Evaluation of the Combination of Muscle Energy Technique and Trigger Point Therapy in Asymptomatic Individuals with a Latent Trigger Point.

Michał Wendt,Małgorzata Waszak

doi:10.3390/ijerph17228430

Abstract

(1) Background: The aim of the study was to determine the effect of the combination therapy of Muscle Energy Technique (MET) and Trigger Point Therapy (TPT) on the angular values of the range of movements of the cervical spine and on the pressure pain threshold (PPT) of the trapezius muscle in asymptomatic individuals. METHODS: The study involved 60 right-handed, asymptomatic students with a latent trigger point in the upper trapezius muscle. All qualified volunteers practiced amateur symmetrical sports. The study used a tensometric electrogoniometer (cervical spine movement values) and an algometer (pressure pain threshold (PPT) of upper trapezius). Randomly (sampling frame), volunteers were assigned to three different research groups (MET + TPT, MET and TPT). All participants received only one therapeutic intervention. Measurements were taken in three time-intervals (pre, post and follow-up the next day after therapy). (2) Results: One-time combined therapy (MET + TPT) significantly increases the range of motion occurring in all planes of the cervical spine. One-time treatments of single MET and single TPT therapy selectively affect the mobility of the cervical spine. The value of the PPT significantly increased immediately after all therapies, but only on the right trapezius muscle, while on the left side only after the therapy combining MET with TPT. (3) Conclusion: The MET + TPT method proved to be the most effective, as it caused changes in all examined goniometric and subjective parameters.

Highlights

Muscle energy techniques (METs) are a group of soft tissue manipulation techniques that are included in the broadly understood manual therapy
In order to determine the impact of the applied therapies (MET + Trigger Point Therapy (TPT), MET, TPT) on the goniometric parameter values, the angular values of the ranges of motion in the cervical spine were compared immediately before each therapy, immediately after the therapy and the day
We observed a statistically significant increase in this parameter by 0.41 kg/cm2 and 0.47 kg/cm2 after using combined MET plus TPT therapy, while a single TPT treatment resulted in a significant increase in pressure pain threshold (PPT) only on the right trapezius (0.30 kg/cm2 )

Summary

Introduction

Muscle energy techniques (METs) are a group of soft tissue manipulation techniques that are included in the broadly understood manual therapy. They were first used by the osteopath. Fred Mitchell, Sr. and are still being developed today by many researchers and clinicians [1] These types of therapeutic techniques are used to improve the functional parameters of the myofascial system and joints. They can affect the restoration of the range of motion in individual joints [2,3,4].

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