Effectiveness of McKenzie Directional Preferences in patient with low back pain: A Randomized controlled trial

Abstract

Background: Low back pain (LBP) is a prevalent musculoskeletal disorder affecting individuals worldwide, leading to significant disability, reduced quality of life, and substantial healthcare costs. The McKenzie Method, or Mechanical Diagnosis and Therapy (MDT), is a patient-centered approach that utilizes directional preference exercises to alleviate pain and improve functional outcomes. Methodology: The study involved 50 participants, randomly assigned to either an experimental group (n=25) receiving McKenzie therapy combined with conventional physiotherapy or a control group (n=25) receiving conventional physiotherapy alone. Baseline characteristics, including age, gender, occupation, and Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) scores, were comparable between groups, ensuring a fair comparison. Pain intensity and functional disability were assessed using the Dallas Pain Questionnaire and ODI, respectively, at baseline and post-intervention. Results : ). The experimental group had a statistically significant value in ODI score (t= 15.374 , p= 0.000 ), compared to the control group (t= 14.826 , p=0.451), however the difference was statistically significant (t= -4.959, p= 0.000) . Majority of indicators improved more in the McKenzie treatment group (p < 0.05 or higher than p < 0.05) in final assessment which indicate that the effectiveness of McKenzie treatment is superior to the conventional physiotherapy for low back pain patients. The study underscores the importance of individualized treatment plans and patient education in LBP management, as the McKenzie Method emphasizes self management and active participation, which may contribute to long-term benefits. Conclusions: In conclusion, the McKenzie directional preference exercises show promise as an effective intervention for LBP, offering comparable or superior outcomes to conventional physiotherapy in certain domains. Future research should explore long term effects, subgroup analyses, and standardized protocols to further validate its clinical utility. Integrating the McKenzie Method into LBP treatment protocols could improve patient-centered care and reduce the global burden of this debilitating condition. Keywords: Low back pain, McKenzie Method, directional preference, physiotherapy, randomized controlled trial, Oswestry Disability Index.