The possible therapeutic value of osteopathic muscle energy technique approaches; a literature review.
Item
- Title
- The possible therapeutic value of osteopathic muscle energy technique approaches; a literature review.
- Author(s)
- Tham, C M
- Abstract
- Background: Muscle energy technique (MET) involves the manipulation of the targeted muscle group whilst incorporating the patients' voluntary muscular contraction to improve structure and function in children and adults. Objectives: The objective was to find out and critically evaluate the literature regarding the therapeutic value of osteopathic muscle energy technique. Design: The search term comprised of the clinical keywords of "muscle energy technique" OR "post isometric inhibition" AND "MET" were searched based on Boolean logic in the following electronic databases: CINAHL (Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature) using EBSCO Host, MEDLINE using Pubmed and EBSCO Host, The Cochrane Library and SciVerse Science Direct. The search was conducted in March 2014 with no date restriction for when the studies were completed. Method: Randomized controlled trials (RCT) and controlled repeated measure study (CRM) that measured the effectiveness of MET on humans were included in the study. Exclusion criteria included non-English language articles, studies not relevant to MET, animal studies, and studies in which there was no clear indication of the use of MET. Outcome measures on pain, motor excitability, muscle extensibility, spinal range of motion (ROM) and pathologies were extracted. The methodological quality of the research evidence was assessed using the Strength of recommendation taxonomy (SORT) approach. Results: Of the 11 studies that met the inclusion criteria, 10 were RCT and 1 was a CRM A range of MET used for the management of a variety of condition were identified in the included studies. Positive clinical outcomes were reported for pain reduction, change in motor excitability, muscle extensibility, spinal ROM and pathologies SORT quality scores ranged from (IA) to (2B). Discussion: Within the currently available evidence on the clinical efficacy of MET, there was a partial discrepancy between the heterogeneity and homogeneity of evidence, thus they were insufficient to draw definitive conclusions. Conclusion: Even though, the selected evidence demonstrated positive clinical effects with MET, because of the moderate methodological quality of the studies and scarcity of available data, further research focusing on a more osteopathic application of MET into this area will be needed.
- presented at
- European School of Osteopathy
- Date Accepted
- 2015
- Date Submitted
- 2.12.2016 16:55:00
- Type
- osteo_thesis
- Language
- English
- Submitted by:
- 62
- Pub-Identifier
- 15922
- Inst-Identifier
- 1229
- Keywords
- Isometric Contraction; Musculoskeletal Manipulation; Outcome Assessment (Health Care); Reflex, Stretch
- Recommended
- 0
- Item sets
- Thesis
Tham, C M, “The possible therapeutic value of osteopathic muscle energy technique approaches; a literature review.”, Osteopathic Research Web, accessed May 5, 2025, https://www.osteopathicresearch.org/s/orw/item/559