Journal of Osteopathic Medicine, 2003/10, 6(2):59-63. doi: 10.1016/S1443-8461(03)80015-1, type of study: ,rct,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

Full text    (http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1443846103800151)

Keywords:

osteopathic manipulative treatment [3946]
OMT [3925]
muscle energy technique [180]
MET [640]
knee extension [5]
randomised controlled trial [2]
hamstring flexibility [2]

Abstract:

Purpose: To investigate the effectiveness of muscle energy technique in increasing passive knee extension and to explore the mechanism behind any observed change. Procedure: 40 asymptomatic subjects were randomly allocated to control or experimental groups. Subjects lay supine with their thigh fixed at 90° flexion, and the hamstring muscle stretched to the onset of discomfort by passive knee extension. Knee range of motion was recorded with digital photography and passive torque recorded with a hand-held dynamometer. The experimental group received muscle energy technique to the hamstring muscle, after which the resistance to stretch and the range of motion were again measured. The knee was extended to the original passive torque and the angle at the knee recorded. If the onset of discomfort was not produced at this angle, the knee was further extended and the new angle was recorded. Results: A significant increase in range of motion was observed at the knee (p<0.019) following a single application of MET to the experimental group. No change was observed in the control group. When an identical torque was applied to the hamstring both before and after the MET, no significant difference in range of motion of the knee was found in the experimental group. Conclusions: Muscle energy technique produced an immediate increase in passive knee extension. This observed change in range of motion is possibly due to an increased tolerance to stretch as there was no evidence of visco-elastic change.