Victor Forge
Muscle Energy Technique (MET) is a direct and active technique that was developed in 1948 by Fred Mitchell, Sr, D.O. It is a form of manual therapy that uses a muscle's own energy in the form of gentle isometric contractions to relax and lengthen the muscles via autogenic or reciprocal inhibition. MET is used to treat somatic dysfunction, especially decreased range of motion, muscular hypertonicity, and pain. The technique requires the patient to actively use their muscles on request to aid in treatment and can be applied to most areas of the body.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Definition | Muscle energy is a direct and active technique that engages a restrictive barrier and requires the patient's participation in relieving somatic dysfunction. |
| Goal | To reduce pain and help normalize range of motion within a restricted joint or muscle by relieving tension within the surrounding muscle groups. |
| Techniques | Post-isometric relaxation, reciprocal inhibition, joint mobilization using muscle force, oculocephalogyric reflex, respiratory assistance, crossed extensor reflex |
| Types | Direct, indirect |
| Treatment | Osteopathic manipulative diagnosis and treatment, manual therapy |
| Treatment for | Low back pain, somatic dysfunction, musculoskeletal function, muscular hypertonicity, pain, lymphatics, rib raising, diaphragmatic manipulations, myofascial release, balanced ligamentous tension, cranial concept |
| Developed by | Fred Mitchell, Sr, D.O. |
| Developed in | 1948 |
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What You'll Learn
Muscle energy techniques can be used to treat somatic dysfunction
Muscle Energy Techniques (METs) are a broad class of manual therapy techniques used to improve musculoskeletal function, joint function and pain. METs are used to treat somatic dysfunction, especially decreased range of motion, muscular hypertonicity and pain.
METs are used by manual therapists, physical therapists, occupational therapists, chiropractors, athletic trainers, osteopathic physicians and massage therapists. The technique was first introduced in the 1940s by Dr T.J. Ruddy and later developed by Dr Fred L. Mitchell in the 1950s. Both were American osteopaths and are considered the 'fathers' of METs.
METs are a direct and active technique, meaning they engage a restrictive barrier and require the patient's participation for maximal effect. A restrictive barrier is the limit in the range of motion that prevents the patient from reaching the baseline limit in their range of motion. As the patient performs an isometric contraction, the following physiological changes occur: Golgi tendon organ activation directly inhibits agonist muscles. A reflexive reciprocal inhibition occurs at the antagonistic muscles. As the patient relaxes, agonist and antagonist muscles remain inhibited, allowing the joint to be moved further into the restricted range of motion.
METs can be used to treat a variety of conditions, including muscular shortening, low back pain, pelvic imbalance, oedema, limited range of motion, somatic dysfunction, respiratory dysfunction, cervicogenic headaches and many others. METs are also used as a preventative measure by many athletes to guard against future injury of muscles and joints.
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METs can be used to treat musculoskeletal or joint function
Muscle Energy Techniques (METs) are a broad class of manual therapy techniques used to improve musculoskeletal function or joint function and reduce pain. METs are used by a variety of therapists, including manual therapists, physical therapists, and athletic trainers.
METs are used to treat somatic dysfunction, especially decreased range of motion, muscular hypertonicity, and pain. The patient's muscles are actively used on request, from a precisely controlled position, in a specific direction, and against a distinctly executed physician counterforce. This technique was first described in 1948 by Fred Mitchell, Sr, D.O.
METs can also be used to reposition a dysfunctional joint and treat the affected musculature. This includes indications such as muscular shortening, low back pain, pelvic imbalance, and limited range of motion. METs are not suitable for patients with injuries such as fractures, avulsion injuries, severe osteoporosis, or open wounds. Additionally, these techniques require active patient participation, so they are inappropriate for patients unable to cooperate.
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METs can be used to treat pain
Muscle Energy Techniques (METs) are a form of manual therapy that can be used to treat pain. METs are a direct and active technique that requires patient participation for maximal effect. The patient's muscles are used on request, from a precisely controlled position, in a specific direction, and against a distinctly executed physician counterforce.
METs can be used to treat somatic dysfunction, especially decreased range of motion, muscular hypertonicity, and pain. The technique can be applied to most areas of the body and is used to improve musculoskeletal function or joint function. It is commonly used by manual therapists, physical therapists, occupational therapists, chiropractors, athletic trainers, osteopathic physicians, and massage therapists.
During MET treatment, the patient performs an isometric contraction, and the following physiologic changes occur: Golgi tendon organ activation directly inhibits agonist muscles, and a reflexive reciprocal inhibition occurs at the antagonistic muscles. As the patient relaxes, agonist and antagonist muscles remain inhibited, allowing the joint to be moved further into the restricted range of motion.
METs have been used to treat knee pain and low back pain, although a 2015 Cochrane review concluded that METs are not effective for patients with low back pain and that the quality of the research testing the effectiveness of METs is poor. However, other sources claim that METs can be used to treat any condition where the goal is to cause relaxation and lengthening of the muscles and improve the range of motion in joints.
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METs can be used to treat muscle hypertonicity
Muscle Energy Techniques (METs) are a class of manual therapy techniques used to improve musculoskeletal function, joint function, and pain. METs are commonly used by manual therapists, physical therapists, athletic trainers, and osteopathic physicians. METs are used to treat somatic dysfunction, especially decreased range of motion, muscular hypertonicity, and pain.
METs can also be used to treat hypertonicity by contracting the antagonistic muscles, causing the agonist muscle to relax through the reciprocal inhibition reflex arc. This approach is based on the work of neurophysiologist Charles Sherrington, who observed that contracting an antagonistic muscle would help relax the agonistic muscle.
METs can be applied to most areas of the body and are a safe and non-traumatic modality. They are, however, inappropriate for patients with injuries such as fractures, avulsion injuries, severe osteoporosis, open wounds, or metastatic disease. Additionally, METs require active patient participation, so they are not suitable for patients unable to cooperate.
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METs can be used as a preventative measure for athletes
Muscle Energy Techniques (METs) are a form of manual therapy that uses a muscle's own energy in the form of gentle isometric contractions to relax and lengthen the muscle. It is a direct and active technique that requires the patient's participation for maximal effect. METs can be used to treat somatic dysfunction, especially decreased range of motion, muscular hypertonicity, and pain.
One of the key benefits of METs for athletes is its ability to improve joint function and musculoskeletal function. This is particularly important for athletes who rely on their joints and muscles to perform at a high level. By improving the function of these structures, athletes can enhance their performance and reduce their risk of injury.
Additionally, METs can help athletes manage and relieve pain. This is achieved through the utilization of specialized structures in the muscles, such as Golgi tendon organs and muscle spindles, which help manage muscle control and coordination. By inhibiting the contraction of the agonist muscle group and activating the contraction of the antagonist group, METs can provide pain relief and muscle relaxation.
Furthermore, METs can be used as a preventative measure to improve an athlete's cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF). CRF refers to the ability of the heart and lungs to supply oxygen to muscles during physical exertion. By improving an athlete's CRF, METs can enhance their endurance and reduce the risk of cardiovascular-related injuries.
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Frequently asked questions
Muscle energy is a direct and active technique that requires patient participation to relieve somatic dysfunction. It is a form of osteopathic manipulative diagnosis and treatment.
The goal of muscle energy is to reduce pain and normalise the range of motion within a restricted joint or muscle by relieving tension in the surrounding muscle groups.
Muscle energy works by taking advantage of specialised structures in the muscles called Golgi tendon organs and muscle spindles. These help manage muscle control and coordination. When the Golgi tendon organ senses increased tension within a muscle belly, it responds by inhibiting the contraction of the respective (agonist) muscle group while activating the contraction of the opposing (antagonist) group.
There are several different types of muscle energy techniques, including post-isometric relaxation, reciprocal inhibition, joint mobilisation using muscle force, oculocephalogyric reflex, respiratory assistance, and crossed extensor reflex.
The procedure is generally repeated between three to five times, and then five times more.
