Muscle energy technique applied to the lumbosacral junction and its effect on hamstring muscle strength

Item

Title
Muscle energy technique applied to the lumbosacral junction and its effect on hamstring muscle strength
Author(s)
Fieldus Dominic
Abstract
ABSTRACTMuscle energy technique is used extensively in osteopathy, despite the fact that very little clinical data exists to support its use. Muscle energy technique is used to mobilise joints in which movement is restricted, to strengthen weak muscles, to stretch tight muscle and fascia and to improve local circulation. Techniques are usually applied directly to dysfunctional tissue. When muscles around the lumbosacral junction are hypertonic, local restriction in movement and oedema to the nerve roots may occur. Potentially, these influences could affect motor nerve function to the hamstring muscle group. Muscle energy technique may improve blood flow to the nerve root and therefore improve neurological stimulus to the muscles in the periphery. The aim of this study was to investigate whether a specific muscle energy technique involving post isometric relaxation could increase muscle power to the hamstring group when applied as an indirect treatment to the lumbosacral junction.
Twenty healthy female subjects from the fourth year of the British College of Osteopathic Medicine were recruited to participate in the study. The post isometric relaxation method of muscle energy technique was applied to the lumbar spine, after which maximum voluntary isometric muscle contraction of the hamstrings was measured using a Digital Myograph 2000. The procedure was repeated three times and the mean obtained.
A matched pair two-tailed t-test was used to determine the statistical significance of any change in hamstring muscle peak force and total power. Analysis of the results showed no significant increases in muscle force or power of the hamstring group (p values 0.96 and 0.36 respectively). The change in mean total power was not statistically significant (p=0.96) (change of 0.48 (95% confidence interval -18.72 to 19.69)). The change in mean total power was not statistically significant (p=0.36) (change of -542.7 (95% confidence interval -1,746.2 to 660.8)). The lack of positive correlation between post isometric relaxation muscle energy technique and the results gained using the Digital Myograph could be due to a number of variables, sample size and study design.
Date Accepted
0
Date Submitted
1.1.1970 00:00:00
Type
osteo_thesis
Language
English
Submitted by:
62
Pub-Identifier
13581
Inst-Identifier
1076
Recommended
0
Item sets
Thesis

Fieldus Dominic, “Muscle energy technique applied to the lumbosacral junction and its effect on hamstring muscle strength”, Osteopathic Research Web, accessed April 23, 2025, https://library.wso.at/s/orw/item/1176