Mary and Peter Knapman, Credentialed MDT - NSW Private Practice
Tell us a bit about your current work and how you ended up pursuing training in MDT
We both did our first McKenzie Course in Lismore in 1987 with Robin McKenzie, and loved it from the start. He was such an entertaining Educator, and we both found we could go back to work on Monday and use the assessment and treatment immediately. That inspired us to continue and follow up with Part B also with Robin, and then on to the Credentialling exam.
What does your current work look like?
We currently run a private practice in Parramatta, with 6 other MDT inspired Physio's. We treat a mix of patients, and use the MDT for all our patients. We find it provides a great system for assessing and treating. It's also a nice way for younger Physio's to learn great Clinical reasoning. As older Physios it has given us great longevity in our careers, and introduced us to other like minded Physios from all over the world.
What's impacting your clinical practice most at the moment?
Currently, more posture related problems as a result of people working from home with Covid, and more psychosocial issues- as we are currently in lockdown again in Sydney.
What's unique about being an MDT trained practice owner?
Having a group systematic approach to the way we assess so that we ask our clinician's "what is the classification of that patient". It helps then to work out the treatment pathway, once that's clarified.
What advice would you give to physios starting out on their career?
Study the MDT method! As far as courses go we think it's still the best investment we made in our professional learning.