Effect of Muscle Energy Technique Versus Static Stretching on Calf Flexibility in Females

Abstract

Introduction: Flexibility is an important physiological component of physical fitness. The length of the muscletissue is thought to play an important role in the effectiveness and efficacy of human movement. Calf is one ofthe commonest muscle prone to tightness. Most of the forefoot and ankle problems arise due to gastrocnemiusand soleus tightness and contractures. To manage such a condition, stretching of the calf muscles are commonlyprescribed to increase available dorsiflexion of the ankle joint. Though there are several effective physiotherapeuticexercises available to resolve this problem, but it’s still in dilemma about the immediate effects. Muscle EnergyTechnique (MET) and Static Stretching (SS) are the techniques which can efficiently improve the flexibility ofmuscles and also very scarce literature is present on comparing the effect of these techniques for increasing ankledorsiflexion for improving calf tightness. So, this study aimed to evaluate and compare the immediate effect ofMuscle Energy Technique and Static Stretching on calf flexibility in females.Methodology: An experimental study in which 30 female subjects aged between 18 to 25 years were divided intotwo groups.GroupA (n= 15) and Group B (n=15) were given MET and Static Stretching (SS) respectively. AnkleDorsiflexion ROM was assessed pre- intervention and post- intervention. The data collected were analyzed bySPSS (version 26).Result and Conclusion: Group A (MET) and Group B (SS) were given suitable intervention for calf muscle tightness,and bothgroups showed that the mean ROM during post-test was higher than pre-test. After the comparison ofboth groups, no significant difference was seen in the mean scores (p≥ 0.05). Equal number of repetitions of bothtechniques were given, however, still MET showed slightly greater effect. Therefore, the study concluded thatfewer repetitions of MET could have greater or equal effect as Static Stretching. Further studies with large samplesize and follow up are recommended.