Karen Williams, BSc. (Hons) PT
Karen has an active interest in sports injuries as she was a member of the
KUGB Great Britain karate team for 10 years. Before retiring in 1993, some of
her major achievements in kumite (fighting) were, bronze medal World Shoto Cup,
twice European champion, 11 individual British Shotokan titles and 3 times
England All Styles Champion.
Whilst competing, she received many injuries, and her quest for knowledge in relation to these, led her into a career in Physiotherapy. She gained a Bsc (Hons) with First Class Honours at the University of Salford, England in 1996, followed by a one year- postgraduate Certificate in Sports Physiotherapy at Manchester University.
Karen has worked at a variety of hospitals and sports injury clinics
in England and Canada and has provided on site cover, for ruby, netball,
badminton and karate in association with Sport England.
She is a 4th Dan karate instructor and has coached the BC ISKF team.
Karen is primarily a manual therapist with 15 years experience
however, she is also certified in McKenzie Mechanical Diagnosis and
Therapy (MDT) which she uses to diagnose and treat mainly spinal
disorders. Using MDT she has resolved many chronic spinal conditions
which have not previously responded to other manual/ manipulative
therapies.
McKenzie therapy is a philosophy of active patient involvement and
education that is trusted and used by practitioners and patients all
over the world for back, neck and extremity problems, although there are
very few people in British Columbia who are certified in MDT.
The proven goals of McKenzie MDT are to promote the body’s potential to heal itself without medication, ultrasound, needles, surgery or endless visits to the clinic.
Karen has also taken courses in Pilates and can provide individual Pilates Reformer sessions for rehabilitation. She also uses myofascial release- a holistic hands-on approach to releasing fascial restrictions that cause chronic pain.
McKenzie Method also known as Mechanical diagnosis and therapy (MDT)
An evidence-based approach, the key distinction of MDT is its initial assessment component- a safe and reliable means to accurately reach a diagnosis and only them make the appropriate treatment plan.
Through a series of repeated movements and positions, the certified MDT practitioners assess two things as a result of these movements- symptomatic and mechanical response. Patterns of response can be determined for what makes patients better or worse. Patients are classified accordingly and an effective set of exercises is established based on directional preference which is typically achieved in 3 to 5 visits.
Patients who respond favourably to MDT can successfully treat themselves and minimize the number of visits to the clinic when provided with the necessary knowledge and tools putting him or her in control of their treatment safely and effectively. Patients learn how to prevent recurrence of problems and how quickly to manage themselves if symptoms do occur.
The evidence has shown that initial McKenzie assessment procedures performed by reliable MDT clinicians are as reliable as costly diagnostic imaging (ie x-rays, MRI’s) to determine the source of the problem and quickly identify those who will or will not respond to MDT.
Read more about the McKenzie Method - MDT
or see a detailed outline of MDT here: www.mckenziemdt.org
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