Muscle Energy Technique can simply be considered as an effective and gentle form of joint mobilization. The therapist will first assess and identify specific joint restrictions. Then he/she will place the patient into a position that brings the joint closer to proper alignment – this is similar to what is done to “crack” or “pop” a joint “back into place.” The difference is that the force causing the actual change is generated by the patient contracting specific muscles for a brief period instead of by the therapist. The two main advantages to Muscle Energy Technique over manipulation are that the gentleness will not harm the patient and that the muscle contractions help to balance the change with the adjacent structures.
