Muscle Energy Techniques Overview

Study Notes

MET is a type of manual therapy that uses isometric muscle contractions to improve joint mobility and reduce muscle tension.
MET techniques utilize the principles of reciprocal inhibition and post-isometric relaxation.

Lewit's Postisometric Relaxation Method:
- Aims to reduce muscle hypertonicity.
- Involves isometric contraction of the hypertonic muscle against resistance.
- Requires minimal effort (20% of available strength).
- Followed by passive stretching to a new barrier.
- Procedure repeated 2-3 times.
Janda's Postfacilitation Stretch Method:
- Involves a stronger isometric contraction than Lewit’s method.
- Muscle is placed in a mid-range position.
- Maximum effort contraction for 5-10 seconds against resistance.
- Followed by a rapid stretch to a new barrier, held for at least 10 seconds.
- Repeated 3-5 times.
Reciprocal Inhibition Variation:
- Primarily used in acute settings where tissue damage or pain limits the use of agonist contraction.
- Focuses on antagonist muscle contraction.
- Muscle is placed in a mid-range position.
- Involves isometric or isotonic muscle contraction, followed by passive lengthening during full inhalation and exhalation.
Strengthening Variation:
- Also known as isokinetic contraction or progressive resisted exercise.
- Involves increasing muscle strength with a progressive increase in contraction effort.
- Identifies areas of weakness during full range of motion.
- Emphasizes strengthening weak musculature in areas of limited mobility.