The Pilot Study of the Immediate Effect of Muscle Energy Technique on Flexibility and Stiffness in Healthy Young Females

Abstract

Introduction:Flexibility is considered as one of the most significant components of rehabilitation protocols including two definitions: static flexibility measured by the Range of Motion, and dynamic flexibility measured by stiffness. Generally, a normal flexibility is necessary for an appropriate posture and flawless activity in daily life. With regard to various methods that contribute to increasing flexibility of hamstring muscles, the current study aimed at investigating immediate effects of Muscle Energy Technique (MET) on hamstring flexibility and stiffness in healthy young females Materials and Methods: Ten healthy young females with the mean age of 22.5±2.67 years old participated in the study. Flexibility was measured via active knee extension and modified sit-and-reach test, and stiffness was measured based on the ratio of torque to angular changes via Biodex System 3 before and after MET interventions by post-isometric relaxation method. Results:The amounts of active knee extension and modified sit-and-reach tests significantly increased after MET intervention; the amounts of active knee extension and modified sit-andreach increased significantly (P<0.001). Moreover, the estimated hamstring stiffness decreased significantly in comparison with its values before treatment (P<0.001)

Comparison between Immediate Effects of Post Isometric Relaxation and Reciprocal Inhibition Techniques on Hamstring Flexibility in Patients with Hamstring Tightness: An Experimental Study

“…20 The nerve impulses discharged from muscle spindles exciting the agonist muscles' afferent nerve fibers synapse with their excitatory motor neuron in the spinal cord. Simultaneously there occurs inhibition of the motor neuron of the antagonist muscle leading to prevention of its contraction, thus resulting in antagonist relaxation 15 A study done by Nasiri et al concluded that both PIR and RI techniques are equally effective in increasing the flexibility of hamstring muscle which correlates with our study. Moreover it has been proposed that by virtue of an isometric contraction of antagonist muscle, a muscle can be inhibited prior to stretching.…”

“…This prevents further contraction and decreases the muscle tone resulting in relaxation of the agonist muscle. 15 In this period lengthening becomes easier as a result of reduced tone. Similar reasons have been discussed by Kuchera et al in their study.…”

Comparison between Immediate Effects of MET and Passive Stretching Techniques on Hamstring Flexibility in Patients with Hamstring Tightness: An Experimental Study

“…4 Maryam Azizi et al in their pilot study concluded that a single session of MET (3 repetitions) resulted in significant immediate improvement in flexibility and reduction in stiffness of hamstring. 1 Yuichi Nishikawa et al in their study on Immediate effect of passive and active stretching on hamstrings flexibility found that both active and passive static stretching had significant effect on improving hamstring flexibility immediately however, passive stretching elicited greater improvements in hamstring flexibility than active stretching. 27 Shadmehr et al in their study related to passive stretch and MET on hamstring flexibility concluded that both techniques relatively had the same effect on increasing the flexibility in healthy young females which is similar to our results aswell.…”

“…Muscle stiffness means the ratio of torque changes to muscle length changes. 1 There are multiple factors and varied reasons for decrease in joint ROM and one of which is muscular tightness. Muscle "tightness" is defined as an increase in tension from active or passive mechanisms.…”

“…The results of various studies have shown that MET was effective in improving the flexibility as well as reduction of pain and discomfort and caused more immediate and long term changes. 1 There are multiple studies showing the effectiveness of MET and Passive stretching in hamstring tightness. [6][7][8][9] Apart from this, both the techniques have proved to be safe and easy for achieving hamstring flexibility.…”