McKenzie Repeated Cervical Retractions

This is an instructional video to correctly demonstrate McKenzie Repeated Cervical Retractions

The content in this video is provided for general information purposes only and is not meant to replace a physiotherapy or medical consultation.

Step by Step

  1. This is a good exercise for a posterior derangement or a central disc prolapse in the Cervical spine. This type of problem can cause neck and shoulder pain. If the prolapse is severe then the pain can also go down your arms.
  2. It comes from the Mckenzie assessment and treatment philosophy
  3. Undertaking this exercise you need to have been assessed by a physiotherapist who is Mckenzie trained as doing this exercise for the wrong problem can make things worse.
  4. This exercise is all about post exercise symptom relief or what is known as centralisation, which is when the symptoms move away from the periphery and closer to the mid line of the neck.
  5. If your symptoms increase more peripherally after performing this exercise then you must immediately cease the exercise and consult your physiotherapist.
  6. If you have any blurred or double vision, feeling sick, feeling dizzy, passing out, numbness in your tongue or any problems with your swallowing then don’t perform this exercise. Also if you any cauda equina symptoms, which include bladder and bowel incontinence, retention, urgency and saddle area numbness then this exercise isn’t right for you and you need to see your physio or doctor as soon as possible
  7. If you are unsure then don’t perform the exercise until you have seen your physio or a doctor.
  8. Looking straight ahead, tuck your chin in by gliding your head backwards, don’t tip your head back or forwards. It should be like you are giving yourself a double chin.
  9. Once you can’t go any further back then relax to the start position.
  10. Perform 10 repetitions as far as you can on each repetition. It can bring on worse symptoms during as long as afterwards the symptoms either lessen or centralise.
  11. The frequency that you should do depends on whether your symptoms or above the knee or below the elbow.
  12. For above the elbow you should do 10 reps every 2-3 hours
  13. For below the elbow you should do 10 reps every hour.
  14. Once your symptoms have disappeared for 3 days in a row then you can wean the frequency down slowly each day until you stop the exercise.
  15. Once recovered you need to reduce the risk of re-occurrence, which you should speak to your physio about.

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Online Physiotherapy

Put simply this is Physio done via either telephone or video over the internet. Skype and facetime are examples of this.

Contrary to popular belief online physiotherapy can be very effective and it can help the same injuries that face to face physio can help. I have helped many people with injuries such as disc prolapses, tennis elbow, neck pain and much more).