Stillwater, Okla.– Total Health physical therapist Pam Wimberley recently received recognition by The McKenzie Institute as a Certified Mechanical Diagnosis and Therapy practitioner.  Wimberley is now one of 24 Certified MDT therapists in Oklahoma and the only certified therapist in the Stillwater area. 

The McKenzie method is a philosophy of active patient involvement and education for treatment of back, neck and extremity problems. This approach continues to be the most researched physical therapy based method available. 

“Working side-by-side with Pam for three and a half years, I had no doubt she would achieve this goal,” said Cadance Lynch, Total Health Rehab Services Supervisor. “She is a gifted clinician and a real asset to our team.” 

Wimberley attended seven McKenzie courses, reviewed multiple manuals and completed online course work to prepare for the certification exam. She traveled to Baltimore in early August to take her exam and attend the McKenzie Institute International Conference.  Although there are over 100,000 therapists in the U.S. and Canada, fewer than 1800 therapists hold this distinguished level of recognition.

“Pam has demonstrated real dedication to the pursuit of the certification,” said Blake Weichbrodt, Total Health Director. “We are all very proud of her accomplishment.” 

Wimberley says she uses The McKenzie approach as her foundation because the patient’s response to each movement guides the assessment process to more efficiently determine the type(s) of intervention necessary.  Therefore, it can reduce the number of visits and related costs.

“The selection of specific exercises is individualized based on each patient’s directional preference and the most effective pressure needed to affect the patient’s symptoms,” Wimberley said. “It is imperative to understand the patient’s condition before you treat it.”

The goals identified by a McKenzie trained therapist are to: 1) reduce pain and deformity; 2) maintain the reduction with education and posture advice; 3) restore full function; and 4) prevent recurrences. 

Wimberley says she hopes her career future will include mentoring other Total Health therapists, working with the physical therapy professors at The University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center to educate physical therapy students, as well as participating in future McKenzie Institute research.

For more information on Total Health physical therapy and rehabilitation services, please call 405.624.6592.  For more information on The McKenzie Institute, please visit http://www.mckenziemdt.org.

Total Health therapist, Pam Wimberley, is now one of 24 Certified Mechanical Diagnosis and Therapy practitioners in Oklahoma.