Muscle Energy Technique
I use this technique on the “Medical – Manual Therapy”. I learnt this from Osteopaths, sucha as John Gibbons – Bodymaster and Erik Dalton. It is excellent on so many levels!
1. It challenges your strength and builds up on it.
2. It demontrates where the weak and strong muscle areas are.
3. It improves flexibility and range of motion in the joint.
4. It is ideal for those who can’t let go of their limbs and like to be active and take control!
5. Reduces muscle tightness and spasms.
How does it work?
MET is an active technique, meaning the patient actively contracts their muscles against a controlled resistance provided by the therapist. After the contraction, the muscle is gently stretched to increase flexibility and range of motion.
Key Mechanisms Behind MET:
* Post-Isometric Relaxation (PIR):
When a muscle is actively contracted against resistance, it temporarily increases tension.
After the contraction, the muscle relaxes, allowing it to stretch further with less resistance.
* Reciprocal Inhibition:
When one muscle contracts, the opposing muscle naturally relaxes.
MET uses this principle by activating the antagonist (opposite) muscle to facilitate relaxation in the tight or restricted muscle.
This Osteo technique can be found, in Medical – Manual Therapy.