So, I was lucky, McKenzie Part A was scheduled for the Launceston Hospital where I was working. I enrolled for the 4 day course in 1994 and WOW!

The theory was easy to understand and the tutor didn't make it seem complicated at all.

The great thing is that on McKenzie course, real patiets with real problems are treated. I could not believe how quickly they responded to what were some very simple strategies. The patients were compliant with their exercises and they too like many of the physio's on the course, couldn't believe how quickly they did actually improve.

I was then hooked. I went away and tried using it on my patients and I did work. I couldn't bag it out after all.

So, just to let you know, Part A is just the beginning of the McKenzie training.
There is Part B Cervical & Thoracic Spine for 3 days, then there is Part C &D which are "problem solving and advanced problem solving."

After that there is the "One Day" McKenzie Credentialing Exam. I passed that in July 1999. By that stage I knew I wanted to go on and do the ADVANCED training called a Post-grad Diploma in Mechanical Diagnosis & Therapy - McKenzie Method. This involves both theory (9 or so assignments) and working clinically with Diplomaed McKenzie Therapists. Just to make sure you really do you know your McKenzie stuff, there is a Diploma theory and a clinical exam. I passed my Diploma exam in September 2003 making me the 230th person in the world with this qualification.

So, now I am based in Sydney. My clinic ATA...Physiotherapy that Empowers! is based in the Inner West of Sydney, NSW Australia. I love helping people take control of their pain using the McKenzie system.

I am also based part-time at Ryde Hospital which is in Eastwood, a north-west suburb of Sydney. There I get to interact with physio's showing them how McKenzie Physiotherapy can help their patients. I also get the chance to present to Physiotherapy students while they are doing their placements with us. In that way I get the chance to expose them early on the McKenzie Physiotherapy. Unfortunately, the McKenzie Method is not part of a physio students curriculum. At Sydney Uni they do get a few hours of lectures but that is really only scrapping the surface. The University of Newcastle run McKenzie Part A for their students which is great. I would love to see this happen in all physiotherapy schools around Australia.

If this happened, I believe physiotherapists would be better able to treat herniated discs, sciatica, neck pain and neck related arm pain which is so prevalent today.

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