Application of the McKenzie system of Mechanical Diagnosis and Therapy (MDT) in patients with shoulder pain; a prospective longitudinal study.

Objectives: The primary objective was to determine if the pain and function response to the McKenzie system of Mechanical Diagnosis and Therapy (MDT) differs by MDT classification category at two and four weeks following the start of MDT treatment for shoulder complaints. The secondary objective was to describe the frequency of discharge over time by MDT classification.

Methods: International, MDT-trained study collaborators recruited 93 patients attending physiotherapy for rehabilitation of a shoulder problem.

Consistency of commonly used orthopedic special tests of the shoulder when used with the McKenzie system of mechanical diagnosis and therapy.

Background: Shoulder Orthopedic Special Tests (OSTs) are used to assist with diagnosis in shoulder disorders. Issues with reliability and validity exist, making their interpretation challenging. Exploring OST results on repeated testing within Mechanical Diagnosis and Therapy (MDT) shoulder classifications may offer insight into the poor performance of these tests.

Inter-examiner reliability of diplomats in the mechanical diagnosis and therapy system in assessing patients with shoulder pain.

Objective: To investigate the inter-examiner reliability of Mechanical Diagnosis and Therapy (MDT)-trained diplomats in classifying patients with shoulder disorders. The MDT system has demonstrated acceptable reliability when used in patients with spinal disorders; however, little is known about its utility when used for appendicular conditions.

Methods: Fifty-four clinical scenarios were created by a group of 11 MDT diploma holders based on their clinical experience with patients with shoulder pain.

The 6-min walk test: responses in healthy Canadians aged 45 to 85 years.

We sought to describe responses to the 6-min walk test (6MWT) in healthy Canadian adults in order to facilitate interpretation of its results in patient populations. Seventy-seven healthy Canadians aged 45 to 85 years (65 ± 11 years, 40 females) completed this study. During a single visit, three 6MWTs were undertaken.