Laura Mannering DPT, OCS, Dip MDT

Soon after becoming a doctor of physical therapy in 2010, I began exploring ideas outside those I'd been taught since I wasn't able to help patients as well as I'd wanted. I began adding the McKenzie method, focusing on repeated movement testing, to my orthopedic care because it translated to better outcomes. I assert that diagnosing should rely most on a solid verbal history & repeated movement testing and less on standard tests like imaging & quick clinical tests (OSTs). That is, to diagnose problems with the movement system, we usually need to really move it & assess its behavior. Doing this, I find most orthopedic disorders can be reversed with 1-2 movements rather quickly. Also board-certified in orthopedic physical therapy, I root my care in movement & education - not passive modalities. Like with mainstream medicine, I argue mainstream orthopedics often fails to help patients resolve their disorders efficiently, mainly due to a fundamental misunderstanding of how the body works.