Muscle Energy Flashcards
What is Muscle Energy?
- A modality of OMT
- Muscles are actively used against counterforce.
- Requires patient active cooperation – infants, mentally ill, deaf or anyone unable to follow directions (unresponsive/uncooperative) cannot do it;
What is ME technique used mainly for (5)?
Decrease hypertonicity
Lengthen muscle fibers
Reduce the restraint of movement
Produce joint mobilization
Improve Respiratory and Circulatory Function
Fred Mitchell Sr?
Developed Muscle Energy technique in 1940-50s’
When was “The Muscle Energy Manual” published ?
1973.
First definitive muscle energy technique reference by Fred Mitchell Jr.
Muscle energy direct or indirect?
Always DIRECT
What is a direct technique?
A technique that moves a part of the body through a restrictive barrier.
i.e engaging the barrier
What is isometric muscle contraction?
Contraction against constant resistance, distance between origin and insertion remains static
What is an isolytic muscle contraction?
contraction against resistance, but force by physician overcomes pt’s force
Purpose of isolytic contraction?
Lenghten muscles shortened by contracture
What is a concentric isotonic muscle contraction?
Against constant force, proximal and distal ends of the muscle aproximate
Purpose of concentric isotonic muscle contraction?
To increase strenght in muscles reflexively weakened by somatic dysfunction
What is Eccentric isotonic muscle contraction?
Against constant force, proximal and distal ends of muscle are allowed to separate
Purpose of eccentric isotonic contraction?
strenghten weakened muscle
What are six techniques within the Muscle Energy modality?
Post-isometric relaxation
Joint Mobilization Using Muscular Force
Respiratory Assistance
Oculocephalogyric Reflex
Reciprocal Inhibition
Crossed Extensor Reflex
Goal of post isometric relaxation technique?
muscle relaxation
Less than 10 pounds of F
Principle of Synaptic fatigue?
After sustained contraction, neurotransmitter is depleted and muscle fibers can be lenghten during refractory period
What Muscle Energy technique uses the principle of
Synaptic Fatigue
Post isometric relaxation
Goal of “Joint Mobilization Using Muscle Force” technique?
Restore motion in joint when dysfunction of an articulation is present
What is “Joint Mobilization Using Muscle Force” ?
Patient offers muscle contraction against a physician counterforce
30 to 50 pound F necessary
What is the “Respiratory Assistance” technique?
Act of breating provides the force of contraction for this technique
Force given by an exagerated respiratory motion
Goal of “Respiratory Assistance” technique?
Improve body physiology using patients voluntary respiratory motion
What is “Oculocephalogyric reflex” ?
Functional muscle groups are contracted in response to voluntary eye motion
Goal of “Oculocephalogyric reflex” ?
Muscle contraction using eye movement
Force: exceptionally gentle
What is “Reciprocal Inhibition” technique?
Lenghten shortened muscle by cramp or spasm
very gentle (ounces of F)
Contraction on agonist muscle –> relaxation antagonist muscle
Goal of “cross extensor reflex”
Treat dysfunction in area so severely injured that (Fx , burn) that it is
unaccesible or not manipulable
relies on Learned Cross Pattern locomotion:
Flexor contracts –> contralateral same flexor relaxes
review
Contraindications for
Post Isometric
techniques
exceptionally painful muscles
acutely injured muscles
contraidications for
Muscel Energy
techniques
such debilitated patient that effort could further compromise health
i.e.
ICU patient, post-surgical period,
Characteristics of
Long
striated muscles
Large motor units (more than 200)
Voluntary reflex control
Prone to weakness
Prone to spasm
Characteristics of
Short
striated muscles
small motor units (less than 30)
Involuntary reflex control
Prone to tightness
