[8] A 2019 systematic review found that there was evidence that it could reduce chronic lower back pain in the short term, and enhance function in the longer term, but that most studies of the treatment had methodological flaws, such as small sample sizes and a lack of blinding.

The patient lay down on McKenzie's treatment table, and after bending backward for five minutes, reported an improvement in their symptoms.

He later developed a classification system to categorise spinal pain problems, and published books on the topic, including Treat Your Own Back (1980).

[13][14][15][16] The McKenzie method was commonly used worldwide in the late 2000s in diagnosis[17] and treatment of low back pain,[18][19][20][21] and peripheral joint complaints.

This migration of pain symptoms to the centre of the lower back is considered a sign of progress in the McKenzie method.