Dominic Stone
Muscle Energy Technique (MET) is a form of osteopathic manipulative medicine (OMM) developed by Fred Mitchell, Sr, DO, in 1948. MET is a type of manual therapy and stretching used in osteopathy that involves the active contraction of a muscle by the client against a resistive force provided by a therapist. The patient actively contracts muscles in a precise direction while the therapist provides counterforce resistance. The technique is often used to correct spine misalignment, improve the range of motion in joints, and treat musculoskeletal dysfunction.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Type | Osteopathic manipulative medicine (OMM) |
| Developed by | Fred Mitchell, Sr, DO |
| Kinematic motion | Mitchell first described the motion of the pelvis |
| Inspired by | Neurophysiologist Charles Sherrington |
| Goal | To treat muscular action dysfunction using the patient's muscle action |
| Function | To improve musculoskeletal function by mobilizing joints and stretching tight muscles and fascia |
| Effect | Reduced pain and improved circulation and lymphatic flow |
| Used for | Correcting spine misalignment or vertebral joint tightness (hypomobility) |
| Typical outcomes | Decreased stiffness, decreased pain, and increased range of motion |
| Techniques | Autogenic Inhibition MET, Reciprocal Inhibition MET |
| Force | 5 to 10 pounds of force |
| Number of repetitions | 3 to 5 |
| Relaxation step | 5 to 7 seconds |
| Total repetitions | 3 to 5 |
| Common use | Lengthening postural muscles |
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What You'll Learn
- Muscle energy technique (MET) is a type of osteopathic manipulative medicine (OMM)
- MET is used to correct spine misalignment and release joints in the spine
- MET can be used to treat muscular action dysfunction
- MET is a form of manual therapy and stretching used in osteopathy
- MET is believed to be particularly helpful in lengthening postural muscles
Muscle energy technique (MET) is a type of osteopathic manipulative medicine (OMM)
MET is a form of manual therapy and stretching used in osteopathy. The patient actively contracts muscles in a precise direction while the therapist provides counterforce resistance. This process is repeated several times with short rests in between. The patient's contraction is held for about 5 seconds, and the therapist maintains the body part being stretched in a static position, creating an isometric contraction. Isometric contractions relax and lengthen muscles.
There are two types of MET: Autogenic Inhibition MET and Reciprocal Inhibition MET. Autogenic Inhibition MET involves a sub-maximal contraction of a muscle followed by stretching the same muscle. Reciprocal Inhibition MET involves a sub-maximal contraction of a muscle followed by stretching the opposite muscle. Both techniques utilize the Golgi tendon organ (GTO) and muscle spindles to manage muscular control and coordination. The GTO senses increased tension during muscle contraction or stretching, and when activated, it inhibits the contraction and contracts the opposing muscle group.
MET is commonly used to correct spine misalignment, vertebral joint tightness, and joint restrictions in the spine, improving mobility and overall well-being. It is also effective for treating stiff joints and excess muscle tension due to overuse or strain. MET can be applied to almost any joint in the body and is often used by athletes as a preventative measure against future injuries.
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MET is used to correct spine misalignment and release joints in the spine
Muscle Energy Technique (MET) is a type of osteopathic manipulative medicine (OMM) developed by Fred Mitchell, Sr, DO, in 1948. Inspired by the work of neurophysiologist Charles Sherrington, Dr Mitchell developed this modality to treat muscular action dysfunction using the patient's muscle action. Sherrington observed that the contraction of an antagonistic muscle would help relax the agonistic muscle. This technique is commonly used by sports massage therapists, sports therapists, osteopaths, and some physiotherapists, chiropractors, and fitness professionals.
MET is a form of manual therapy and stretching used to correct spine misalignment and release joint restrictions in the spine. It is often used as a conservative, non-pharmacological treatment for somatic dysfunctions of the musculoskeletal system. The patient actively contracts muscles in a precise direction while the therapist provides counterforce resistance. This is known as isometric contraction, which helps relax and lengthen muscles. The patient contracts the muscle for about 5 to 10 seconds, after which they relax, and the therapist gently eases the body part further into the stretch. This process is repeated several times with short rests in between.
MET is an excellent technique to treat stiff joints and excess muscle tension due to overuse or strain. When muscles are overly tight or hypertonic, they cause surrounding joints to become tight and restricted. MET can relax the muscle and release the joint without causing any discomfort. It is a gentle manual therapy treatment that improves the mobility of the spine, which positively affects the overall well-being of the body.
MET can be applied safely to almost any joint in the body. Many athletes use it as a preventative measure to guard against future muscle and joint injuries. It is important to note that MET should be performed by a qualified provider trained in muscle energy techniques, and patients should be effectively screened and informed about the risks, benefits, and alternative treatment options.
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MET can be used to treat muscular action dysfunction
Muscle Energy Technique (MET) is a type of osteopathic manipulative medicine (OMM) developed by Fred Mitchell, Sr, DO, in 1948. Inspired by the work of neurophysiologist Charles Sherrington, Dr Mitchell developed a modality to treat muscular action dysfunction using the patient's muscle action.
MET is a form of manual therapy and stretching used in osteopathy. The patient actively contracts muscles in a precise direction while the therapist provides counterforce resistance. The patient's muscles are used to contract in a precisely controlled position while the therapist applies a counterforce. This process is repeated several times with short rests in between. The contraction is held for about 5 seconds, and the patient is instructed to use very low levels of contraction, perhaps as low as 5% of their maximum force.
MET is often used as a technique to correct spine misalignment or vertebral joint tightness (hypomobility) and to release joint restrictions in the spine. Improving the mobility of the spine positively affects the well-being of the whole body. Typical outcomes of MET include decreased stiffness, decreased pain, and increased range of motion. Once the joints are in proper alignment, the muscles return to normal tone, and there is a decrease in pain. The patient can then strengthen weak muscles, resume normal activities, and return to health and well-being.
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MET is a form of manual therapy and stretching used in osteopathy
Muscle Energy Technique (MET) is a form of manual therapy and stretching used in osteopathy. It was first developed by Fred Mitchell, Sr. in 1948, who described the kinematic motion of the pelvis. Inspired by the work of neurophysiologist Charles Sherrington, Dr Mitchell created a modality to treat muscular action dysfunction using the patient's muscle action.
MET is a technique where the patient actively contracts muscles in a precise direction, while the therapist provides counterforce resistance. This is an isometric contraction, which helps to relax and lengthen muscles. The patient's muscle contractions are used to relax and lengthen muscles and to normalise joint motion. This technique is often used to treat stiff joints and excess muscle tension due to overuse or strain.
MET is based on reciprocal inhibition, which is the theory that when a muscle is contracting, the opposite muscle in the joint is relaxing. This means that as one muscle is contracting against the therapist, the opposite muscle is being stretched. This allows the individual to contract and stretch the muscle to its full potential and take the joint to its full range of motion.
MET is commonly used to correct spine misalignment or vertebral joint tightness and to release joint restrictions in the spine. It can also 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. It is a gentle therapy treatment that does not cause any discomfort.
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MET is believed to be particularly helpful in lengthening postural muscles
Muscle Energy Technique (MET) is a form of osteopathic manipulative medicine (OMM) developed by Fred Mitchell, Sr, DO, in 1948. It is a type of manual therapy technique used to lengthen, strengthen, and improve the range of movement of muscles. MET is commonly used by sports massage therapists, sports therapists, osteopaths, and some physiotherapists, chiropractors, and fitness professionals.
During MET, the patient's muscle contractions are used to relax and lengthen muscles and to normalize joint motion. MET is often used to treat stiff joints and excess muscle tension due to overuse or strain. When muscles are overly tight or hypertonic, they cause surrounding joints to become tight and restricted. MET can relax the muscle and release the joint without causing any discomfort. MET is also used to correct spine misalignment or vertebral joint tightness and to release joint restrictions in the spine.
MET is typically performed by positioning the client so that both the therapist and the client are comfortable. The muscle to be stretched is then taken to a resistance barrier, which is the point at which an increase in resistance is felt in the client's tissues against further elongation. The client is then asked to contract their muscle using a maximum of 25% of their muscle force, while the therapist resists this contraction. This contraction is typically held for about 5 to 10 seconds and the process is repeated several times with short rests in between.
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