Efficacy of Muscle Energy Technique and Myofascial Release in Nonspecific Low Back Pain—A Comparative Study
Publication: Alternative and Complementary Therapies
Volume 26, Issue Number 6
Abstract
Objective: Physical therapy interventions for low back pain (LBP) consist of a wide spectrum of options, including manual therapy techniques such as muscle energy technique (MET) and myofascial release (MFR). There is currently a lack of strong or significant evidence on which techniques are preferred for certain conditions. The objective of this study was to compare the effects of MET and MFR in patients with nonspecific LBP.
Methods: This experimental nonrandomized trial included 31 subjects who fulfilled the inclusion and exclusion criteria through convenience sampling and were divided into two groups. Preintervention data were collected from both groups and informed consent was obtained. Group A was administered MFR and Group B was administered MET. The course of treatment for the whole procedure was seven sessions for each group. Pain and disability, measured by the visual analog scale and Oswestry Disability Index, were the outcome measures included for the study.
Results: The results of the study showed that there was a significant difference in reduction of pain in patients treated with MET, with a mean of 1.98 ± 0.71 and 1.93 ± 0.60 on postintervention (8th day) and follow-up (21st day), as compared with patients treated with MFR, with a mean of 2.39 ± 0.77 and 2.76 ± 0.64 on postintervention (8th day) and follow-up (21st day).
Conclusion: Although both MET and MFR have been shown to be effective in reducing pain and disability after treatment, it was found that after follow-up, MET was more effective in reducing pain in patients with nonspecific LBP.
Get full access to this article
View all available purchase options and get full access to this article.
References
1. Mcintosh G, Hall H. Low back pain (acute). BMJ Clin Evid 2008;10:1102.
2. Kent PM, Keating JL. Can we predict poor recovery from recent-onset nonspecific low back pain? A systemic review. Man Ther 2008;13:12–28.
3. Chaitow L. Muscle Energy Technique, 2nd ed. London: Churchill Livingstone, 2001.
4. Manheim CJ. The Myofascial Release Manual, 3rd ed. Thorofare, NJ: SLACK, Inc., 2001.
5. Selkow NM, Grindstaff TF, Cross KM. Short-term effect of muscle energy technique on pain in individuals with non-specific lumbopelvic pain: A pilot study. J Man Manip Ther 2009;17:E14–E18.
6. Morales MA, Olea N, Martínez M. Psychophysiological effects of massage-myofascial release after exercise: A randomized sham-control study. J Altern Complement Med 2008;14:1223–1229.
7. Morales MA, Olea N, Martínez M. Effects of myofascial release after high-intensity exercise: A randomized clinical trial. J Manipulative Physiol Ther 2008;31:217–223.
Information & Authors
Information
Published In

Alternative and Complementary Therapies
Volume 26 • Issue Number 6 • December 2020
Pages: 258 - 260
Copyright
Copyright 2020, Mary Ann Liebert, Inc., publishers.
History
Published online: 8 December 2020
Published in print: December 2020
Topics
Authors
Author Disclosure Statement
No competing financial interests exist.
Funding Information
This was a self-funded study. No funding was received from any agency.▪
Metrics & Citations
Metrics
Citations
Export Citation
Export citation
Select the format you want to export the citations of this publication.
View Options
Access content
To read the fulltext, please use one of the options below to sign in or purchase access.⚠ Society Access
If you are a member of a society that has access to this content please log in via your society website and then return to this publication.