Results Matter

If you answer ‘yes’ to at least 5 of the following questions, then you have a high probability that you will see results within two weeks. If you answered ‘yes’ to four or fewer of these questions, then their is a high probability that you will improve, but your progress will likely be slower.

Back/Neck^1,2
Shoulder³
Hip⁴
Knee⁵

Back/Neck

1. Are there periods in the day when you have no pain? (Even 10 minutes)
2. Are you generally worse when sitting for prolonged periods or on rising from the sitting position?
3. Do you generally get worse during or right after prolonged bending or stooping as in bed-making, vacuuming, ironing or gardening?
4. Are you generally worse when you get up in the morning, but improve after about half an hour?
5. Are you generally worse when inactive and better when on the move?
6. Are you generally better when walking?
7. Are you generally better when lying face down?
8. Have you had several episodes of pain in this region over the past months or years?
9. Between episodes, are you able to move fully in all direction without pain?
10. Between episodes are you pain free?
11. Is your back pain located only above your knee? (Is your neck pain only above your elbow?)
12. If you have pain in your leg or arm, does this pain come and go, even if your still have pain in your back or neck?

Shoulder

1. Are there periods in the day when you have no pain? (Even 10 minutes)
2. Do you only have pain when you move your arm?
3. Are you generally better with your arm at your side or supported across your body?
4. Are you generally worse during or after prolonged periods of holding your arms in a raised position such as driving, hedge trimming or painting
5. Is your pain produced or made worse when you lie on your affected shoulder?
6. Is the pain confined to areas above the elbow?
7. If you have pain in the upper or lower arm does it sometimes stop completely even though you may still have pain in the shoulder?
8. Have you had several episodes of shoulder pain over the past months or years?
9. Between episodes, is your shoulder pain free?
10. Between episodes, are you able to move your arm freely in all directions without pain?

Hip

1. Are there periods in the day when you have no pain? (Even 10 minutes)
2. Do you have pain when you walk up or down stairs or hills?
3. Have you had several episodes of hip pain over the past months or years?
4. Between episodes, is your hip pain free?
5. When your hip is painful, does it feel as if you are unable to fully move it in all directions compared to your unaffected hip – such as when drying your feet?
6. Between episodes, are you able to fully move your hip more freely in all directions with less pain? Are you generally able to walk without limping?
7. Is the pain located to the area around the hip joint or groin?
8. Are you generally worse when getting out of a chair and with the first few steps walking after prolonged sitting?
9. Are some days better or worse than others?
10. Do you have pain when lying on the side of the painful hip, but some nights are better or worse than others?

Knee

1. Are there periods in the day when you have no pain? (Even 10 minutes)
2. Do you have pain when you walk up or down stairs or hills?
3. Have you had several episodes of knee pain over the past months or years?
4. Between episodes, is your knee pain-free?
5. When the knee is painful, does it feel like you are unable to fully bend or straighten it compared to your pain free knee?
6. Between episodes, are you able to fully bend and starighten your knee without pain?
7. Is the pain located to the the area of the knee joint?
8. Between episodes of knee pain, are you generally able to walk without limping?
9. Are you generally worse with prolonged sitting, squatting or kneeling?
10. Is your knee generally more comfortable when you are moving about rather than kneeling, sitting, squatting or standing in one position?
11. Are some days better or worse than others?

Citations:

McKenzie, R. and Van Wijmen, P., 1985. Treat your own back. Spinal Publications. New Zealand.
McKenzie, R., 1990. Treat Your Own Neck. Spinal Publications. New Zealand.
McKenzie, R., Watson, G. and Lindsay, R., 2009. Treat your own shoulder. Spinal Publications. New Zealand.
McKenzie, R., Watson, G. and Lindsay, R., 2019. Treat your own hip. McKenzie Global Ltd. USA.
McKenzie, R., Watson, G. and Lindsay, R., 2012. Treat your own knee. Spinal Publications. New Zealand.