the approach that suits you better, whether that is another part of our physiotherapy services or a consultation in osteopathy.

Physiothérapie pour réfugiés - Urgence Physio

Active treatment that makes you independent

With MDT, you do not lie passively on a table while someone works on you. You leave the first session with one or two specific exercises to do several times a day, at home or at the office.

Our goal is that you know what to do the next time your back plays tricks on you, without having to book an emergency appointment. It is one of the things our patients appreciate most: they take back control over pain that had been holding them hostage.

Why a multidisciplinary clinic makes the difference

We have been welcoming Montrealers since 2009 and we bring together eight disciplines under one roof. When low back pain responds well to the McKenzie Method but a muscular tension lingers, our team can combine approaches without you having to run from one clinic to another.

Our team speaks more than ten languages, including French, English, Spanish and Arabic. In a neighbourhood as diverse as ours, being able to describe your pain in your own language changes a great deal about the quality of the assessment.

Physiothérapeute traitant un patient

We serve Montreal and the surrounding neighbourhoods

Our clinic at 2111 Northcliffe Avenue sees patients from Côte-des-Neiges, NDG, Westmount, Ahuntsic and Bois-Franc. Montreal winters bring their share of slips on the ice and backs that seize up after shovelling, and the month of May brings back the aches of gardening and moving day.

When your pain makes it hard to get around, especially in the first days of an acute low back episode, our home visits let us start the assessment at your place. We treat sports injuries as well as CNESST and SAAQ files, and most private insurance plans cover our services.

‍

Book an appointment in Montreal

If your back or your neck has been limiting you for several weeks, a mechanical assessment will give you concrete answers instead of guesswork. Write to us or call 514 488 3131 to book an appointment at our Montreal clinic. You are in good hands.

‍

Réserver maintenant →

Osteopathy

Our Specialties

Physiotherapy

Assessment and treatment of musculoskeletal injuries through targeted exercises and manual therapy.

Massage Therapy

Therapeutic massage to relieve muscle tension, improve circulation, and promote recovery.

Acupuncture

Ancient technique to reduce pain, inflammation, and stress by stimulating specific points.

Osteopathy

Gentle manual approach to rebalance the body and relieve chronic tension.

Occupational Therapy

Specialist in post-operative rehabilitation and manual therapy. 12 years of experience. Helps patients regain independence in daily activities after an accident, surgery, or illness.

Geriatric care

Programs tailored for seniors to maintain mobility, balance, and daily independence.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many sessions before I feel a difference?

Many patients notice a change in their symptoms right from the first assessment, because the movements we test act immediately. The total number of sessions depends on how long you have had the pain and on how you respond to the exercises.

Do I need a medical prescription or an MRI?

No. In Quebec, you can consult a physiotherapist directly. The mechanical assessment is based on your response to movement, not on imaging, even though your doctor may order one in certain cases.

Does my insurance cover the McKenzie Method?

It is a physiotherapy method, so it is covered like a regular physiotherapy session by most private insurance plans. CNESST and SAAQ files are also accepted.

Is it painful?

Some movements may temporarily reproduce your pain, and that is exactly what informs us. We watch closely how your symptoms react and we never push in a direction that makes things worse.

Does it work for a disc herniation?

Many disc herniations respond well to mechanical therapy, especially when the leg pain centralizes toward the low back during the assessment. We will tell you quickly whether your condition is one of those that responds to this approach.

Prêt à retrouver vos mouvements?

Réservez votre évaluation sans attendre.

Réserver maintenant →