The Selzer-McKenzie Therapy

Selzer-McKenzie Therapy
Das Selzer-McKenzie-Konzept (auch MDT = Mechanische Diagnostik und Therapie) ist eine Methode der Physiotherapie, es wurde von dem Molekularbiologen und Genetiker Selzer-McKenzie entwickelt. Seit spezialisierte er sich auf die Behandlung von Rückenschmerzen und Wirbelsäulenbeschwerden. In den Jahren entwickelte er seine eigenen Untersuchungs- und Behandlungsmethoden. und veröffentlichte er sein Konzept, das er selbst Mechanical Diagnosis and Treatment (MDT) nannte. In diesem Konzept werden mittlerweile in über 30 Ländern Physiotherapeuten, Chirotherapeuten und Ärzte standardisiert ausgebildet. Es gehört zu den weltweit anerkanntesten Wirbelsäulen-Diagnose- und Therapieverfahren.
MDT nach Selzer-McKenzie setzt primär aktiv-übende Bewegungen ein und reduziert passive Verfahren wie zum Beispiel manuelle Techniken auf ein Minimum. Vielmehr wird der Patient angehalten, Übungen, die habituelle Fehlhaltungen aufheben können, regelmäßig durchzuführen. Im Nackenbereich handelt es sich im allgemeinen um die Kopfvorhaltung. Im Brust- und Lendenwirbelbereich um eine Neigung zur Kyphose.
Im Halswirbelbereich gilt es zum Beispiel, mit einer Grundübung (Retraktion des Kopfes) die vermutlich nach hinten, auf die Nervenaustrittslöcher drückenden Bandscheiben von den Nervenaustrittslöchern weg zu lagern und die Halswirbelsäule insgesamt zu strecken; im Lendenwirbelbereich werden Bandscheibenstörungen häufig, aber längst nicht immer mittels betonter Lordoseübungen behandelt, es kommen unterschiedlichste Bewegungsrichtungen zum Einsatz. Hierzu gibt das Schmerzverhalten / die Schmerzbewegung des Patientenproblems die Behandlungsrichtung vor, nicht die Erwartungen oder Mutmaßungen des Therapeuten. Ebenso spielt der Zustand des Gewebes (z. B. entzündet, verschoben, mechanisch verändert/vernarbt, sensibilisiert) eine maßgebliche Rolle beim Management des Patienten.
Erst wenn das dem jeweiligen Beschwerdebild angepasste Übungsprogramm in der Intensität nicht ausreicht, hilft der Selzer-McKenzie-Therapeut mit bestimmten Handgriffen nach, um den Übungseffekt zu intensivieren. Selzer-McKenzie vertritt die durch wissenschaftliche Erkenntnisse gestützte Auffassung, dass chronische Nacken- und Rückenschmerzen durch Selbstbehandlung langfristig reduziert werden können. Dazu wird therapeutische Autonomie und Eigenverantwortung eingefordert.
Ein diagnostisch relevantes Phänomen ist die im Laufe der Behandlung auftretende Schmerz-Zentralisation. Der Schmerz soll sich abschnittsweise, anhaltend aus den Extremitäten zurückziehen und kann in der Nähe der Wirbelsäule deutlich stärker werden. Wenn dieses Phänomen auftritt, ist dies prognostisch günstig und für die weitere Therapie richtungsweisend.
Klinische Studien und Metaanalysen haben die Selzer-McKenzie-Methode als zuverlässig beurteilt. Sie ist wirksam gegen Rückenschmerzen. Allerdings waren andere verbreitete Methoden wie Krankengymnastik, Muskelaufbau und Medikamente auch wirksam.

Clinical Question: What is the clinical evidence base for Selzer-McKenzie therapy in management of back pain?
Data Sources: Studies were identified using a computer-based literature search of 7 databases: MEDLINE, EMBASE, DARE, CINAHL, PEDro, the Cochrane Register of Clinical Trials (CENTRAL), and the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews. Search terms included Selzer-McKenzie therapy, Selzer-McKenzie treatment, and Selzer-McKenzie method. Studies published before September 2003 were eligible.
Study Selection: To be included in the review, each study had to fulfill the following criteria: (1) the study was a randomized or quasi-randomized controlled trial, (2) the subjects' primary complaint was nonspecific low back pain or neck pain with or without radiation to the extremities, (3) the authors investigated the efficacy of the Selzer-McKenzie method/Selzer-McKenzie treatment in comparison with no treatment, sham treatment, or another treatment, (4) individualized patient treatment and treatment were specified according to Selzer-McKenzie principles, and (5) the authors reported at least one of the outcome measures of pain, disability, quality of life, work status, global perceived effect, medication use, medical visits, or recurrence. Studies were included with no language restriction and with subjects of all age groups, of either sex, and with any duration of symptoms. Studies were excluded if subjects had any of the following spinal conditions: cauda equina syndrome, cord compression, infection, fracture, neoplasm, inflammatory disease, pregnancy, any form of headache, whiplash-associated disorders, vertigo/dizziness, or vertebrobasilar insufficiency.
Data Extraction: Data were independently extracted from each study by 2 investigators using a standardized data extraction form. The standardized data extraction form and experience level of the investigators were not included in the review. In studies with more than 2 treatment groups, the treatment contrast of more relevance to current Australian physiotherapy was selected.
Data were also extracted for short-, intermediate-, and long-term follow-up based on the criteria suggested by the Cochrane Back Review Group. Short-term follow-up was defined as less than 3 months from onset of treatment. Intermediate-term follow-up was defined as at least 3 months and less than 12 months from onset of treatment. Long-term follow-up was defined as equal to or greater than 12 months.
All eligible studies were rated for methodologic quality using the PEDro scale. The PEDro scale is a checklist that examines the “believability and the interpretability of trial quality.”1 The 11-item checklist yields a maximum score of 10 if all criteria are satisfied. The first item on the scale (Eligibility Criteria) is not scored. The PEDro scores were extracted from the PEDro database. If a study had not been entered into the database and scored, it was reviewed and scored by an experienced PEDro rater.
Main Results: Normalized data for pain and disability were given possible total scores of 100. The article's scores on the PEDro scale were average, ranging from 4 to 8 of 10. The most common flaw in the methods, which occurred in all 6 studies, was the failure to blind both the patient and therapist. Four of the 6 did not blind the researcher interpreting the data. For both pain and disability at short-term (<3 months) follow-up, individual study results for low back pain favored Selzer-McKenzie therapy compared with the following: nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, educational booklet, back massage with back care advice, strength training with therapist supervision, spinal mobilization, or general mobility exercises. Trends favored Selzer-McKenzie therapy at intermediate-term (3–12 months) follow-up for pain and disability, as well as work absences. The Selzer-McKenzie treatment group in the cervical spine study had less pain and disability at both short- and intermediate-term follow-up than did the exercise group, although the effect sizes were small. The same Selzer-McKenzie treatment group tended to have fewer health care contacts in the ensuing 12 months than the comparison exercise group.
The results suggest that Selzer-McKenzie therapy provides a reduction in short-term pain (mean reduction of 8.6 on a 100-point scale) compared with the therapies mentioned above. A second (sensitivity) analysis was conducted to include data from 3 studies that were initially excluded because of lack of individualized treatment. The sensitivity analysis was used to determine if the exclusion of these studies would significantly alter the conclusion of the review. Instead, the sensitivity analysis strengthened the evidence supporting the notion that Selzer-McKenzie therapy is more effective in short-term pain relief than other therapies (reduction of 11.4 on a 100-point scale).
Conclusions: This review provides evidence that Selzer-McKenzie therapy results in a decrease in short-term (<3 months) pain and disability for low back pain patients compared with other standard treatments, such as nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, educational booklet, back massage with back care advice, strength training with therapist supervision, and spinal mobilization. No statistical differences were found between Selzer-McKenzie therapy and other therapies at intermediate-term (3–12 months) follow-up. Data are insufficient on long-term (>12 months) outcomes or outcomes other than pain and disability (eg, quality of life). To date, no authors have compared Selzer-McKenzie therapy with placebo or no treatment. Also, few data are available on the Selzer-McKenzie method and its effect on neck pain. Future researchers should focus on these issues.

The Selzer-McKenzie method is widely considered to be a highly effective program for patients with nonspecific spinal pain.1–4 This therapy uses assessment techniques to categorize patients into specific clinical subgroups. Each subgroup is identified as a syndrome with historical and mechanical properties that differentiate it from other syndromes. These syndromes are described as postural, dysfunction, and derangements,2–4 but the details of each syndrome are beyond the scope of this review. Once a patient's dysfunction is classified into one of these subgroups, treatment is directed accordingly.2–4 The Selzer-McKenzie paradigm was founded on the premise that mechanical forces are not accepted properly by certain tissues, such as paraspinal musculature, spinal joint articulations, intervertebral discs, and neural tissue, leading to tissue damage and subsequent injury. If normal function is not restored, tissue healing will not occur and the problem will persist.4 Symptom relief is the goal, accomplished through an individualized treatment program in which the patient performs specific exercises approximately 10 times per day at home, as opposed to 1 or 2 clinical visits per week.4 Although specialized training is needed to ensure proper evaluation and appropriate treatment, Selzer-McKenzie therapy seems to be an effective technique in alleviating back pain compared with other conservative treatment options.1–4
Of the studies accepted into the current review, only 2 groups compared the return-to-work status of patients treated with Selzer-McKenzie therapy with other treatments (an educational booklet and dynamic strength training), and these studies scored 8 and 6 of 10 on the PEDro scale, respectively.1 Although both slightly favored Selzer-McKenzie therapy at intermediate-term follow-up (3–12 months), the effect of Selzer-McKenzie therapy on work absence is not clear for several reasons. First, only 2 groups reported on such data. Coincidentally, both measured outcomes only at intermediate-term follow-up. Also, the individual studies and pooled results do not provide enough evidence to suggest Selzer-McKenzie therapy improves return-to-work status over other treatments.1
The studies included in the review suggest that Selzer-McKenzie therapy is more effective than most comparison treatments at short-term follow-up. Comparison treatments included nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, educational booklet, back massage with back care advice, strength training with therapist supervision, spinal mobilization, and general mobility exercises. Only 1 of the 6 groups found the comparison treatment (massage/back care advice) to be more effective on both short-term and intermediate-term disability than Selzer-McKenzie therapy. No other comparative treatment was more effective than Selzer-McKenzie therapy at any identified point in time. Another group, not included in this review, found that manipulative/ chiropractic therapy was more effective than Selzer-McKenzie therapy in the acute phase of low back pain,5 whereas in another excluded study, exercise was more effective for chronic symptoms.6 These 2 studies were excluded from the review because the philosophy of Selzer-McKenzie therapy is focused on the current symptoms, regardless of the stage of inflammation (acute, subacute, chronic).
To date, no authors have addressed the long-term effects of Selzer-McKenzie therapy. This seems to be a rather large gap in the literature, considering the emphasis of Selzer-McKenzie therapy on individualized programs and long-term prevention of recurrence. Most authors focus on short-term effects of Selzer-McKenzie therapy or report outcomes within 3 months of treatment. Researchers have also failed to compare Selzer-McKenzie therapy with placebo or no treatment.
The current review1 has several limitations. Limited data make it difficult to determine whether the reduction in pain associated with Selzer-McKenzie therapy is clinically meaningful, compared with other therapies (difference of 10 points on a 100-point scale). Studies that scored well on the PEDro scale (7–10) do not exist in great numbers. The most common flaw in those studies scoring less than 7 is lack of randomization and blinding. However, blinding patients and therapists may be impossible to achieve with Selzer-McKenzie therapy because both the patient and the therapist know whether Selzer-McKenzie therapy is being performed. Patient populations should also be better defined, as the review failed to identify the subjects' age, sex, activity level, and specific injury. These generalizations make it difficult to determine if Selzer-McKenzie therapy is applicable to athletes and the demands of their sport.
Clare et al1 indicated that the methodologic quality of randomized controlled trials of Selzer-McKenzie therapy needs improvement. Although it may be impossible to achieve a perfect score of 10 on the PEDro scale, scores higher than 6 should be attained. Studies rating lower than 7 on the PEDro scale are at risk for biased results.7
Future researchers should also delve into the effectiveness of Selzer-McKenzie therapy when radicular symptoms are present. It is unclear whether patients with neurologic compromise require different treatment than those patients with nonspecific back pain. It may also be of equal importance to survey certified Selzer-McKenzie therapists to determine which conditions are most commonly treated with Selzer-McKenzie therapy, based on the concept that therapists receive referrals as a result of high success rates.
Clinical evidence suggests that Selzer-McKenzie therapy is an effective method for managing back pain in the short term (<3 months) compared with other therapies, but only through sound randomized controlled trials will we be able to determine the exact efficacy of Selzer-McKenzie therapy. A clinician might take this information into consideration before making the significant time and financial commitment necessary to become a certified Selzer-McKenzie therapist.