Muscle Energy Technique

If pain or tightness has made moving freely difficult, Muscle Energy Technique may help you regain flexibility.

Here at Bounty Physio, our skilled physiotherapists use this safe, hands-on treatment to gently release restrictions in your joints, fascia, and muscles.

Muscle Energy Technique involves contracting specific muscles against resistance from your therapist to relax and lengthen shortened tissues. As the contracted muscle fatigues and relaxes, tight structures can stretch and tight joints move further into their range of motion.

This allows stiff, painful joints to regain mobility while reducing associated muscle tension. It restores biomechanical balance and fluid movement throughout the body.

Muscle Energy Technique utilises principles of post-isometric relaxation and reciprocal inhibition. Contracting the muscle before stretching triggers several key responses:

• The brief intense contraction fatigues the muscle spindle receptors to decrease reflexive tightening.
• After the isometric contraction, the muscle fibres relax and lengthen through their full range.
• Simultaneously, the opposing muscle group receives increased input to relax via reciprocal inhibition.
• Joint and fascial restrictions can then be gently released without eliciting reflexive resistance.

These coordinated effects allow your therapist to apply therapeutic motions to tight areas you couldn’t tolerate otherwise. This progressive stretching and joint mobilisation restores mobility.

Muscle Energy Technique can improve restricted mobility in many areas including:

• Stiff necks
• Frozen shoulder
• Low back tightness
• Pelvic/SI joint dysfunction
• Hip capsular restriction
• Knee stiffness
• Plantar fasciitis
• TMJ dysfunction
• And more

It can correct postural imbalances, release joint restrictions, improve injuries, and ease chronic tightness. Results are both immediate and lasting.

Muscle Energy Technique offers many advantages over other treatment approaches:

• Non-invasive and drug-free
• Provides prompt relief of muscle tightness and joint stiffness
• Prevents injury by improving flexibility
• Restores normal joint mechanics
• Well-tolerated by patients
• Lasting mobility improvements when applied progressively
• Can enhance outcomes of exercise therapy

The gentle, controlled nature of the techniques makes it appropriate across all age groups and conditions.

During your appointment, your physiotherapist will assess areas of tight muscles and restricted joints. They will then have you contract specific muscles against resistance in strategic positions to target treatment.

Your therapist may utilise MET techniques like:

• Isometric contractions – You push or resist against an unmoving force.
• Isotonic contractions – You move against manual resistance through joint range.
• Passive stretching – Muscles are gently stretched after contracting.
• Joint mobilisation – Oscillations or pressures are applied to restricted joints.

You may feel some mild muscle fatigue or pulling. Your therapist will adjust the techniques based on your feedback for comfort. Your improved mobility can be maintained by continuing self-stretches at home.

For simple acute tightness, just 1-3 sessions may provide noticeable relief. Chronic restrictions often require 6 or more visits to fully correct. Your physiotherapist can advise how many appointments are recommended based on your particular condition.

Consistency with prescribed home exercises and self-mobilisation techniques between visits maximises outcomes. Maintenance therapy may be needed periodically.

Our physiotherapists have advanced training in MET procedures for releasing restrictions and restoring mobility without force. Benefits of treatment with us include:

• Specialised expertise – We regularly use MET and continuously advance our skills.
• Proven protocols – Our assessments ensure MET is applied correctly to target tissues.
• Latest techniques – We follow up-to-date MET practice guidelines for best outcomes.
• Progressive treatment – We gradually restore flexibility and function over successive visits.
• Holistic care – MET is integrated with exercise, joint mobilisation, and patient education.
• Emphasis on comfort – Your feedback guides how we apply MET for your tolerance levels.
• Caring approach – Close communication and patience are cornerstones of our treatment.

If muscle tightness or joint stiffness is restricting your movement, consider Muscle Energy Technique to get your body moving freely again.

Contact us today to book an initial appointment.