What is the basic concept of Muscle Energy Technique (MET)?

What is the basic concept of Muscle Energy Technique (MET)?

• A. The patient performs voluntary isotonic contractions against the physician's counterforce to lengthen tissues.
• B. The patient performs voluntary isometric contractions against the physician's counterforce to shorten tissues.
• C. The patient performs passive stretching while the physician relaxes.
• D. The patient performs voluntary isometric contractions against the physician's counterforce to lengthen restricted tissues.

Answer: (D)

MET relies on the patient actively contracting a muscle against the clinician’s counterforce, with no joint movement. This is an isometric contraction. After holding briefly, the muscle relaxes and the clinician lengthens the tissue to a new, greater length. Repeating the cycle leverages neuromuscular responses such as post-isometric relaxation and reciprocal inhibition to reduce tissue hypertonicity and increase range of motion. The goal is to lengthen restricted tissues through an active, controlled contraction followed by a stretch, not through movement during the contraction or by passive stretching alone.

MET relies on the patient actively contracting a muscle against the clinician’s counterforce, with no joint movement. This is an isometric contraction. After holding briefly, the muscle relaxes and the clinician lengthens the tissue to a new, greater length. Repeating the cycle leverages neuromuscular responses such as post-isometric relaxation and reciprocal inhibition to reduce tissue hypertonicity and increase range of motion. The goal is to lengthen restricted tissues through an active, controlled contraction followed by a stretch, not through movement during the contraction or by passive stretching alone.