The effect of a muscle energy stretch on suboccipital tenderness

Background and objective: Muscle Energy Technique (MET) is commonly advocated by authors of manual therapy as a means of treating spinal pain and dysfunction, but there is little evidence of its role in pain modulation. This controlled and single blinded study aimed to investigate the effect of MET on pressure pain thresholds (PPT) in the suboccipital musculature in an asymptomatic population. Conclusion: While MET appeared to have some immediate impact on pain threshold, the changes in PPT were not enough to be significantly different form the sham control. Further studies are recommended to explore the impact of MET on pressure pain thresholds and self-reported pain in symptomatic subjects. This minor thesis was written by a post-graduate student as part of the requirements of the Master of Health Science (Osteopathy) program.

Level dc:type.qualificationlevel

cmaster

Grantor dc:publisher.institution

Victoria University

Year dc:date.issued

2005

Author dc:creator

• Boswell, Caitlin

• 320000 Medical and Health Sciences
• School of Biomedical and Health Sciences

Language dc:language

en