Muscle Energy Technique (MET) is a relatively common form a manual therapy and can be linked to traditional osteopathy. Muscle Energy Technique is a form of remedial therapy that is most commonly defined as “contract-relax stretching” as it seeks to activate and contract the client’s muscles into a specific direction or range of motion against the therapist’s manual release.

The Muscle Energy Technique is thought to be effective for two reasons.

1. Reciprocal Inhibition, i.e. working to isometrically contract the antagonist of the problematic muscle in order to increase the client’s range of dorsiflexion.
2. Autogenic Inhibition, i.e. by isometrically contracting the muscle and engaging a response from the activated muscle or surrounding tendons you would allow for there to be a greater range of motion post contraction.

Proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation (PNF) is very similar to the muscle energy technique, for many practitioners the two practices are almost interchangeable.  Proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation seeks to enhance both a passive and active range of motion in order to aid rehabilitation and improve motor performance. Alike the muscle energy technique, proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation involves a shortening contraction of the antagonist muscle, to place a stretch on the target muscle followed by an isometric contraction of the target muscle.

For any advice on either of these therapies, please do not hesitate to contact Jason at Suncoast Myotherapy.