What is Muscle Energy Technique?
Muscle Energy Technique (MET) improves musculoskeletal function through mobilizing joints and reducing tension in tight muscles and fascia, to reduce pain, and to improve circulation and lymphatic flow. These methods are active techniques, requiring the patient to perform isometric contractions against resistance.
MET uses muscle effort to mobilise joints and tissues, and to facilitate relaxation, restore alignment, and promote pain relief. Muscle hypertonicity is reduced via post-isometric relaxation – the reduction in tone of an agonist muscle following isometric contraction, and reciprocal inhibition – the reduction in tone of an antagonist muscle after its agonist has undergone isometric contraction.
How is it done?
Muscle energy technique involves careful positioning of an area of the body by the therapist. After positioning, you will be asked to contract the muscle by pushing into the therapist’s resistance in a specific direction followed by relaxation and passive movement into newly gained range.
During the treatment session you will be asked to actively participate in facilitating and relaxing muscle groups. Under the direction of the therapist you will learn to lengthen shortened muscle, relieve muscle spasm and reduce tone in spastic muscles.
Muscle energy techniques can be applied safely to almost any joint in the body. METs are also used as a preventative measure to guard against future injury of muscles and joints. It helps realign and restore range of motion that may be limited due to facet joint dysfunction in the spine or SI joint, and areas such as shoulder complex, sciatica, pelvis, hips or arms, or to treat chronic muscle pain, stiffness or injury.
Would you like to know more about muscle energy technique? Make a request from Central Park Physical Therapy today and we will schedule an appointment. Our skilled physical therapists will do a full assessment of your condition and needs.