Muscle Energy Techniques

Muscle Energy Techniques (METs) describes a broad class of manual therapy techniques directed at improving musculoskeletal function or joint function, and improving pain.[1]METs are commonly used by manual therapists of all kinds.  Historically, the technique emerged as a form of osteopathic manipulative diagnosis and treatment in which the patient's muscles are actively used on request, from a precisely controlled position, in a specific direction, and against a distinctly executed physician counterforce.  Muscle energy techniques are used to treat somatic dysfunction, especially decreased range of motion, muscle hypertonicity, and pain.  Simply expressed, METs are specific stretches that are use both the effort of the client and the resistance of the practitioner to make changes in the body.