Dear Colleagues,
Welcome to Summer and our final newsletter for 2025.
In this edition we congratulate Lee Curtis (our latest MDT Diplomat), and feature recent literature regarding the reliability of MDT for spinal pain.
Keen to advance your McKenzie Education? The Date and Venue for the MIA Education Weekend have been set - click here.
Also Check out the MIA website for upcoming courses (insert link to website course schedule). Alternatively you can sign up to MDT Case Manager - click here.
Finally, on behalf of McKenzie Institute Australia I wish you all a safe and happy end to 2025, and a prosperous 2026.
Happy reading!
Mark Cheel
MIA Chairperson
Congratulations to Adelaide based member Lee Curtis, who successfully completed the final four exams for the Diploma in Mechanical Diagnosis & Therapy; on her first attempt!
Lee now joins the select group of clinicians worldwide as a Diplomate of the McKenzie Institute.
Well done Lee!
If you want to join Lee and take your MDT training and clinical practice to the highest level, learn more about the Diploma program here: https://www.mckenzieinstitute.org/education/international-diploma-programme/
In 2026, we will be moving to the new curriculum for all Part A – D courses in Australia.
For the past few years, the McKenzie Institute International and Faculty around the world have been hard at work, reviewing and updating all course content, to ensure it remains contemporary and consistent with the best available evidence.
All A-D courses will continue to be 28 hours in length. Part C and D will now move to the same format as A and B, in delivering one day of online learning, followed by three days face to face.
To help make courses accessible to as many people as possible, we will also continue to offer fully online Part A and B courses, as well.
To access the new content, as Credentialled & Diplomate members, you can retake Part A-D courses at 50% off the scheduled fee. And, course fees are fully tax deductible, so the earlier you book, the sooner we can confirm the courses will proceed!
Click here for the 2026 Course details here - dates are still being confirmed.
Keep an eye on your email and the website...
Full details to be advised soon...
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Is it really a shoulder problem?
Yet more evidence of the reliability of the MDT system, especially amongst those who have completed the highest level of training in the McKenzie Method, the Diploma in Mechanical Diagnosis & Therapy.
Before reading the article, here’s a brief reminder of the relevance of Inter-rater reliability.
(Clinical) Inter-rater Reliability
Inter-rater reliability (IRR) is a measure of how consistently different clinicians agree when evaluating the same patient or phenomenon. It is crucial for ensuring the validity of research and data, as high IRR indicates that criteria are clear and consistently applied, while low IRR suggests differing interpretations.
Key aspects of inter-rater reliability:
Source: Google Gemini
Peter Schoch
Faculty
Hans van Helvoirt, Henk Tempelman, Puck van der Vet, Frank van der Vet, Job van Helvoirt, Richard Rosedale, Adri Apeldoorn
Brazilian Journal of Physical Therapy Volume 29, Issue 1, January–February 2025, 101154
Link: Click here.
Background
The McKenzie Method of Mechanical Diagnosis and Therapy (MDT) is used worldwide to classify and manage musculoskeletal (MSK) problems. The assessment includes a detailed patient history and a specific physical examination. Research has investigated the reliability of the MDT spinal classification system (Derangement syndrome, Dysfunction syndrome, Postural syndrome, and OTHER), however no study has assessed the reliability of the 10 classifications grouped together as OTHER.
Objective
To investigate the inter-rater reliability of MDT trained clinicians when utilising the full breadth of the MDT system for patients with spinal pain.
Methods
Six experienced MDT clinicians each submitted potentially eligible MDT assessment forms of 30 consecutive patients. A MSK physician and a faculty of the McKenzie Institute checked the 180 forms for eligibility and completeness, where a provisional MDT classification was blinded. Apart from their own assessment forms, the six MDT clinicians each classified 150 forms. Each patient could be classified into 1 of 13 diagnostic classifications (Derangement syndrome, Dysfunction syndrome, Postural syndrome, and 10 classifications grouped as OTHER). Reliability was determined using Fleiss’ Kappa (k).
Results
The reliability among six MDT clinicians classifying 150 patient assessment forms was almost perfect (Fleiss’ κ = 0.82 [95% CI 0.80, 0.85]).
Conclusions
Among experienced MDT clinicians, the reliability in classifying patient assessment forms of patients with spinal pain is almost perfect when the full breadth of the MDT system is used. Future research should investigate the reliability of the full breadth of the MDT system among clinicians with lower levels of training.
Monitor the MIA website's Calendar of Events and follow us on social media for details of further courses, as they are released.
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2026 Education Weekend |
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Case Manager Volumes 1, 2 & 3 |
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Do you have something you’d like to share with other MDT trained clinicians?
If so, please get in touch! Submissions to the newsletter are always welcome and contributions contribute to MDT CPD points for members. Tell us about an interesting clinical experience you’ve had, an article you’ve read or a case study that challenged you.
Submissions can be emailed to: education@mckenzieinstituteaustralia.org